Hedy Lamarr's life was punctuated by salacious
rumors and public scandal, but it was her stunning looks
and classic Hollywood glamour that continuously
captivated audiences. Born Hedwig Kiesler, she escaped
an unhappy marriage with arms dealer Fritz Mandl in
Austria to try her luck in Hollywood, where her striking
appearance made her a screen legend. Her notorious nude
role in the erotic Czech film Ecstasy (1933), as well as
her work with Cecil B. DeMille (Samson and Delilah,
1949), Walter Wanger (Algiers, 1938), and studio
executive Louis B. Mayer catapulted her alluring and
provocative reputation as a high-profile sex
symbol. In Hedy Lamarr: The Most Beautiful Woman in
Film, Ruth Barton explores the many facets of the screen
legend, including her life as an inventor. Working with
avant-garde composer and film scorer George Antheil,
Lamarr helped to develop and patent spread spectrum
technology, which is still used in mobile phone
communication. However, despite her screen persona and
scientific success, Lamarr's personal life caused quite
a scandal. A string of failed marriages, a lawsuit
against her publisher regarding her sensational
autobiography, and shoplifting charges made her infamous
beyond her celebrity. Drawing on extensive research
into both the recorded truths of Lamarr's life and the
rumors that made her notorious, Barton recognizes
Lamarr's contributions to both film and technology while
revealing the controversial and conflicted woman
underneath. Hedy Lamarr: The Most Beautiful Woman in
Film illuminates the life of a classic Hollywood
icon.
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