I
spent a good part of last night watching vintage recordings of Eartha
Kitt's TV shows, especially the 3 part serial restored to it's
splendour by Tony, one of the regular contributors in the Multiply Fine
Arts Group, who is a master of such skills. I have known about Eartha
Kitt of course through the many songs of hers and all the brilliant
publicity that every now and then, still circulates about her and her
achievements in show business over the last half of the century. I know
that she was a world known figure in the field of entertainment, an
accomplished dancer, singer, cabaret performer and actress, hailed by
Orson Welles as 'the most exciting woman on earth' and by a critic as
'capable of setting fire on songs', and the unanimous accolade as 'a
very sexy' woman'.
As
is with most people, and as much as I love all that I have seen and
known of her, never before had I thought of finding out more about her
until it's too late. Naturally since her death on Christmas Day all
media all over the world have published all sorts of reports of her
incredible career, and snippets of her personal life; my own regret is I
don't remember having seen her work as an actress. Or, if I had, I
can't recall any of it. Maybe I am not alone in this. I would dearly
love to see a couple of her movies purely as an actress, not just
someone who sang in a movie. Wonder whether Tony has got some of these
tucked away in his treasure trove?
I
know about some of the film titles. She debuted in Hollywood in 1948,
and later appeared in Orson Welles's 'Helen of Troy', his film version
of the theatre production 'Dr. Faustus'. Then in 1957 she appeared in
the film of Michael Audley 'The mark of the Hawk' with Sydney Poitier (I
always thought him gorgeous), and her role in the TV series of the
60's 'Batman' where she substituted Julie Newmar - I know something
about this latter too have seen a very interesting film about her.
Another legendary star, another story.
In
1968 Eartha Kitt's career path took an unexpected and unfortunate turn
when, after a lunch organized in the White House, she showed to be
contrary to her country's participation in the Vietnam War. Her
declarations provoked boycotts of her shows in the United States,
obliging her to a professional exile.
However
she returned to New York triumphant eventually in 1978 with the
musical 'Tumbuktu' presented in Broadway, and her career took off again
flying, very active and working till 1997 with several of her most
famous songs like 'Santa Baby', 'My heart belongs to daddy', 'Let's do
it', and those in French 'C'est ci bon' and 'Je cherche un homme'.
She was one of these rare stars that fits the saying: Once seen, never forgotten.
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