It's a Bikini World

Arguably the most famous sex symbol of the 1960's and 1970's, Miss Raquel Welch (September 5, 1940) managed to become a pop culture icon and bona fide superstar, despite a string of mostly mediocre (if highly ballyhooed) films. She got her start appearing in bit parts, both on television (Bewitched) and films (1964's Roundabout, with Elvis). A featured role in the beach party B flick, A Swingin' Summer (1965), revealed both a knockout, bikini-clad figure and a nice sense of comic timing, and 20th Century Fox soon came calling. Quickly cast in the well-received sci-fi fantasy, Fantastic Voyage (1966), Raquel became an immediate sensation. A loan-out to the Hammer Studios for a remake of One Million Years B.C. (1966) turned Raquel Welch into a legend.



The iconic image of Raquel in a fur bikini launched a million teenaged boys' fantasies -- the straight ones wanted to bed her, and the homo ones wanted to be her. Indeed, an important part of Raquel's screen persona was her outrageously camp sense of humor and flamboyant style. Never one to play the victimized sex kitten, Raquel was clearly in control and aware of the game, which is why she never appeared to be in the clutches of exploitation, even if most of her films were mere exercises in titillation. Her intense physical allure and charisma also guaranteed that even her most trivial films remained watchable; here at Stirred, Straight Up with a Twist, we're rather partial to her role as a go-go dancer on the run from a deranged stalker in Flare-Up (1970). Of course, Raquel reached the pinnacle of camp when she agreed to star, with Mae West (!), in Fox's lavish adaptation of Gore Vidal's Myra Breckenridge (1970).



Vidal's novel was probably unfilmable, and the finished product certainly gave credence to that theory; as the male-to-female transsexual title character, Raquel certainly gave 100% to her role, but the film was a convoluted mess which appalled mainstream America with its sex change theme, scenes of male anal rape (courtesy of La Welch and a strap-on dildo), and odd inserts of classic B&W film clips from the Fox vaults. (That paragon of virtue, Loretta Young, sued when she found out that one of her clips was included in what she deemed a "pornographic" venture.) A cult classic today, the film stands up as a fascinating document of the schism between the crumbling Hollywood studio system and the counterculture; as well as a pretty fabulous fashion show of over-the-top Theodora Van Runkle costumes. Remarkably, Raquel emerged from the controvery relatively unscathed.



The 1970's were a productive time for Raquel; besides camp classics like Kansas City Bomber (1972), her infamous roller derby flick, Raquel also shone in The Three Musketeers (1973), finally winning critical plaudits for her sharp wit and comic ability -- and earning a Golden Globe in the process. A good vocalist, Raquel also developed a successful nightclub act during this time, and followed Lauren Bacall into the Broadway production of Woman of the Year in 1979. She had also, unfortunately, earned a not-undeserved reputation as a temperamental diva on-set, and, in 1982, she was unceremoniously dumped from Cannery Row and replaced with Debra Winger; the producers claimed that Welch was taking too long to get ready each morning. Welch successfully sued, and won a large settlement, but her film career was effectively ended by the event.


RAQUEL WELCH'S CAMPY 12" DANCE SINGLE, THIS GIRL'S BACK IN TOWN (1987)

Undaunted, Raquel kept busy with a series of acclaimed television movies, and even found time to record her first single, a Paul Jabara-penned piece of fluff called "This Girl's Back in Town" (1987). Not surprisingly, from the writer of Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand's "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)," The Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men" and Diana Ross' "Work That Body," the song is a campy, dance-driven bon-bon. Unfortunately, it had little currency anywhere but the gay dance clubs, and didn't do much for Raquel's career.


RAQUEL WELCH TODAY

In recent years, Raquel has continued to be a presence on television, giving guest star turns on Seinfeld and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, as well as funny apperances on talk shows. Raquel also had a cameo in Legally Blonde (2001), and seems, at this stage, comfortable spoofing both her sex symbol image, and her temperamental reputation. She also remains, unquestionably, a bombshell of magnificent proportions. Happy Birthday, Raquel Welch!

Yes, Sir!

It may be a cliche that Sir Sean Connery (August 25, 1930) is the world's sexiest senior citizen, but it also happens to be the truth. There aren't many near-octagenarians that we'd care to see naked, but Sir Sean tops that short list.



He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of a truck driver and a cleaning woman. Following various jobs, including milkman, lorry driver and coffin polisher, the strikingly handsome young Sean became an artists' model and bodybuilder, entering the 1953 Mr. Universe contest and placing third.




THE 1953 MR. UNIVERSE FINALISTS; SEAN CONNERY IS FOURTH FROM THE LEFT.

Stage, television and screen work soon beckoned; Connery toured with a production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific, and made a handful of inconsequential films with titles like Hell Drivers and Action of the Tiger. In 1958, he made his biggest splash to date when he was cast opposite one of the biggest film stars in the world, Lana Turner, in the sudsy melodrama Another Time, Another Place. Connery's intense sex appeal immediately set him apart from the run-of-the-mill Hollywood pretty boys popular at the time.


