http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVbbiQqoKhY
As a huge Marilyn Monroe fan, I have to submit my second piece of marilyn kitsch….
This is a scene from Irving Berlin’s “There’s No Business Like Show Business”. A somewhat unknown and forgettable film from 1954
Im going to include some quotes about the number, and the costume Marilyn wore….
QUOTE – The film’s liveliest production number was a torrid version of “Heat Wave” performed by Marilyn and a bevy of male dancers. Considered controversial at the time, the number featured Marilyn in a flamenco skirt slit all the way up the front.
CM SQUARED – I personally think its one of the best scenes in this sleepy musical!
QUOTE – The bumps and grinds that were part of the choreography revealed the black leotard-bottom underneath her costume, and outraged some observers who were not accustomed to this sort of unblushing display. Reviewers added to the controversy by singling out the number as vulgar or crude.
CM SQUARED – It makes me laugh that this was seen as vulgar. Im so glad I wasn’t alive in those days. What would I have done?!
QUOTE – Bosley Crowther of The New York Times stated that Marilyn’s “wriggling and squirming . . . are embarrassing to behold.”
Time magazine intoned that Marilyn “bumps and grinds as expressively as the law will allow.”
CM SQUARED – Look at this amazing original sketch of the costume. Travilla dressed Marilyn in so many fabulous outfits!
QUOTE – Then came the release of “There’s No Business Like Showbusiness.” She was criticized for vulgarity‚Äîindeed, how her pelvic-centered “Heat Wave” musical number escaped the censors is astonishing.
CM SQUARED – I think her dancing is on point! She doesn’t miss a beat, and check out how long the shots are!
QUOTE – DiMaggio, who felt that her costumes were too revealing and not suitable for a wife of his to flaunt herself in. He particularly detested the ‚ÄòHeatwave’ costume and refused point blank to pose for photos with her whilst she was wearing it.
CM SQUARED – He sured missed out!
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Allee Willis
Although technically this clip does not take place in the jungle other than that of Hollywood (the fiercest jungle of all-not in the good and much overused sense of the word ‘fierce”),Marilyn’s hat in the frame of the video that’s on this page is one of the best pieces of jungle haberdashery I’ve ever seen. The percussion is also way jungle appropriate.
Unless it occurred with me in an an ultra air-conditioned pod there’s no question that I’m the least likely candidate for an actual jungle safari should it mean any of my sweat glands be exposed to the heat. Marilyn, on the other hand, looked good when she sweat.
(The AWMOK Jungle Animal Petting Zoo is a scenic attraction whose cages are currently being filled to coincide with the release of the upcoming Pomplamoose with Allee Willis “Jungle Animal” VideoSong and online music game and contest. Jungle tamer, AWMOK creator, curator and charming hostess, Allee Willis, me, will be steadily leading jungle animals to their cages over the next 1-2 months or so as you bring them here until the song is released. If ever there ever was a category that was primed to be kitschified it’s that of “Jungle Animal” as all the stripes, spots and fur have been inspiration for designers since the beginning of time. I thank you all in advance for placing your jungle pets in such an illustrious cage as The Allee Willis Museum of Kitsch. Keep them coming!)