Skip to main content
Games Radar
  • Newsarama
  • Total Film
  • Edge
  • Retro Gamer
  • SFX
Total Film The smarter take on movies
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best Netflix Shows
Recommended reading
Stacey Dash and Alicia Silverstone as Dionne and Cher in Clueless
Comedy Movies 30 years after its release, I'm still convinced Clueless is the gold standard for teen movies
The Naked Gun popcorn bucket
Comedy Movies The Naked Gun's wild popcorn bucket is an ingenious throwback gag to one of the original movie's raciest jokes
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
Drama Movies The Penguin and Barbie stars new futuristic fantasy romance is giving Suzume vibes in first trailer
Barbie
Live Action Movies British doll Sindy is getting her own movie, but it just sounds like she's reheating Barbie's nachos
Sam Rockwell and Bryce Dallas Howard in Argylle
Action Movies Argylle star Bryce Dallas Howard isn't surprised by her movie flops: "You can always see it coming while you're making it"
Mamma Mia Here We Go Again
Movies Amanda Seyfried says sequels are "just for money and it's frustrating", but admits she would do Mamma Mia 3 "in a heartbeat"
Dakota Johnson as Lucy and Pedro Pascal as Harry in Celine Song's Materialists
Romance Movies New rom-com starring Marvel actors was inspired by legendary romance movies like Pride & Prejudice and The Graduate
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

Jane Russell: A Career In Pictures

Features
By Matt Maytum published 1 March 2011

A look back at the key movies of the sassy, sexy 'broad'

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The Outlaw (1943)

The Outlaw (1943)

Russell had modelled and studied drama in her youth before Howard Hughes (yes, him off of The Aviator ) spotted her and signed her to a seven-year contract.

This was her first movie for Hughes, though it struggled to get a release as censors were riled by her display of cleavage. The controversy only helped heighten her fame, and the image of her atop the haystack has endured throughout the decades.

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Music Career

Music Career

Russell was all-round entertainer, and in 1947 she launched a singing career that would continue on and off for years.

She often paired the singing and acting, in musical movies, and on Broadway.

Here she is with Bob Hope, who championed her throughout her career, and with whom she starred in The Paleface ...

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
The Paleface (1948)

The Paleface (1948)

This comedy western gave Russell the opportunity to prove that she was more than just a sex-bomb screen siren. She could make 'em laugh too.

Starring with Bob Hope, who played dentist Peter Potter, Russell was infamous cowgirl Calamity Jane, and she was as convincing shooting a pistol as she was firing off quips.

They both appeared in sequel Son of Paleface , in different roles.

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Double Dynamite (1951)

Double Dynamite (1951)

Despite the title, Russell toned it down a notch for this musical comedy, in which she was billed alongside Frank Sinatra and Groucho Marx.

Sinatra plays a mild-mannered bank teller who is accused of embezzlement, with Russell as his girlfriend. Marx stars as the nutso waiter who offers the pair advice, via the medium of musical numbers, of course.

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Another of Russell's most iconic screen roles, she starred opposite Marilyn Monroe in this musical comedy from Howard Hawks (not Hughes).

Here Russell shows off all the talents that made her a screen legend: a showstopping singing voice, astute comic timing and, of course, incandescent sex appeal.

The two screen sirens compliment each other perfectly as stage singers looking to snare rich husbands.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
The French Line (1953)

The French Line (1953)

Again, Russell shows she's more than just a pretty face/body by throwing herself into more musical antics, as a filthy-rich oil heiress who struggles to find love until she slips into a secret identity.

Howard Hughes certainly enjoyed making the most of Russell's considerable curves though, and here he courted controversy again by squeezing her into a skimpy, peek-a-boo bathing suit.

Oh, and it came in 3D...

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955)

Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955)

Russell and her then-husband Robert Waterfield created their own production company, Russ-Field Productions, and this was among the three pictures they churned out.

It wasn't as memorable as some of Russell's earlier movies, perhaps because it reheated ideas (a pair of showgirls travel to Paris looking for love) from her more notable successes.

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956)

The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956)

Russell showed her range when she starred in this drama, an adaptation of William Bradford Hule's novel.

She plays a former prostitute who moves from San Francisco to Hawaii in an effort to escape her past, but the backdrop of WWII, and her unshakeable reputation, are seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown (1966)

The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown (1966)

This was the last movie that Russell produced with husband Robert Waterfield (she didn't star in The King and Four Queens ), and it wasn't a success.

Perhaps that was something to do with her trading her brunette locks for a blonde 'do to play a kidnapped movie star. Maybe not the preferred colour after all, then...

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Johnny Reno (1966)

Johnny Reno (1966)

One of Russell's last major movie roles - though she did make smaller appearances in The Born Losers (1967) and Darker Than Amber (1970).

