Old Hollywood
Cinema
1900-1979
Nostalgia is a seductive liar - George Wildman Ball
“American men, as a group, seem to be interested in only two things, money and breasts. It seems a very narrow outlook.” -Hedy Lamarr (via TCM)

“American men, as a group, seem to be interested in only two things, money and breasts. It seems a very narrow outlook.”

-Hedy Lamarr (via TCM)

“I win because I learned years ago that scared money always loses. I never care, so I win.” -Hedy Lamarr (via sipapress)

“I win because I learned years ago that scared money always loses. I never care, so I win.”

-Hedy Lamarr (via sipapress)

Hedy Lamarr & Victor Mature in Samson & Delilah (1949, dir. Cecil B. DeMille) In her lively 1967 autobiography, Ecstasy and Me: My Life as a Woman, Hedy Lamarr recalls having cocktails at Romanoff’s with a sleazy talent scout (whom she pseudonymously refers to as Sidney), who tries to seduce her by offering her an audience with Cecil B. DeMille, who was in the process of casting Samson and Delilah. “C.B.’s a genius at those things,” Sidney says, “By the time he’s through spreading the money and talent around, every man in the world will want to screw the heroine of that particular biblical drama. It’s a natural; a guy with muscles, a broad with virginity.” “Who plays Samson?” Lamarr asked. “They’re thinking of Victor Mature. But who cares? It’s only a body to set you off in the ruins. Muscles and tits sugarcoated with religion. It’s for you.” As repulsed as Lamarr was by Sidney’s vulgar approach to filmmaking, she bit the carrot and met with the director. A few days later, the role was hers. Later, Lamarr’s agent echoed Sidney’s sentiments, “C.B. is brilliant. When it comes to sex and spectacle, no one can tear down a temple and tear off a piece at one and the same time like he can. When he sells sex, sister, people buy because he wraps it in fancy paper with pink ribbons.” -Bret Wood, TCM (via)

Hedy Lamarr & Victor Mature in Samson & Delilah (1949, dir. Cecil B. DeMille)

In her lively 1967 autobiography, Ecstasy and Me: My Life as a Woman, Hedy Lamarr recalls having cocktails at Romanoff’s with a sleazy talent scout (whom she pseudonymously refers to as Sidney), who tries to seduce her by offering her an audience with Cecil B. DeMille, who was in the process of casting Samson and Delilah.

“C.B.’s a genius at those things,” Sidney says, “By the time he’s through spreading the money and talent around, every man in the world will want to screw the heroine of that particular biblical drama. It’s a natural; a guy with muscles, a broad with virginity.”

“Who plays Samson?” Lamarr asked.

“They’re thinking of Victor Mature. But who cares? It’s only a body to set you off in the ruins. Muscles and tits sugarcoated with religion. It’s for you.”

As repulsed as Lamarr was by Sidney’s vulgar approach to filmmaking, she bit the carrot and met with the director. A few days later, the role was hers.

Later, Lamarr’s agent echoed Sidney’s sentiments, “C.B. is brilliant. When it comes to sex and spectacle, no one can tear down a temple and tear off a piece at one and the same time like he can. When he sells sex, sister, people buy because he wraps it in fancy paper with pink ribbons.”

-Bret Wood, TCM (via)

“To be a star is to own the world and all the people in it. After a taste of stardom, everything else is poverty.” -Hedy Lamarr (via TCM)

“To be a star is to own the world and all the people in it. After a taste of stardom, everything else is poverty.”

-Hedy Lamarr (via TCM)

Hedy Lamarr in Ekstase (1933, dir. Gustav Machaty) In Ekstase, a 19-year-old Hedy Lamarr plays a young woman who finds out on her honeymoon that her husband is both impotent and cold. She decides to rectify the situation by finding herself a lover. Ekstase was highly controversial in its time due to two scenes - the first was a swimming scene, in which Lamarr displayed full nudity. The other scene, pictured above, featured Lamarr & her lover kissing on a bed before his head is seen to drop out of the bottom of the frame. Much writhing ensues, making Ekstase the first non-pornographic film to depict sexual intercourse & the female orgasm onscreen (as captured through Lamarr’s facial expressions).

Hedy Lamarr in Ekstase (1933, dir. Gustav Machaty)

In Ekstase, a 19-year-old Hedy Lamarr plays a young woman who finds out on her honeymoon that her husband is both impotent and cold. She decides to rectify the situation by finding herself a lover.

Ekstase was highly controversial in its time due to two scenes - the first was a swimming scene, in which Lamarr displayed full nudity. The other scene, pictured above, featured Lamarr & her lover kissing on a bed before his head is seen to drop out of the bottom of the frame. Much writhing ensues, making Ekstase the first non-pornographic film to depict sexual intercourse & the female orgasm onscreen (as captured through Lamarr’s facial expressions).

Hedy Lamarr (w/ husband John Loder) in a Los Angeles courthouse, confronting two men suspected of burglarizing her home. Hedy is not amused. Says TIME magazine, April 29th, 1946 edition: “Hedy Lamarr lost $19,000 worth of warmth and beauty to burglars who called while she was out. Among the missing: a chinchilla coat ($5,000), her engagement ring ($12,000). Hedy bought a gun.” (via)

Hedy Lamarr (w/ husband John Loder) in a Los Angeles courthouse, confronting two men suspected of burglarizing her home. Hedy is not amused.

Says TIME magazine, April 29th, 1946 edition: “Hedy Lamarr lost $19,000 worth of warmth and beauty to burglars who called while she was out. Among the missing: a chinchilla coat ($5,000), her engagement ring ($12,000). Hedy bought a gun.” (via)


Hedy Lamarr in Ekstase (1933, dir. Gustav Machaty)

Hedy Lamarr in Ekstase (1933, dir. Gustav Machaty)