Those vintage Hollywood dames
By Behn Cervantes
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:14:00 10/24/2008
Filed Under: Entertainment (general), Celebrities
MANILA, Philippines—Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, Lauren Bacall and Veronica Lake were vintage Hollywood dames. Stars like Ann Sheridan and Ann Sothern molded themselves after them. They were straight-talking women who held their own against Tinseltown’s tough leading men, represented by Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, George Raft and wannabe toughies like Dennis Morgan, Zachary Scott and Glenn Ford.
Crawford and Stanwyck were tough-talking dames who smoked and drank like the guys, but were nevertheless sexy, fashionable and, when circumstances required, vulnerable. But, make no mistake, they could stand on their own. And, if they were dealt a blow, they could fight back with a physical or emotional uppercut!
Synergy
Joan Crawford created a look all her own: Her big, expressive eyes spoke of her many needs. Her vulnerability was in synergy with a shapely silhouette, characterized by shoulder pads that gave her a masculine air.
Despite her allure, Crawford was almost androgynous, and her characters confronted the male-dominated world with ample allure—a gender mix that gave her universal appeal. She was a man’s gal and the oppressed woman’s role model! Ironically, she won an Academy Award for “Mildred Pierce,” where she portrayed a vulnerable single mother who was at odds with her daughter (Ann Blyth).
In her prime, Barbara Stanwyck was married to matinee idol, Robert Taylor. In her many dark roles, she was the epitome of the oppressed woman. Against all odds, she fought back and won her battles in the end! She was well-groomed, often adorned in well-shaped suits and hair-dos that may not have been as trendsetting as Crawford, but were distinctive just the same.
Veronica Lake was another standout. She was sadly underrated as an actress, because she became a sex symbol. Her one-sided hairdo was aped all over the world. (In the mid-’50s, our very own Divina Valencia copied Lake’s popular hairstyle to hide a birthmark she later had surgically removed.)
Demanding roles
Lake surprised film critics when she did well in demanding roles. But, her career was mishandled by her studio—and she turned into a personality, rather than an actress. She soon disappeared from the Hollywood scene, and was later discovered working in a simple dive in Manhattan, her glory days long over.
After Crawford and Stanwyck, Lauren Bacall is the most durable of show biz’s tough dames. Fortunately for the former fashion model, she was paired with one of Hollywood’s toughest guys, Humphrey Bogart, in her early movies. The team-up helped create a film persona to last a lifetime.
Bacall proved her worth amongst Bogart, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davies Jr. and Peter Lawford. She stood her ground and became the Rat Pack’s veritable muse! Later, she became the toast of Broadway—as much an icon as Crawford, Stanwyck and Lake were!
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