Musings!

Richard Conte and Linda Christian in SLAVES OF BABYLON (1953) 

Few people remember Linda Christian (née: Blanca Rosa Welter) but if her life story would be made into a movie it would be one amazing film. Born in Mexico, she was 'discovered' by Errol Flynn. There are funny anecdotal stories about this 'meeting.' She married Tyrone Power in 1949 in what would be one of the biggest events of the period. This marriage was a surprise since he was involved with Lana Turner, in an arranged relationship set up by Fox. All the studio's plans were dashed when Power married Linda. Lana wasn't into the arranged marriage idea. She was apparently secretly seeing Frank Sinatra during this time. Christian and Power had two girls, including Taryn Power, star of SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER (1977). But Tyrone Power didn't care much for the marriage. He did this to stop the arranged marriage idea.

One of her first big breaks in movies was SLAVES OF BABYLON, though her role was limited in this William Castle directed PEPLUM. She had roles in movies like BATTLE ZONE (1952) but this movie put her on the map. She would star in ATHENA (1954) along Edmund Purdom (below). ATHENA also starred Steve Reeves, Ed Fury and a bunch of bodybuilders. During the filming, Linda and Edmund started a secret, decades long affair. Tyrone was apparently happy with their secret relationship since he wanted out (he was secretly seeing other women and men, including Cesar Romero). Power and Linda would divorce in 1956. Edmund abandoned his wife, Tita Purdom, and his family just so he could be with Linda. But Linda refused to marry him. The Power daughters always ended up at some school in Europe. 

Lana Turner made THE PRODIGAL (1955) with Edmund. She disliked the experience so much that when she was to star in DIANE (1956) with Edmund again, she told the studio she refused to work with him. Roger Moore was cast instead. Burned by Hollywood, Edmund would eventually leave in exile.

Edmund, Steve, Ed, and others caught up in the Dolce Vita glitz moved to Rome for their movie careers, certainly after the worldwide success of HERCULES (1958). Linda was often seen with Italian race car drivers. Linda is famously known in a photo as The Kiss of Death. A photo of Linda kissing Alfonso de Portago during the Mille Miglia race. He was killed soon afterwards. 

She was still seeing Edmund after the divorce but refused to make it public. During the height of the PEPLUM explosion, Tyrone died on the set of SOLOMON AND SHEBA (1959). 

Linda eventually decided to marry Edmund but the marriage lasted, in her own words, one day after the couple were in Acapulco for their honeymoon. Linda recalls this story, and many other stories, in a TV interview. It's on Youtube. It's worth watching! Edmund lived in Rome for the rest of his life.