Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (2018)

Sick Product of a Sick System

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

(Flash Review)Is it possible for a beautiful and famed leading lady to also be taken seriously for her mind? Hedy Lamarr was a successful actress whose career kicked off in the early 30s. At one point she was regarded as the most attractive actress in Hollywood. But she also had an inquisitive mind of an inventor. During the time of WWII, she ended up inventing a significant security war device; a radio frequency-hopping signal that could not be tracked or jammed that she never received proper recognition for. Was the public too distracted by her good looks or multiple marriages to believe that idea was her brain child? The military sure thought so as they thought she was too pretty and she would be more effective selling war bonds. Thus her intellect wasn't respected. She married a total of seven times and after her acting career tanked, she built a ski resort in Aspen! She led a tough emotional life with career, family, men and trying to be a strong woman in the 40s. Would she ever get her intellectual redemption? This was a pretty solid documentary with archival audio interview footage, acting snippets and assorted interviews. There were a few spots with modern graphics for visual assistance and overall it was a straight-forward professional effort.

This is a wonderful documentary about the woman of the century..As an Imigrant, citizen later ( 1953 ) she contributed so much to this country, especially during the war years. Selling war bonds more than any other person at that time, invented a frequency hopping product to sink German U-boats during WW2., plus used during the '60's Cuban crisis, when we almost went to war with Russia. Because of her outstanding beauty, she was more admired for it, than her brains, so she wasn't taken seriously even with a patent on her invention. Susam Sarandon, co-producer said in an interview, that her story really should be made into a major motion picture, for what she did, and went through, while living in Europe during her younger years. In the DVD version, there are extras, with more in depth info from Mel Brooks, who was asked why he used her name as the butt of a joke in his movie, "Blazing Saddles". ..and more interviews. I was so taken by the DVD, that when it was shown for the first time on PBS's, "American Masters", I had to watch it again. Of course, you do not get to see any extra's as on the DVD. Till this day, I do not see why this woman hasn't even been put on a US postage stamp icon...but, you do see on occasions, other less accomplished celebs, and even Mickey Mouse .

Very thorough and well researched. Gave a very clear eyed and unbiased view at the whole person and not just the icon. She was very much ahead of her time. The only head scratcher for me was Mel Brooks. Don't get me wrong, I love Mel Brooks, but his interview really didn't add any insight.

A look at the amazing life of Heady Lamarr through the eyes of her children, the few left who know her, and 4 tapes of a conversation a writer made in 1990 when she wanted to sell her story to Ted Turner. Her story reads like a Hollywood screenplay. Truly amazing! The documentary does have several maddening shortcomings. There is no explanation as to why only one attempt was made to tell the armed forces (Navy) about her frequency hopping invention. For example, why didn't she to Howard Hughes, who she'd been both good friends and a lover with? Many aspects of her personal life are also left out, buy adding them would have expanded the documentary to two hours. Still, this is a star vehicle, and as always, Hedy carries the day. I was impressed by Alexandra Dean's detective work piecing together how Hedy probably thought up the idea. And for those who sniffed at the graphics, they reflected the style of her drawings, and not a superhero movie. One small technical point that was missed is that frequency hopping is also the basis of multi-spectrum quiescent radar and sensors. As a result, the value of the market that uses her basic idea is far larger than the $30 billion listed at the end of the documentary. I highly recommend it, especially her reciting of the Kent M. Keith's "The Paradoxical Commandments" at the end. Considering her life, it's hard not to tear up.