The Return of the Magnificent Slattern

It occurs to Iconista that's she's neglected her public.

She has been a tad busy. Who knew, when pushed, she could write 40 thousand words in week, then rewrite 100k in a weekend?

So, if you find her taciturn here, blow. She hasn't words to waste.

Pictures, on the other hand, she'll scatter freely.

Suck these up honeys, in no particular order.

The Baron of Arizona

Reds

Katharine Hepburn as the Thin White Duke

The Original Jackman

Smoking

Iconista has not smoked for fifteen hours.

It is Hell.

Pola Negri

Take a drag for me, Bette

Deneuve

Lamarr

Romy, bless her

Tallulah. Do you suppose she's waiting for someone to come lift her fingers to her lips?

Here's a dame that doesn't need any help.

Great Disapproving Looks #1

I adore a well-executed disapproving look. Of course Gable was the master.

Here are some of my other favourites. Do tell Iconista if you spy any more.

Joan Crawford and Douglas Gilmore, from the days when lust and disapproval went hand in hand. I can just hear him thinking, "Oh how dare she arouse me by being so damn desirable, the wicked siren." Someone should hand that woman a Burka before he fires one off.

But of course there's always Katharine to even up the score. I love the hint of amused pity under those lashes.

Of course Jimmy was just a plain brute. I suspect Babs can take care of herself though.

Katharine Hepburn

I'm reading A Scott Berg's biography of Miss Hepburn. He interviewed her, stayed with her at her family home, was taken into her confidence; and he's a distinguished writer, so I'm expecting a truthful and compelling account of her life.



All I know so far is that she was privileged in every way possible. Beautiful, intelligent and beloved by a confident, boisterous family; it was inevitable she would grow up to be something.



But you may be able to tell from my tone, the more I read of her, the less I like her. What appears charming on film - her forthrightness, her confidence and charm, her outspokenness - in real life it must have been hard to take for all but the most resilient souls.



Of course I would love to be like her, but I doubt if the people around me could bear such an irrepressible force, such relentless candor, such constant pushing and prying. It would be like living with a whirling dervish. One would feel the need to glue the ornaments down.



But she was undoubtedly marvellous on film, to look at and to listen to. Worth a few photos, I'd say.

Time, Katherine Hepburn and Walter Winchell

Sheila O'Malley's blog is quite becoming my favourite. But I wonder how she does it? So many posts, and so many books read and then reviewed - a new one every day it seems. How does she find the time? And she reviews them so intelligently and eloquently. I may never have to read an actual book again. Sheila's reviews are enough.

How I wish I had Ms O'Malley's puissance. When I read her piece on Katharine Hepburn today, not to mention yesterday's article, I figured she and Kate must have plenty in common. Relentless drive and energy.

(My door knocks. Brian-next-door has brought me some Day Lilies he's dug from his garden. The sun's actually shining today, so I'll get them into my border after breakfast. Yesterday, Joan-across-the-road, let me have a pile of 78s for my new gramophone only . I only mentioned I was a little down after my break up and it's been nothing but cake and plants ever since. Bless them.)

Now, I've been reading Neal Gabler's book on Walter Winchell for almost a year now. Little snatches here and there, and enjoying it immensely. But could I write a coherent review? Gabler does such a fabulous job of describing a difficult man without judging him. Winchell was clearly a monster, and yet like most of the cruellest bullies he was driven, not by a dark and evil heart, but by fear. Winchell had peered into the abyss early in his life, and like all who have, never forgot it was there, waiting to suck him in if he should ever slow down, or stumble or stop running from it for a minute. His bullying, his cruelty, his obsession with success and money and power was simply his way of trying to feel safe. And the irony is that I don't think he ever did feel safe. Not for an instant. He ruined lives and loves, and for what? He is a lesson in why we should love our children and make them feel safe. They will hunger less when they are adults and the world will be a softer place.

You know I mentioned Edward Steichen...

Of course, Orlando has found an excellent Steichen blog, the darling boy. Not to mention a Flickr photostream.
And as a bonus, he's also discovered some more Katharine Hepburn photos - I can't get enough of those. Now if only I could work out how to get this blog to open links in a new tab...
Mommie, dearest, is visiting, so I have left her alone with the TV while I put my son to bed. The boy is tucked up, teeth cleaned and reading and I have slipped away to my darling computer rather than go back downstairs. Mother is watching "New Tricks". Why is it that whether your 4 or 40, older people invariably watch crap on television?

Searching for Joan Bennett

Orlando's been sending me marvellous photos again - this time Katharine Hepburn and Charles Boyer, not to mention a cute one of Clara Bow (note to self - find out more about this sweetie-pie).
I've been trying to find him some choice Joan Bennett in return but I think he's tracked down all the most glorious ones, but in looking, as always I've found a site I want to pore over later. It's all about the splendid Hurrell.
"George Edward Hurrell was a studio portrait photographer from 1930 to 1943. He was also the principal auteur of the photographic idiom known as the Hollywood glamour portrait."