James Dean by Tonner

Since his tragic death in 1955, James Dean has become more iconic with the passing of each year. Now that they've done Marilyn Monroe, it's not too surprising that Tonner would tackle her 50's male counterpart. Naturally, they chose to do Dean in his classic "Rebel Without a Cause" outfit of the red windbreaker, jeans, and biker boots.



When Tonner released photos yesterday, I will admit I was disappointed. The outfit looks good, so I'll give a plus for that. The waist seems a bit high though, making this cool iconic outfit seem a bit dorky.







The biggest offense is the sculpt of the face.



Dean had a very thin build, and the face on Tonner's Dean is just too wide.



With a little photoshop, you can see a big improvement. I also shortened the sideburns for the sake of accuracy as well. I do give credit for rooted hair vs. a wig, which would really have made this doll look silly.

I just have to wonder who checks the sculpt and paint on these dolls? Comparing photos with the sculpt can't be that hard.



See more Marilyn Monroe doll photos on my Marilyn Monroe doll web page.

Liz Taylor: Giant

Elizabeth Taylor is a Hollywood Legend. It is only fitting that the Franklin Mint added her to their line of celebrity vinyl portrait dolls. I am guessing she didn’t sell as well as Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, or Scarlett O’Hara, as her dress collection is not very extensive. This particular pink gown is from the 1956 movie, "Giant," which has the dubious distinction of being James Dean’s last movie.

The sculpt on Elizabeth’s face is fairly good; unfortunately, the body is too thin and doesn’t convey the voluptuous figure that Taylor is known for.

Here’s a publicity still from “Giant” which began filming while James Dean was wrapping up “Rebel Without A Cause.” This shows the outfit that the FM doll is wearing.



To see more Gene Marshall & Friends photos, visit my regular website.