My
first and perhaps most vivid memory of Raquel Welch wasn’t watching her on the big screen but listening to my uncle describe
the indelible impression she left on his mind during the 60s.
During the late 90s, Baywatch was shown interminably on TV, once when the program was playing my uncle remarked
“For your
generation it is Baywatch, during our time it was Raquel Welch”
His
voice rose a few decibels as he pronounced her name.
“The movie was One Million Years B.C. There was a giant poster of Raquel wearing a very skimpy outfit at a key location in the city."
"The poster had to be removed because it was a distraction for drivers”
“The
poster caused such as sensation that the shows ran to full houses. There were cheers and whistles when Welch appears on the screen.”
“Many who watched the film multiple times.”
"I watched it twice," he said whispered.
His face lit up as he recounted the experience. He cautiously refrained from being graphic, hence the words such as ‘siren’, ‘bombshell’, and even ‘shapely’ were used as adjectives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd-kdrF6rxk
This was
the pre-internet era. Despite our eagerness, we couldn’t download
an image of Welch or searched for One Million Years B.C on YouTube or any other streaming
platform.
Years later, when Bedazzled (1967) was shown on TV I remembered my
uncle’s words, Welch truly had a sultry presence.
It was
not difficult to comprehend why she became one of the most sought-after stars
throughout the '60s and '70s.
Sadly, the era came to an end yesterday when it was announced that Welch passed away at her home in Los Angeles on Wednesday following a brief illness.
Welch
began her career on TV during the early ‘60s appearing briefly on shows such as
The Virginian, McHale's Navy, and Bewitched, and
on the big screen with Elvis Presley in Roustabout and Doris Day in Do
Not Disturb.
She
played an air hostess in Bewitched, they didn’t even show her face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMb1-L7rwf8
She was noticed by fans and Hollywood bosses in the
musical comedy A
Swingin' Summer (1965)
It
causes her to bag the leading part in the Hammer Studio’s 1966 remake of One
Million B.C. (1940).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek8ikEGhsyE
Also in 1966, Welch starred in the sci-fi adventure Fantastic Voyage. The film received positive reviews and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO5E4wkg0hA
In 1967, Welch starred in the British comedy film Bedazzled.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsyqpUP1knQ
Also
in 1967, Raquel played the title role in the James Bond spoof Fathom. Perhaps this was compensation for missing out as the leading lady
in the 007 film Thunderball in 1965 due to scheduling conflicts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jcNiJi0nCo
Welch also starred in westerns such as
Bandolero! (1968) and 100 Rifles
(1969) both films didn’t do well with audiences or critics, but it
was an opportunity for Welch to broaden her horizons by playing an action star in a new genre.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJReENn1fuY
Next, Welch did the unthinkable for that time, playing the title role of a transgender woman in Myra Breckinridge (1970). It was based on a novel by Gore Vidal and was fiercely rejected by critics and at the box office.
Welch
spoke about the film during an interview with Dick Cavett
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIFCBJFZdoU
She
returned to westerns as the avenger in 1971 with Hannie Caulder, and the film did well at
the box office. Quentin Tarantino said the
film was one of his inspirations for the Kill Bill series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjkifyQ4NiU
In
1972, she received acclaim for playing a single mother of young Jodie Foster
in the sports drama Kansas City Bomber
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdPn01FOrZY
In
1973 she played Constance Bonacieux, the dressmaker of the Queen in The
Three Musketeers. Welch received great acclaim for her role and was
honored with a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Musical or
Comedy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssLVKLJ8ojU
Also
in 1973, Welch starred in The Last of Sheila which went on to be regarded as
one of the best murder mystery movies ever made. It was the inspiration for the Knives
Out mystery films.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPHMoDpCHU8
Welch was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1987 for Best Actress in a Television Film for her role in Right to Die about a woman who is diagnosed with A.L.S. and who ultimately finds her living situation impossible to endure.
Raquel parodied herself as a fire-breathing prima donna in a memorable appearance
in the season 8 finale of Seinfeld in 1997.
Raquel
also appeared in Legally Blonde, Spin City, CSI:
Miami, House of Versace, and, most recently, How to
Be a Latin Lover.
Welch also performed a one-woman nightclub musical act in Los Angeles for many years.
Raquel was named one of the "100 Sexiest Stars in Film History" in an issue of Empire magazine in 1995, she ranked #3 in Playboy's "100 Sexiest Stars of the 20th Century." In 1996, she was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
But the perils of a sex symbol is that audiences and critics seldom take the star seriously. Few realize that projecting sexiness on screen requires acting skills, it isn’t only about showing skin.
She seldom played the damsel in distress or the empty-headed sexpot. Welch's sexiness was part of her character, not the whole of her character. She was usually confident, tough, resourceful, and smart on screen.
Welch always rose to the occasion when presented with an opportunity. She has a great aptitude for comedy. She was also quite excellent in dramatic roles.
But a
talented actor needs a great director and screenwriter to display what she is
capable of. Unfortunately, Welch was never part of anything masterful that made ample use of her talents as a performer.
Even the
tributes paid to her are mostly her
life in pictures where readers get to browse through photos of the
very stunning Raquel but few describe her talents as a performer.
Welch was aware of this and had made peace with it
“Part of being a sex symbol is very flattering and it does help you get success in the business - but only to a point,” Welch said during the release of her 2001 film “Tortilla Soup,” adding that “it does cloud people’s imagination.
Off-screen Raquel dedicated a significant amount of her time entertaining US troops stationed abroad and touring with Bob during the 60s and 70s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0glx5o0x50
She also launched her line of jewelry, beauty, and fitness products such as her video promoting Yoga.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN3d7thMbxQ
But she will be remembered as an icon who illuminated the screen with her presence.
Also appears on American Thinker
Comments
Post a Comment