I was part of an odd disagreement earlier this year. I told a woman—a former Ms. Pennsylvania, successful model, and definite winner of the “Genetic Lottery” that Ingrid Bergman was as beautiful as beautiful can be in Casablanca. The disagreement arose when I was told that I shouldn’t tell one beautiful woman that another beautiful woman is beautiful. To make the disagreement even odder, the former Ms. Pennsylvania was in Pittsburgh a few years ago for an extended period while trying to write a screenplay with her friend. The idea of watching Casablanca, one of the greatest movies ever made and easily the most romantic movie of all time, was a silly suggestion as that movie is “…just so damn old!” (her term).
I’m ready for Round Two. Eva Marie Saint died on October 6th at the age of 102. She was one of the sexiest women who ever appeared in a movie, even though her sexiness had to be muted at times. In On The Waterfront (1954), she plays Edie Doyle, a Catholic school girl who gets involved with mob-linked Terry Malloy, the ex-boxer played by Marlon Brando. Her sexiness was quieted down by the purpose of her character (and her wardrobe). But in North by Northwest (1959) her allure was turned on high. There is a scene in a train’s dining car where she seduces Cary Grant’s character Roger Thornhill. Eva’s character, Eve Kendall, is a young, liberated woman who gave Roger Thornhill the “once over twice” and plans to pass the time on the train with him (in the sleeper car later). A seduction scene written today would be different from such a 1959 scene but the scene is much like Ms. Saint’s sexiness—timeless.
She appeared in other notable movies. A short list:
A Hatful of Rain (1957)
Based on the stage play with the same title. The play was written by Michael V Gazzo, better known as Frank Pentangeli (“Frankie Five Angels) in The Godfather II
Raintree County (1957)
Civil War-era movie with Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor
Exodus (1960)
Film version of Leon Uris novel starring Paul Newman
36 Hours (1964)
Underrated (and personal favorite) WWII movie starring James Garner
Grand Prix (1964)
Racing movie also starring James Garner
Do yourself a favor today. Go to YouTube and enter “Eva Marie Saint and Cary Grant on the train”. You’ll see—and hear—why she was so sexy (her voice was as sexy as the rest of her).
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