Finished reading her autobiography just a few months ago. Very interesting career, split between movies, TV and the stage. "Stereophonic Sound" is one the Astaire numbers I watch regularly and she was great in it.
She showed up for her first rehearsal with Astaire in tears because she was late - the guard at the MGM studio doors would not let her drive in and she had to look for a parking spot elsewhere. Astaire had a gofer take her car keys and drive the car back onto the lot. She was never late again of course.
Also remember Marlene Dietrich telling her: "Never wear black tights - show your assets, don´t cover them up."
Not all the decisions in her professional and private life turned out to be right - she could have had an even better career. The last pages of her book were mostly ongoing complaints about the state of the world but at her age that´s understandable.
A great talent, both funny and sexy... |