| Femmes Fatales | Sep 29 2020 |
She's very angry with all of you.
Though we're a vintage art site, we sometimes look forward all the way into the 1980s for material, so today we have a brilliant photo and zoom of Japanese actress Mami Fujimura looking like trouble incarnate. Fujimura starred in several pinku movies in 1985 and 1986, notably the Nikikatsu roman porno Hana to hebi: Jigoku-hen, aka Flower and Rope: Sketch of Hell, and OL yûkaihan – Hagu!, which was part of the popular Office Lady series. Despite her short career, she's well remembered by Japanophiles thanks to her work in other areas. As we've noted before, Japanese actresses were relentlessly cross-marketed, and photo books were a go-to medium to raise a performer's profile. Fujimura starred in a photo book called Jōnetsu Airando, or “Passion Island,” but subtitled in English Sexual Message. It came from the publishers Shishobo in 1985, and we consider it one of the better examples of the photo book phenomenon. It's where the above image came from, and numerous others are noteworthy. To prove that, we've included the cover and a few interior pages below. No further words are needed.
JapanNikkatsuHana to hebi: Jigoku-henFlower and Rope: Sketch of HellOL yûkaihan – Hagu!Mami Fjuimura藤村マミpinkuroman pornonudity
| Femmes Fatales | Sep 26 2020 |
And possibly Arne Jacobsen's greatest feat.
It's never a bad time for Raquel Welch. Here you see her nestled into an egg chair, circa 1970, proving that she's special work from the bottoms of her feet to the crown of her head. These chairs, by the way, were designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1958 for the SAS Royal Copenhagen Hotel in Denmark. He designed the building, its furniture, its fittings and fixtures, its souvenirs, and even its airport shuttle. But it was not within even his considerable powers to design Welch.
The shot makes us realize we've posted images of other famous women in iconic chairs, for example, Catherine Deneuve in an inflatable Quasar Khanh chair in 1969, Sylvia Kristel and Mia Nygren in wicker peacock chairs, and a gloriously nude Pam Grier in a Le Corbusier lounge in 1974. Well, we can add Welch to the chair list. Maybe even top of the list.
| Femmes Fatales | Sep 20 2020 |
Now would be a good time for Tiffin to act her age.
You would think U.S. born actress Pamela Tiffin would be too old for dolls at this point in her life, but here she is hanging onto one for dear life at age twenty-seven in this promo photo from 1969. The session was originally staged for Playboy, and this image is a clean version of one that had a seam across it in the magazine. We think Tiffin should ditch the doll. It would be better for her. And us. But it's an amazing shot anyway, with the dark green grass and the curly, golden locks, possibly extensions or a wig. Tiffin popped up in some American films, but really made her mark in Italy, where she landed leading roles in films such as Amore mio, uccidimi!, aka Kill Me, My Love!, and Il vichingo venuto dal sud, aka The Blonde in the Blue Movie, aka No One Will Notice You're Naked. This is her third appearance on Pulp as a femme fatale due to the fact that she made unusually interesting photos. See two more examples here and here. She also appears at the bottom of this page.
ItalyPlayboyAmore miouccidimi!Kill MeMy Love!Il vichingo venuto dal sudThe Blonde in the Blue MovieNo One Will Notice You're NakedPamela Tiffin
| Femmes Fatales | Sep 14 2020 |
Don't let her name fool you—she wreaks Havoc all year round.
Above, a very nice promo photo of Vancouver born actress June Havoc from her 1949 drama The Story of Molly X. Also among her long list of films were Gentleman's Agreement, Once a Thief, Lady Possessed, and The Iron Curtain. Though her real name obviously wasn't Havoc, it was close—she was originally Ellen June Hovick. Molly X looks interesting, so we'll see if we can track that down and report back.
CanadaVancouverThe Story of Molly XGentleman's AgreementOnce a ThiefLady PossessedThe Iron CurtainJune Havoc
| Femmes Fatales | Sep 3 2020 |
She barely stomached Hollywood.
