Miss Janet Leigh
I was sorry to learn of the demise of Janet Leigh, the actress, who died in the week of October 4th. I was sorry because there was something serene and beautiful about her, and it was just nice to know that she, a vestige of my early youth, was still out there. A lot of theatrical vestiges of my youth no longer are and now she, at 77 years of age, and far too young in my esteem, strode with class from this mortal coil. Yes, that's what Janet Leigh was -- classy. You don't get many classy broads these days in that sordid, celluloid world. Gwynneth Paltrow is latterly trying her damnedest, but those such as she are rare indeed.
I suppose Miss Leigh never really moved beyond Hollywood mill starlet category, despite the fact she had integral roles in both 'Psycho' and 'The Manchurian Candidate'. But, even though her role in 'Psycho' was pivotal to the plot, she was gone in a flood of blood a third of the way into the film. Of course, the shower stabbing scene remains one of the most noted in film lore. In the 'Manchurian Candidate' she inexplicably, in quite a monumental non-sequitur, verbally seduces the suffering Frankie on a train. So, was she part of the conspiracy? Turns out not so. Those looking for Graham Greene in that vehicle, were no doubt disappointed.
Other than that, Miss Leigh was given roles of fluff bunnies, or earlier era babes who had their bodices ripped. She first came to my pubescent attention in a blockbuster saga called 'The Vikings', in which she played the lust interest of Kirk Douglas, but also the love interest of one Tony Curtis, arguably one of your swarthier Vikings. What I noticed about her, aside from her evoking some pre-teen lust within me, was that she had a crooked lower tooth. Somehow that tiny flaw in her beauty was immeasurably erotic to me, at an age long before I knew what eroticism meant.
Of course, Miss Leigh in those days was known also for the fact that she was married, Hollywood style, to the original Hell's Kitchen suave greaser, Bernard Schwartz, better known as the aforementioned Tony Curtis. It wasn't a marriage made in heaven, but few Hollywood nuptials are. Eventually they divorced, as he had deep problems with keeping his zipper up. So sad. How could anyone have fooled around on somebody as delectable as Miss Leigh?
Anyway, she largely faded from public scrutiny after the divorce, and played a few fluffy parts and nothing much else of consequence. Of course, she had given birth to a rather 'consequent' daughter, in the form of the talented Jamie Lee Curtis, so that was a rather decent accomplishment.
Mainly Miss Leigh settled into being a classy lady, showing up on the odd game show, and evoking 'where are they now?' impulses in members of the public who remembered her from an earliest time.
So, enjoy your journey, Miss Leigh, and thanks for a few moments of pleasure you brought me in my youth.
I suppose Miss Leigh never really moved beyond Hollywood mill starlet category, despite the fact she had integral roles in both 'Psycho' and 'The Manchurian Candidate'. But, even though her role in 'Psycho' was pivotal to the plot, she was gone in a flood of blood a third of the way into the film. Of course, the shower stabbing scene remains one of the most noted in film lore. In the 'Manchurian Candidate' she inexplicably, in quite a monumental non-sequitur, verbally seduces the suffering Frankie on a train. So, was she part of the conspiracy? Turns out not so. Those looking for Graham Greene in that vehicle, were no doubt disappointed.
Other than that, Miss Leigh was given roles of fluff bunnies, or earlier era babes who had their bodices ripped. She first came to my pubescent attention in a blockbuster saga called 'The Vikings', in which she played the lust interest of Kirk Douglas, but also the love interest of one Tony Curtis, arguably one of your swarthier Vikings. What I noticed about her, aside from her evoking some pre-teen lust within me, was that she had a crooked lower tooth. Somehow that tiny flaw in her beauty was immeasurably erotic to me, at an age long before I knew what eroticism meant.
Of course, Miss Leigh in those days was known also for the fact that she was married, Hollywood style, to the original Hell's Kitchen suave greaser, Bernard Schwartz, better known as the aforementioned Tony Curtis. It wasn't a marriage made in heaven, but few Hollywood nuptials are. Eventually they divorced, as he had deep problems with keeping his zipper up. So sad. How could anyone have fooled around on somebody as delectable as Miss Leigh?
Anyway, she largely faded from public scrutiny after the divorce, and played a few fluffy parts and nothing much else of consequence. Of course, she had given birth to a rather 'consequent' daughter, in the form of the talented Jamie Lee Curtis, so that was a rather decent accomplishment.
Mainly Miss Leigh settled into being a classy lady, showing up on the odd game show, and evoking 'where are they now?' impulses in members of the public who remembered her from an earliest time.
So, enjoy your journey, Miss Leigh, and thanks for a few moments of pleasure you brought me in my youth.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home