Jane Russell and Ralph Meeker |
Movie star Laurel Stevens (Jane Russell of Foxfire) is planning to attend the premiere of her new film The Kidnapped Bride, when she's actually kidnapped by two, fortunately, nice guys named Mike (Ralph Meeker) and Dandy (Keenan Wynn). Mike spent four years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, which makes Laurel feel sympathetic towards him. It also doesn't hurt that he's a rather sexy man. While Laurel's assistant Bertha (Una Merkel) and agent (Robert H. Harris) try frantically to find her, studio head Arthur Martin (Adolphe Menjou) wants to keep it out of the papers, afraid it is -- or at least everyone will think it is -- nothing more than a publicity stunt. If Laurel admits she was kidnapped Mike could go to jail, but if she doesn't, her public could turn on her.
Adolphe Menjou, Una Merkel, Robert H. Harris |
Verdict: Ironically, Jane Russell's swan song as a major movie star. **1/2.
2 comments:
I love Jane Russell, and need to see this one again. True, her career as a leading lady was not long, but there are some iconic performances. Such great chemistry with MM in one of the best female buddy movies ever--Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Also love her in The French Line.
-C
She made her mark in Hollywood to be certain. She could be real "hard" in some roles and very warm and feminine in others. She was great with Bob Hope, of all people!
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