PUBLICITY PORTRAIT FOR ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE (1958)

It would be another four years before Connery won the role which would turn him into an instant icon and superstar; the producers of the proposed James Bond series, based on Ian Fleming's wildly successful novels, had originally envisioned the screen Bond as an urbane, David Niven/Cary Grant type. Connery's swarthy masculinity brought a heightened sexual allure to his characterization; while director Terence Young took Connery under his wing to bring the requisite elegance and refinement neccessary to complete the Bond persona. Dr. No (1962) had a decidedly modest budget, and neither Connery nor leading lady Ursuala Andress were considered "name" stars. After the film's debut, both would be indelibly imprinted in the public's consciousness, and Connery, in particular, became a worldwide phenomenon.


CONNERY AS THE QUINTESSENTIAL JAMES BOND IN DR. NO (1962)

From Russia with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965) and You Only Live Twice (1967) all followed in quick succession, each one furthering the Bond/Connery mystique and appeal. But Connery was tiring of appearing in a series; he also was chafing at the relatively low salary he was receiving under his original contract. After the first post-Connery Bond film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), sputtered at the box office, Connery was lured back to the role with a $1 million paycheck for Diamonds are Forever (1971), which proved to be his "official" swan song to the franchise.


THUNDERBALL (1965)

Following his defection from Bond, Connery maintained his status as one of the world's most popular stars, with a series of critically and commercially successful projects like Murder on the Orient Express (1974), The Wind and the Lion and The Man Who Would Be King (both 1975). He really came into his own, and finally shed the Bond baggage for good, in the 1980's, thanks to roles in Highlander and The Name of the Rose (both 1986) and his Oscar-winning turn in The Untouchables (1987). It was during this time that Connery's reputation as being a seriously sexy older gent was established; and, indeed, he seems to have stopped the clock sometime in the late 1970's.


CONNERY AT A 1980 EVENT


SIR SEAN CONNERY C. 2006

Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000, Connery is also the recipient of a 1998 Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2006 AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, among many accolades. We humbly wish him a very Happy Birthday, Sir Sean Connery!

Class Act

PETER JENNINGS

July 29, 1938 - August 8, 2005

Don't Hate Her Because She's Beautiful

Miss Kelly LeBrock, then...



...and now:



I guess being married to Steven Seagal would do that to just about anyone.


RARE PHOTO TAKEN DURING THE 15 MINUTES IN THE 1980'S WHEN STEVEN SEAGAL SEEMED SEMI-HOT


STEVEN SEAGAL LOOKING MORE FAMILIAR

And God Said...

On the 27th day of July, all persons born on that date shall be gorgeous, with perfectly dreamy eyes.


JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS (JULY 28, 1977)



NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU (JULY 27, 1970)


MISS BOBBIE GENTRY (JULY 27, 1944)

It's a Guy Thing

With the rumor mill furiously spinning stories of Madge and Guy's imminent divorce, let us take a moment to stop and acknowledge the fact that he is one fine hunk o' British beef.

We Love Her, Ye Ye Ye

Of all of the famed "Ye-Ye Girls" of 1960's French pop, none rocked harder than Sylvie Vartan. Where Francoise Hardy was cool and detached, and France Gall cheerful and accessible, Sylvie was dirty and low-down. No girlish chirping or cooing; Sylvie growled out French language versions of Ray Charles and The Ikettes, and made it sound completely plausible.

When she made her debut in 1961, Sylvie came across rather like a young Joey Heatherton -- brash sexuality barely concealed by her prim blouses and below-the-knee skirts. But her knowing smirk and come-hither stare conveyed to all and sundry that she was a good girl willing to go bad.

In 1965, Sylvie married fellow French rocker Johnny Hallyday, and the couple became Pop Royalty of the highest order. We applaud her courage in marrying someone with an equal, if not greater, penchant for smoldering gazes, blond highlights and pouty posturing.



Surviving two serious car accidents (the second of which required extensive reconstructive cosmetic surgery), Sylvie continued her success into the 1970's. Her material veered more towards the mainstream at this point, encompassing bubblegum pop and cabaret-style ballads.



In need of a career rejuvenation, Sylvie embraced the disco craze with characteristic elan and glamour. Her disco diva phase even resulted in a brief vogue in America, culminating in a highly-touted stint at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas before a star-studded audience. Sylvie wowed the crowd with her renditions of Donna Summer, Laura Branigan and Diana Ross hits, as well as her own material, and showed off her remarkable figure in a variety of Dietrich-esque gowns and costumes.



Vartan and Hallyday divorced in 1980; Sylvie continued to perform, but at a less frenetic pace, for the remainder of the decade and the 1990's. She briefly retired from public view after the 2001 shooting death of her brother, but returned to performing in 2004, looking as glamorous as ever.


Oh, and as if Sylvie and her colorful life and career weren't fabulous enough already, she's also aunt to this:


MICHAEL VARTAN

Some Things Are Timeless...

Just Because

Really, just because we're horny.

Presenting Francois Sagat.

She's So Unusual

And fierce. Happy Birthday, Cyndi Lauper! We love you.

Birthdays Are a Drag

Billy Wilder would have been 102 today (he passed in 2002); Meryl Streep turns 59. Wilder's tour de force as a writer and director may very well have been Some Like it Hot (1959), in which Jack Lemmon plays a musician on the lam from the mob, who disguises himself as "Daphne," a member of an all-girl band. Streep's most recent success was as the ferocious fashionista, Miranda Priestley in The Devil Wears Prada (2006). Is it just me, or does Miranda look like Daphne after a complete makeover session?





Spooky.