I know it’s late but I thought I’d do a little tribute post to the wonderful Jane Russell whose anniversary was yesterday; June 21st 1921 - February 28th 2011. I will be forever thankful to Jane for being such a kind hearted, supportive and wonderful friend to Marilyn. Especially during the filming of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) ♥
Extract taken from Jane’s Foreword in Marilyn: Intimate Exposures by Susan Bernard.
…Darryl Zanuck, the head of 20th Cetury Fox, had bought Gentlemen Prefer Blondes for Marilyn to star in. This was to be her first big picture. The director Howard Hawks wanted me to play Dorothy, Lorelei’s best friend. We started dance rehearsals with Jack Cole, and Gwen Verdon. Jack worked dancers to death, but with Marilyn and me, he was patience itself. She was determined that her bosses at Fox were going to take her seriously. Marilyn would stay for an hour or two after I left, and he’d stay with her. I had never seen any actor with such drive to rehearse; she did ot allow herself to get tired. Me, I needed at least 10 hours of sleep. She didn’t allow herself to be satisfied easily. Jack said she wouldn’t really learn anymore during that time, but he understood her insecurity. We all refer to her as “Baby Doll.”
Natasha Lytess, her drama coach, worked with her every night. Marilyn would come in the morning, way before me, and she’d be rehearsing with her again. Natasha began directing her right in front of Hawks. This became a big problem. Finally, Hawks threw Natasha off the set. Marilyn often ran off to her dressing room crying.
Marilyn was always ready, but she could not make herself come out of her dressing room. You don’t keep Howard Hawks waiting! Whitey, her make up man, confided in me that she was simply afraid to go out and face Hawks. Everyone was complaining, “Why isn’t she coming out?” I would go to her dressing room and say, “Come on, Blondie!’” It’s five of. Let’s go get them!” Marilyn would look up at me like a little girl, with those big, blue-grey eyes and say in child like voice, “Ok.”
We got along great together. Marilyn was very shy and sweet, and far more intelligent that people gave her credit for. The press tried their best to work up a feud between us, but they were sniffing up the wrong tree.
… I believe that the outstanding quality that made Marilyn different from the other so-called sex symbols was her vulnerability. Everyone wanted to take care of her, to help. She brought out protectiveness in all but the insensitive, or those who, of corse, simply wanted a more sophisticated adult world where everyone was responsible to himself, a world of caustic humor, a take-as-much-as-you-give world. I was accustomed to that world, but Marilyn could get terribly hurt. She simply could not understand people being mean. She was super sensitive and with good reason, considering her rudderless and unsure future.
I remember it was beach time again for my family and the days were long and wonderful. When the guys were hunting, or a training camp, my girlfriends, and sister-in-law, and their kids were there. We all helped, so there was loads of leisure time. We philosophized, laughed at our problems and giggled, and the kids had a ball because they had their friends.
At night we showered, put on caftans, had wine, music, and more talk by the fire. If the others went to bed, I often sat and stared at the water “night dreaming.” One lone boat was lit up all the way out on the horizon and spots of light from the house lit the waves as they endlessly rolled in. A time alone at night was always necessary to me during those people filled years.
On one such a night, I thought of Marilyn Monroe. I wished I had her phone number, because I knew she belonged there, were we were all laughing about our problems.
The next day, my husband Robert arrived from a hunting trip and said, “Marilyn Monroe’s dead, I heard it on the radio.” We were all stunned. If only, if only…
Over 50 years ago, Marilyn told me, “If they aren’t going to be fair and nice, I can always leave.” She left, but on the screen and in Bruno’s photographs, we are reminded of her sweetness, humor and how she glowed.
- Jane Russell
