Watch Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story
- 2017
- 1 hr 30 min
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7.4 (4,434)
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story is a 2017 documentary film that explores the extraordinary life of Hedy Lamarr, an Austrian-American actress who was also an inventor and an accomplished mathematician. The film is directed by Alexandra Dean and features interviews with Lamarr's family and friends, as well as with some of her admirers, such as Mel Brooks and Diane Kruger.
The film chronicles Lamarr's rise to fame in Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s, where she was known for her sultry beauty and her performances in films such as Samson and Delilah and Algiers. Lamarr's stunning looks and charisma earned her the title "The Most Beautiful Woman in Hollywood," but she was much more than just a pretty face. She was a self-taught inventor and a brilliant mind, with a deep understanding of science and technology.
Lamarr was fascinated with the idea of wireless communication, and in the midst of World War II, she developed a concept that would eventually become the basis for modern day Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology. She partnered with composer George Antheil to create a frequency hopping technique that would prevent signals from being jammed, a problem that had plagued radio-controlled torpedoes in the war. Their invention was patented in 1942, but it was years ahead of its time and was not widely adopted until the 1960s.
Despite her groundbreaking contributions to science and technology, Lamarr struggled to be taken seriously as an inventor. She was often dismissed and ridiculed by male scientists who couldn't believe that a Hollywood actress could be so intelligent. Her beauty also worked against her, as it overshadowed her accomplishments and caused people to underestimate her. She eventually withdrew from the public eye and spent her later years as a recluse, but she continued to tinker with inventions until the end of her life.
The film delves into Lamarr's personal life as well, including her rocky marriages and her struggles with addiction. She was married and divorced six times and had three children, but she was never able to find true happiness. She was haunted by her past and the mistakes she had made, but she also took responsibility for her actions and refused to let them define her.
Bombshell: the Hedy Lamarr Story is a tribute to a woman who was ahead of her time in every way. It highlights her contributions to science and technology, as well as her resilience in the face of adversity. The film paints a complex portrait of a woman who was more than just a sex symbol or a Hollywood starlet. It shows that she was a visionary, a trailblazer, and a survivor who left an indelible mark on history.
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 70.