Farewell To An Icon -- and, Either You'll Get This, Or You Won't

[filkertom]

This is going to sound idiotic to some people. I suspect others will understand completely.

The most desired woman in the history of film passed away today at the age of ninety-six.

She was in a whole bunch of movies, over a span of years from 1923 to 1980. She was on TV in a number of roles from 1952 to 1960. She even wrote a play in 1944. But she is best known for precisely one thing, and for that thing she became a goddess.

Because those of us of a certain bent could not get out of our heads the idea of there being anything, anything in the world, better than either rescuing a beautiful, terrified young woman, and feeling her desperate, passionate form clinging in sobbing gratitude... or of being the hitherto unimaginable beast that held her ripe beauty in the palm of our hand.

Fay Wray died quietly in her sleep on Sunday. If that hits you the way it hits me... well, either it does, or it doesn't.

Here's the Yahoo news story and her listing at IMDB.

Fare thee well, gentle lady. And thank you for an adventure we will never forget.

Comments

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

It was Beauty that killed The Beast.

I bet Peter Jackson stops work for a day or three.

[jkb.livejournal.com]

What a lovely tribute. You've made me feel more for her passing than I had before.

Whatever happened to ...

[ericcoleman]

Such sweet vulnerability, (not to mention what curves), such lung power, the sort of face you don't see anymore (more's the pity).

She was exquisite.

Oddly enough, when looking at her resume, I realized that I had seen her in a lot. But I only remember the one.

I gotta pull out the Big Monkey Tape tonight. My kids might laugh at it (the youngest probably won't, he gets his dad's taste in old film) and watch one of the greatest movies ever made.

'night Fay. You moved a lot of us.

(gonna put this on my LJ too)

Whatever Hapenned... To Fay Wray?

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

well, that answers THAT question!

Re: Whatever Hapenned... To Fay Wray?

[nuveena.livejournal.com]

That delicate, satin-draped frame...

(So sorry. I can't help it. The Devil made me do it.)

Incidentally, y'all have relieved me greatly. I've been going up to people all day saying, "Oh, wow, did you hear Fay Wray died?" and mostly they've responded, "Who??"

So passes an icon...

Re: Whatever Hapenned... To Fay Wray?

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Yeah, yeah. "Kids these days...." Never thought it'd be us saying that, huh? :)

Re: Whatever Hapenned... To Fay Wray?

[nuveena.livejournal.com]

No, I didn't. And I only just turned 30! I thought I'd have more TIME before I had to start harrumphing about the fecklessness of the younger generation... :)

Re: Whatever Hapenned... To Fay Wray?

[sylverwolfe.livejournal.com]

you thought you'd have more time? i'm 22 and my coworkers make me feel positively antique for knowing or caring about things like this.

[mysterg.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, Faye shall be missed, and she has left us with an indellible image in the backs of our minds, forever more:)

[poltr1]

I honestly thought she passed on a long time ago. That's how reclusive she's been in the last few decades.

I've noticed that most people who remember her role from King Kong don't remember her character's name. According to the IMDB entry for King Kong, it was "Ann Darrow."

I remember Fay Wray in King Kong

[celticferret.livejournal.com]

The only movie I remember Fay Wray in was King Kong. I have always been aware that she was a working actress most of her life. I follow movies for thier stories and not the artists, actors and the rest the staff that brings them to life.

KG

[gpeefalt.livejournal.com]

I thought she went ape-shit...

[adamek.livejournal.com]

phbbbtttt!!!

Looking for peanut gun...



8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

[partiallyclips.livejournal.com]

Yeah, sorry, but a similar joke immediately occurred to me. Now instead of "Hey Riff, show us Karen Carpenter!" in Rocky Horror, you can yell, "Whatever happened to Fay Wray?"

-----

"If King King has gone flat,
Rent 'The Vampire Bat,'
That's some more Wray."

~Spider Robinson

[r-caton.livejournal.com]

"Mystery of the Wax Museum" with Lionel Atwill was an excellent film (2-tone Technicolor) and "Bulldog Jack" wasn't too bad...
Look at the many silent comedies she did...I'd love to see Don Key (A Son of Burro)

[jss]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking this.

"You'd cry too, in lingerie covered in ape shit!"

Musaceae To My Ears

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Well, a lot of us thought she had appeal....

[drzarron.livejournal.com]

I just read that in honor of Ms Wray, the Empire State Building will dim its lights for 15 minutes this evening. An honor rarely given.

[dbcooper.livejournal.com]

And so goes perhaps the world's finest Damsel in Distress. Ms. Wray will be missed.

Cheap joke:
She'll only need one pallbearer--but then, he's 30 feet tall.