Giallogy Meets The Bombshell: The Sweet Body of Carroll Baker

In which we honor, celebrate, worship, fetishize, objectify, and generally enthuse over the Sweet Body of Giallo Queen Carroll Baker. Every so often with Giallogy I’ll focus on an actor or director, usually ones with strong connections to the genre. This time I’m shining the bright yellow spotlight (get it?) on a woman I’ve dubbed … Continue reading Giallogy Meets The Bombshell: The Sweet Body of Carroll Baker

Bombshells: Debra Paget

Born Debralee Griffin on August 19, 1933 in Denver Colorado, Debra Paget’s acting career began as a teenager, making her film debut at 15 in Cry of the City (1948). She went on to star in westerns, swashbucklers, and period pieces over a career that lasted until the early 1960s, when she retired after marrying … Continue reading Bombshells: Debra Paget

Bombshells: Betty Grable, the Girl with the Million Dollar Legs

"I became a star for two reasons, and I'm standing on them." — Betty Grable Legs for days. American actress and pinup model Betty Grable (1916–1973) was a big box office draw, starring in many successful films during her movie career, including Mother Wore Tights (1947) and How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)—the latter of … Continue reading Bombshells: Betty Grable, the Girl with the Million Dollar Legs

Bombshells: Chili Williams, the Polka-Dot Girl

A popular pinup girl in her day, the Minneapolis-born Chili Williams would still likely be categorized as a minor bombshell. Her film career lasted less than a decade—which certainly wasn’t uncommon for minor bombshells of the 1940s and 1950s—but she earned everlasting fame as “The Polka-Dot Girl” after a photo of her sporting a polka-dotted … Continue reading Bombshells: Chili Williams, the Polka-Dot Girl

Bombshells: Alexandra Bastedo

While English actress Alexandra Bastedo (1946–2014) really burst onto the scene after the heyday of the Blonde Bombshell in cinema, we all know the Blonde Bombshell never really went away. Survey any point in cinematic history and you’ll find scads of bodacious blondes lighting up movie screens with their incandescent beauty. Speaking of incandescence, Bestado … Continue reading Bombshells: Alexandra Bastedo

Bombshells: Vera Day

English bombshell Vera Day (August 4, 1935) was once touted as Britain's answer to Marilyn Monroe. The absurdly photogenic and stunningly buxom blonde was certainly a looker during her prime acting years in the 1950s. Like many bombshells, Day eventually segued out of acting, but reappeared over the years here and there, most notably in Lock, … Continue reading Bombshells: Vera Day

Bombshells: Mara Corday

Born Marilyn Joan Watts on January 30, 1930 in Santa Monica, California, Mara Corday was an American showgirl, model, actress, Playboy Playmate and, as Wikipedia says, a “1950s cult figure.” That’s probably thanks to Playboy and the various westerns, horror, and science fiction B-movies she made during the fifties. The raven-haired Corday, who turned 94 … Continue reading Bombshells: Mara Corday