vera-ellen - neck exposed

[VinceRunza]

You want the definitive answer to "Was her neck all wrinkly?" Check out her LAST film, LET'S BE HAPPY. For the first five minutes or so, she's wearing and open-necked shirt, exposing her throat. Same for the last five minutes.

Looked fine to me.

'Nuff said.

[toyne38]

I thought Vera-Ellen to be the finest dancer, and everything that I have read about her speaks of how gracious she was.

[rungirlmgg]

In Call Me Madam (1953), he neck is revealed in one dance and it is wrinkled, like said. But she looks great here! Interesting...

[lewislane]

i love that its all about judy

[hunnyb6]

Perhaps it is not so much her skin was aging...but by White Christmas she was so thin they did not want to show her protruding bones: for example her collar bones, upper ribs, etc. When Karen Carpenter became so thin and gaunt, she quite exposing her shoulders, neck and chest too by advice of her professional team.

[1shnookste]

Yes those below me are correct. As a anorexia survivor, I kicked the disease nearly twenty years ago and have never gone back, I can assure all of you...it does not affect the "neck" per se. Yes your neck becomes skeletal, as does every part of you given time as this disease takes it course, but Vera was not hiding her neck due to anorexia. No doubt about that!

[dannybex]

How can you tell her skin is "flawless" in this grainy, unfocused television clip. Note too that the image is flattened and widened -- everyone looks fatter, squashed -- the ol' "the camera adds ten pounds" thing that existed in television before the 1960's. She looks slightly heavier because of that. It's well documented that she indeed suffered from anorexia...poor thing.

[susannreno]

How in the world would anorexia "show" on one's neck? This is a bunch of nonsense. Vera-Ellen wore high-necked outfits, scarves, and chokers because she wanted to. If anything, she aged more in her face than her neck. She looked much, much older just a couple of years after "On the Town."

[OldHollywood93]

I wish to be as thin as her soon.

[hebneh]

I watched "Call Me Madam" again a few months ago and noted that in every scene, she was entirely covered up - except for one very brief view of her shoulders and back as she quickly turned with Donald O'Connor in one dance. And boy, even in that short flash, her ribs and shoulder blades and backbone were frighteningly protruding.

[lollipopsndoowizzles]

Vera Allen did have anorexia and suffered for many years but got better, she passed away from cancer in August 1981 - a truly magnificent dancer who doesn't get half the credit she should.. why don't we remember this angel as much as we did the likes of July & Ann? All equally fantastic.

[ShesJustALittleCrazy]

Actually she had some sort of disease when she got older I think, that centered around her neck.

[janpdurham]

Maybe she had a distorted image of her neck, just as she must have about the rest of her body, and just preferred to keep it covered. She was lovely, but lovelier when she was not so, so thin.

[Diiixdixo]

Couldn't they have put a mic closer to her? Every other interview was crystal clear but hers :( :( :( ahhh. oh well.... wasn't she the sweetest??????

[Loveydvy99]

I always just assumed the costume designers had hid her neck so that Ms. Clooney would make a more convincing "older sister." Vera-Ellen was only 7 years her senior but considering how angular and thin she was, it'd be pretty hard to make her look like a kid sister.

[mrogi12]

This is the October 1954 video at the opening of A Star is Born. White Christmas also premiered in October 1954. Vera-Ellen obviously has a perfect neck. Her choice of clothing in the White Christmas movie had nothing to do with any neck problem.

[bigalisme]

@mrogi12 You don't get it. It's the BACK of her neck.

She was a sick girl. Maybe guys should stop thinking of her as a Barbie doll and show some respect. She had anorexia, but she was one of the best dancers in the world. Men should look up to her.

[19911996]

When was this shot? White Christmas was not til 1954. I have seen plenty of footage of her prior to this in low-cut, even strapless attire and her neck is fine. The effects of her bulimia were noticable from 1954 and beyond.

[babyinblack]

her neck's fine here actually! Looks good to me lol. Aww poor Vera :( she was so skinny, but she was brilliant for sure!

[mrogi12]

Vera had an absolutely lovely neck. She wore high collar outfits in White Christmas by choice. Her neck and anorexia had nothing to do with it. How did that ugly rumor get started?

[BernardProfitendieu]

myth busters!

[cleveindbball]

I loved Vera Ellen and the reason you never saw her neck exposed is because she was anorexic and it showed terribly in her neck. Hence the reason she always wore scarfs or turtlenecks. She was so pretty and such a talent........

[vanityfair713]

Ooh, ASIB premiere. Fun stuff.

[hl1923]

Another urban myth bites the dust. Sure wish the guy in the control booth had kept the camera fixed on the lovely Vera-Ellen a little longer!