Adele Jergens, who appeared in I Love Trouble, The Corpse Came C.O.D., The Dark Path, and numerous other films, got her start in show business, like so many actresses of her era, when she won the a beauty contest—Miss World's Fairest, at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Later, as one of the famed Rockettes dancing troupe, she was named the number one showgirl in New York City. This led to her serving as understudy to burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee in the Broadway production Star and Garter, and from there Jergens never looked back. That's probably why she forgot half of her sweater. This fun image of her with bare midriff was made in Los Angeles in 1946, by the pool at the famed Town House Hotel, a locale we've talked about more than once. Find out why by clicking its keywords below and scrolling through those posts, and you can do the same with Jergens if you want to see what else we've posted about her.
New York CityLos AngelesBroadwayTown House HotelStar and GarterI Love TroubleThe Corpse Came C.O.D.The Dark PathAdele JergensGypsy Rose Leeburlesque
| Femmes Fatales | Aug 29 2020 |
Suddenly petroleum products don't seem so bad.
Above, a beautiful photo of model Inga Vasa, who was touted as a soon-to-be-star for a hot minute back during the late 1960s. This shot was made by photographer Rico May, and came from a 1968 issue of the Dutch magazine De Lach. Was Vasa Dutch? We can't say. More likely Swedish. But she's so obscure we can't be sure either way. Nice shot, though.
| Femmes Fatales | Jul 19 2020 |
Okay, class, now let's see if you think math is boring.
This photo shows U.S. actress Janis Paige wearing a swimsuit covered with lightning bolts, which we can only assume was made by someone who forgot that water and lightning can be a lethal mix. Paige also has a nifty lightning bolt pointer which she's using to highlight equations having to do with gamma rays. We doubt they're legit, but what actually was legit is Paige's career. It spanned six decades and included several notable films, but her star shone brightest on Broadway, where she was a huge hit in Remains To Be Seen, The Pajama Game, and other extravaganzas. We don't have a date on this photo, but figure around 1950. See another here.
| Femmes Fatales | Jul 15 2020 |
In a field full of wildflowers she's the wildest of all.
Exotic Tina Aumont, whose father was French actor Jean-Pierre Aumont and mother was Dominican actress Maria Montez, built an appropriately international film career mainly in Italy and France. But surprisingly she was American. In fact, she was born in Hollywood. Some of her films include Salon Kitty, La principessa nuda, aka The Nude Princess, and Satyricon—the Gian Luigi Polidoro one, not the Fellini one. Though she did later star in Fellini's Casanova in 1976. The photo above is from 1975 and first appeared in Italian Playboy.
ItalyFranceDominican RepublicHollywoodSatyriconFellini's CasanovaIl Casanova di Federico FelliniSalon KittyLa principessa nudaThe Nude PrincessPlayboyTina AumontJean-Pierre AumontMaria MontezGian Luigi Polidoronudity
| Femmes Fatales | Sportswire | Jul 14 2020 |
Sarong and thanks for all the fish!
Above is a rare image of competitive swimmer-turned-actress Esther Williams, made when she was filming her 1950 south seas musical Pagan Love Song. By rare we mean this image had been previously unseen online in color, as far as we know. We shared another William promo a while back, here, and we also have a special Williams rarity, a Tijuana bible we posted ages ago. Well, ten years ago. It's raunchy, but funny too. See here.
| Femmes Fatales | Jul 10 2020 |
Perfect for special occasions.
This promo photo in vibrant color shows Argentine actress Linda Cristal, performer in numerous western films and television series. Our favorite movie of hers isn't a true western, but almost fits the bill. It's Mr. Majestyk, with Charles Bronson, based on a great Elmore Leonard novel about a farmer and some migrant workers. Cristal is yet another celeb who had an interesting name change. You understand how Spanish and Latin American naming conventions work, with, often, two first names, two last names, and sometimes even middle names added, right? Cristal's full name was Marta Victoria Moya Peggo Burges. We think Marta Victoria would have worked fine as a stage name. Or better yet—Marta Moya. That has a nice alliterative flow. Or maybe even Marta Peggo. Actually, scratch that one. Peggo Burges? No? Well anyway, she chose Linda Cristal, which is fine, and as you Spanish speakers know, it's a combo of the words for “cute,” or “pretty,” and “glass,” or “crystal.” We'll go with pretty glass. The name fits. Cristal just died a couple of weeks ago in Beverly Hills, where she had resided for many years. The photo is from around 1955.
