Google used one of their doodles to pay a nice tribute to the actress Hedy Lamarr this week. She combined two very unusual careers – Hollywood leading lady and inventor. There have been many attractive femme fatales in movie history, but I’m unaware of any others who held a patent on frequency hopping wireless communication. That’s an idea that forms the basis for modern WiFi and cellphone signals.
As an actress one of her more famous roles was as the biblical Delilah in the 1949 movie. I’ve always thought that Delilah’s reputation for betrayal and deceit was somewhat undeserved. The biblical verses in question say that Samson loved her, but they don’t say how she felt about the issue. It would be one thing if she betrayed the love of her life, but maybe he was just an annoying jerk who wouldn’t take no for an answer. More importantly, every time he claimed to tell her the secret of his strength, she immediately betrayed him to the Philistines in a very obvious fashion. Yet despite three separate betrayals, Samson still went on to tell her the truth about his hair. The lesson from this shouldn’t be that Delilah was deceitful. It’s that Samson was a colossal moron.
The patent was awarded to her and composer George Antheil in 1942.
She was also the first actress who dared (or was allowed) to fake a female orgasm in a Hollywood movie: ‘Ecstasy’.
Her husband tried to buy all the copies, so the world would not learn how that looked.
One of my role models when I grew up, together with Lise Meitner, Amy Johnson, Amelia Earhart and Hanna Reitsch.
Yes, I was tempted to write about the ‘Ecstasy’ movie as well, but didn’t want the post to get too long. I’ve never seen it, but I should really make the effort to.
Happy I could feature one of your role models. The others are also interesting – with Hanna Reitsch being somewhat of a controversial choice. Thanks for dropping by to comment.
-paltego
Most relevant scenes from ‘Extacy’ can be viewed on YouTube. I can recommend it to all who like old black and white movies.
My mom grew up in the 30s in Pirna, Saxony, Germany and Hanna Reitsch inspired her to learn to fly.
Tough old bird is 85 now and still patrols the skies over and around Vancouver like the proverbial ‘hun in the sun’.
She and dad – who flew for the loosing team during the war – taught and trained me and I was privileged to solo for my ppl a few months short of my 15th birthday.
Doing a solo for your ppl aged 14 is pretty impressive. I have a friend trying for his ppl right now, and he’s taking a fair while getting through it. Although admittedly Seattle weather doesn’t lend itself to regular flying in the fall!
The life of Hanna Reitsch is probably too complicated a topic to tackle in a comment field here :). Clearly an amazing and incredible aviation talent. Her devotion to Hitler throughout the war (and right to the end) somewhat less impressive. Her evolution afterwards and work in Africa is notable and striking.
-paltego
-paltego
“That’s ‘Hedley’!”
Sorry, can’t help the Blazing Saddles reference.