Thursday, February 23, 2006
Monday Glamour Starter --- Maureen O'Sullivan --- Part 1
Would anyone mind terribly if we went to two parts for these lovely, unabashed pre-code shots of Maureen O’Sullivan from Tarzan and His Mate? We stumbled across the first few, then some more, and … well, how could we leave any of these out? I mean, honestly, was there ever anything remotely like her … ever? This is one Tarzan pic that’ll perk up even the most jaded modern viewer, especially with all the keen footage they’ve put back in the DVD. That nude swimming sequence was always the stuff of legend among collectors. I knew of a Canadian 16mm fan who had a print that included it. Funny thing is, his version was topless only, whereas the DVD is totally nude. That isn’t Maureen in the water either way, more’s the pity, and from what we hear, Metro shot a number of variations on the swim scene. I’ve actually seen guys crane their necks during that part where Maureen’s rubbing the sticks together to ward off the lions, as if maybe a different viewing position will reveal a little more of her. What a picture. All that stuff with the gorillas throwing boulders on the safari from the top of the cliff is just beyond great. I knew a girl once, she was a teenager at the time, who was just nuts about Maureen. This was about twenty years ago. Anyway, she told her parents that her dream was to meet the actress, by now in her seventies and living in New York. Well, lo and behold, high school graduation arrived, and Mom and Dad gifted her with a trip to NYC, where she spent the day with Maureen! Who says celebrities aren’t good scouts?