Iconic Passings

The ladies depicted above were both gals who made a name for themselves through the display of their remarkable physiques, yet proved in time that they were far, far more than that after one scratched the surface. We recently suffered the loss of both Stella Stevens and Raquel Welch. Not only were these ladies beloved stars of the 1960s, '70s and beyond, but they were key components of films from my childhood which, for better or worse, helped form the person I am and became indelible parts of my psyche. A cursory glance at this site would reflect how important The Poseidon Adventure (1972) is to me and there was no greater influence on my childhood than The Three Musketeers (1973) and its sequel The Four Musketeers. Some of you may not have dug that far back, but did you know that the third post here (out of the 924 which make up this site) was devoted to my obsession with Musketeers? The twelfth post of mine described the impact of Poseidon and how I came to use that moniker online. There have been individual tributes to both Stella and Raquel here, but their recent passings demand that I mention one more time how much their iconic roles meant to me.

As the gentle, yet hopelessly clumsy, Constance de Bonacieux, Welch continued the trend of utilizing what nature gave her. Yet she infused the part with a relatable amiability and reality amid all the farce. And for her trouble she was granted a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Comedy. It was really the only notable acting award she ever received, though she proved time and again after that that she possessed true performing ability.

As the hard-as-nails ex-prostitute Linda Rogo, Stella was a brash, foul-mouthed, bossy virago. Yet, unlike the one-dimensional bitch in the book (which Irwin Allen forbid her to read), she infused the role with a degree of pluckiness and caring for her husband along with a general willingness to support the other survivors (so long as they weren't overweight!) Stevens (who won a Golden Globe as Best Newcomer in 1960) was never given her due as an actress when it came to bestowers of awards. But she was a busy working actress, a fan favorite and even did some directing.

Constance was willing to go to the mat in order to do what was right. Raquel's tussle with Faye Dunaway in Musketeers gave me a lifelong affection for catfights, which reached their zenith on Dynasty.

Linda was more prone to bellyaching, though she could prove resourceful such as when she helped the Reverend kick his way out of a tunnel and when she shared her makeshift rescue strap with Mr. Martin as water began to overtake them.

When Welch joined the cast of The Three Musketeers, she was rounding out a stellar ensemble of skilled performers who vividly and memorably brought the famous novel to life on screen.

When Stevens joined the cast of The Poseidon Adventure, she was nestled among multiple Oscar-winning performers and craftsmen who unforgettably brought the popular novel to life on screen.

Constance (although in this rendition already married to an elderly spouse!) was devoted to the dashing D'Artagnan (Michael York) who came to her (and the Queen's) aid.

Though not above the occasional screaming match, Linda dearly loved her police detective husband Mike (Ernest Borgnine.)

Constance faced serious peril when enemies of D'Artagnan and the Queen kidnapped her and when the vengeful Milady de Winter (Dunaway) wanted to do away with her.

Linda faced significant peril when the ocean liner she was on capsized and she had to try to claw her way out of it from the bottom top up.

We hoped against hope that Constance would survive.

Likewise, we clenched our teeth in fear that something might prevent Linda from escaping. We ought to have read the books first...!

They tried their best to make it.

And we were rooting them on.

But art, and life, had other plans.

This is the way Raquel Welch looked when I first laid eyes on her in 1973 as a wide-eyed 6 year-old moviegoer. I later saw other countless examples of her work, but she will always be Constance in my mind and heart. Miss Welch passed away on February 15th, 2023 at age 82 following a brief, undisclosed illness.

My first exposure to Stella Stevens came during the initial television broadcast of The Poseidon Adventure in October of 1974 when I was 7. (The event earned a rating of 39, which was massive.) I later saw her in countless other projects, but she will always be Linda in my mind and heart. Miss Stevens passed away on February 17th, 2023 at age 84 from complications of Alzheimer's disease.

Undeniably beauties both, but so much more... We announce a Disastrous Demise and bid a Fond Farewell to these lifelong favorites.