Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

Name: Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story
Genre: Biography, History, War, Documentary
Released: November 24, 2017
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 70
Cast: Bill Birnes, Charles Amirkhanian, Danijela Cabric, Jeanine Basinger, Lisa Cassileth

2017

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Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Ratings

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Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

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Movie Details & Credits

Kino Lorber | Release Date: November 24, 2017 | Not Rated

Starring: Bill Birnes, Charles Amirkhanian, Danijela Cabric, Jeanine Basinger, Lisa Cassileth, Manya Hartmayer Breuer, Mel Brooks, Nino Amareno, Peter Bogdanovich, Wendy Colton

Summary: The world's most beautiful woman was also the secret inventor of secure wifi, bluetooth and GPS communications, but her arresting looks stood in the way of her being given the credit she deserved... until now.

Director: Alexandra Dean

Genre(s): Biography, History, War, Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 88 min

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Critic Reviews

Michael Phillips

Jan 18, 2018

It fascinates both as film history and as a sobering reminder of how little credit a woman like Lamarr received, even at the peak of her popularity. Read full review

John DeFore

Nov 28, 2017

First-time director Dean does an excellent job of marshalling old source material, setting the scene for an account of Lamarr's life on- and off-screen. Read full review

Phil de Semlyen

Mar 5, 2018

This moving, surprising documentary offers a tale of Hollywood pigeonholing that feels particularly timely. Read full review

The Film Stage Jared Mobarak

Nov 28, 2017

Lamarr wasn’t without demons, but to look at the entirety of her life in context along its volatile trajectory of highs and lows is to understand she was a victim of chauvinistic times. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Dec 7, 2017

What makes "Bombshell" intriguing is not just Lamarr's gift for invention, it's also what a fiery individualist she was, someone who had no regrets about her eventful life ("You learn from everything"), not even its racy, tabloid elements. Read full review

Richard Whittaker

Dec 21, 2017

If the storytelling technique is a little prosaic, the subject matter is more than sufficiently engrossing. Read full review

Clayton Dillard

Nov 19, 2017

The film curiously steers toward surmising Hedy Lamarr's psychological state as it pertained to love and pleasure. Read full review

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User Reviews

Brent_Marchant

Jan 19, 2018

An insightful look into the life of a Hollywood legend who had talents far beyond her acting ability and intellectual attributes equal to her iconic looks, most of which were unknown, overlooked or downplayed by a society not ready to accept a woman who possessed both beauty and brains.An insightful look into the life of a Hollywood legend who had talents far beyond her acting ability and intellectual attributes equal to her iconic looks, most of which were unknown, overlooked or downplayed by a society not ready to accept a woman who possessed both beauty and brains. Through an excellent assemblage of archive footage, movie clips, and interviews with the protagonist , her family and friends, and historians of many stripes, we learn both about her on-screen achievements, as well as her lesser-known (but perhaps far more significant) scientific accomplishments. Absorbing, entertaining and informative, this documentary finally does justice to someone for whom such accolades often eluded her.… Expand

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BHBarry

Jan 18, 2018

“Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” is a documentary written and directed by Alexander Dean. It is, as the title indicates, the story of the life of movie star and inventor, yes inventor, Hedy Lamarr. Born of 2 Jewish parents in Vienna in 1914, Ms. Lamarr soon became a film favorite there and“Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” is a documentary written and directed by Alexander Dean. It is, as the title indicates, the story of the life of movie star and inventor, yes inventor, Hedy Lamarr. Born of 2 Jewish parents in Vienna in 1914, Ms. Lamarr soon became a film favorite there and later in America due in no small part to her incredible beauty. But unbeknownst to her audiences, she was, in her own right. also an inventor including the development of a frequency hopping system insuring safe communications. Her know-how and patent served as the basis, not only for FM transmissions but, more importantly, for

wi-fi, GPS and Bluetooth technology. Originally aired as a PBS special, this 90 minute film is now being exhibited theatrically. No screenwriter could write a more compelling drama than the story of Ms. Lamarr’s talents, history and unjust treatment by the country she adopted and loved. Despite her loyalty and efforts resulting in the sale of millions of dollars of US Bonds during World War II, her patent was confiscated by the government who labelled her a hostile alien. I give this documentary an 8.0 for it relates, in a truly jaw dropping manner, a story that needed to be told.… Expand

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