Like Waco (released in the same year), Johnny Reno was another western for Russell, who was equally at home on the frontiers as she was glamming up for more frivolous roles.

Later in the '70s, following her final movie turns, she appeared in Company on Broadway, and guested on a couple of TV shows, including cop drama Hunter .

Any favourite Jane Russell moments you'd like to share? Drop them in the Comments box below.

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
Matt Maytum
Matt Maytum
Social Links Navigation
Editor, Total Film

I'm the Editor at Total Film magazine, overseeing the running of the mag, and generally obsessing over all things Nolan, Kubrick and Pixar. Over the past decade I've worked in various roles for TF online and in print, including at GamesRadar+, and you can often hear me nattering on the Inside Total Film podcast. Bucket-list-ticking career highlights have included reporting from the set of Tenet and Avengers: Infinity War, as well as covering Comic-Con, TIFF and the Sundance Film Festival.

See more Movies Features
Read more
Stacey Dash and Alicia Silverstone as Dionne and Cher in Clueless
30 years after its release, I'm still convinced Clueless is the gold standard for teen movies
The Naked Gun popcorn bucket
The Naked Gun's wild popcorn bucket is an ingenious throwback gag to one of the original movie's raciest jokes
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
The Penguin and Barbie stars new futuristic fantasy romance is giving Suzume vibes in first trailer
Barbie
British doll Sindy is getting her own movie, but it just sounds like she's reheating Barbie's nachos
Sam Rockwell and Bryce Dallas Howard in Argylle
Argylle star Bryce Dallas Howard isn't surprised by her movie flops: "You can always see it coming while you're making it"
Mamma Mia Here We Go Again
Amanda Seyfried says sequels are "just for money and it's frustrating", but admits she would do Mamma Mia 3 "in a heartbeat"
Latest in Movies
Callum Vinson looking sad as Elijah Turner in Poker Face
Friday the 13th reboot series casts its 10-year-old Jason Voorhees who's just a little too cute to be a slasher killer
Madelyn Cline in the I Know What You Did Last Summer trailer
I Know What You Did Last Summer director says this whole thing could have been avoided "if men went to therapy," because "if you have the right tools, that pain is maybe not then turned into a murder spree"
Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan MacGregor) prepare for a lightsaber duel in Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Qui-Gon Jinn actor Liam Neeson admits he's "lost track" of Star Wars spin-offs when asked about Obi-Wan Kenobi season 2 rumors
Alan Ritchson showing off his massive muscles as Jack Reacher
James Gunn addresses DCU Batman casting rumors, says he's a "big fan" of potential Bruce Wayne actor Alan Ritchson, but "let's just wait and see what happens"
Mole Man in Marvel Comics
The first live-action look at the Mole Man in The Fantastic Four: First Steps has been revealed, and he's "more of a union leader than a supervillain"
Hot Toys Galactus figure
The Fantastic Four: First Steps has fully revealed its Galactus thanks to a massive new action figure
Latest in Features
Caleb Landry Jones as Walter in Harvest
I loved the folk horror elements of 28 Years Later, and this new nightmarish medieval movie follows in its footsteps in all the right ways
Karl Urban as Judge Dredd in 2012's Dredd movie.
As a life-long Judge Dredd fan, here's why I'm excited – and more than a little nervous – about Taika Waititi's new movie
Steam Deck OLED with game library on screen sitting on woodgrain desk
After 3 years of holding out, I finally bought a Steam Deck thanks to the same logic I used to talk myself out of a Switch 2
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild screenshot showing Link, a male character with elf-like ears, blond hair, and bright blue eyes
The Legend of Zelda movie is exciting, but I'm still begging for 5 specific video game movies to get adapted next
Ghost of Yotei screenshot of Atsu with her arms raised as she wields a katana
I had to stop playing Ghost of Tsushima after 47 hours, but Ghost of Yotei is winning me back by channeling the coolest anime ever made
A screenshot of the upcoming RPG, The Outer Worlds 2
I'm convinced that 2025 will bring us the next Baldur's Gate 3, and these are all the upcoming RPGs that may prove me right
  1. DK and Pauline look surprised in Donkey Kong Bananza
    1
    Donkey Kong Bananza Review: "Destruction isn't just a flashy gimmick for the Minecraft generation, it's one of the best inventions Nintendo has had in years"
  2. 2
    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 review: "A nostalgic, must-play hit for fans"
  3. 3
    College Football 26 review: “Thanks to rivalries and dynasty, this is the greatest show on turf”
  4. 4
    Mecha Break review: "This mech battler makes up for lacking customization with a varied roster that lets me live out my Evangelion fantasy"
  5. 5
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  1. David Corenswet as Superman inside the Fortress of Solitude in James Gunn's Superman.
    1
    Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU"
  2. 2
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  3. 3
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  4. 4
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  5. 5
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...