BEWARE THESE WOMEN! - it's a question of tones..

So far Monty at ALL GOOD THINGS has posted about the very, very mean Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya) of FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963) and all about Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) of ALL ABOUT EVE (1950), while Dawn at NOIR AND CHICK FLICKS has made a post [inclouding her Top Ten Bad Girls] about LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945) with very murderous leading lady Ellen (played by Gene Tierney) and a post about her favourite Bond girl Fiona Volpe of THUNDERBALL (1965).

So, what do these film characters have in common? Have you noticed? Hm? Hmmmm?

~ Okay – I am not that sure about the Lotte Lenya character and Fiona Volpe but I checked the other films just to be sure: ~

They do not sing! (I got to say that I have not seen each and every film in universe so there may be some films which disprove my theory - but I surely could find more examples than in this post.)

They may not be in the right mood – but it is also possible that “the thoroughly mean girl” is not able to sing beautifully – at least not when she is about to be known as the bad girl right from the beginning.

For example we have Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) in SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952)– there is unfortunately no video that I could post here. :”( -

But I found these:

~ Maybe the Dutch version is the best - well, and the Japanese one, too.. I love it in every language!! :”) ~

Here is a little exercise for you:

In YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN (1950) the musician Rick (Kirk Douglas) meets two girls: sophisticated Amy (Lauren Bacall) and the singer Jo (Doris Day) – who do you think means trouble for young Rick?

- Yeah..

But: you cannot be sure that a girl who sings like an angel will still be the good girl when the “The End” writing appears on the screen. So: Be careful! Sometimes Hollywood wants to surprise you.. ;")

Another sign that you’re dealing with a wicked girl: This kind of film females dances a lot – especially to Jazz. And: she dances wildly – it seems like she is losing herself in the dance. Like Marylee (Dorothy Malone) in WRITTEN ON THE WIND (1956)

or Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner) in IMITATION OF LIFE (1959) - hm.. Maybe it is a Douglas Sirk phenomenon?

(in the film she is kicking the poor lamb! And because I am the lovely dear darling girl who does not approve of cruelty towards animals I just post a picture - before the kicking. Look at me: I am Sandra Dee!! ;") )

And when her skin tone seems to be more greenish than anything else you can be sure she is not nice:

WARNING: Apparently this does not apply for male characters!

Yours (not so wicked but very) truly,

Irene