Ars gratia artis

"I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous." - Graffito

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On the film "Fiesta":

"I should have known my next picture would be trouble as soon as the Mexican tailor demanded that my bosom would have to go. Almost from beginning to end, Fiesta was jinxed…

Before shooting began, I traveled to Mexico City to get fitted for a traje de luces, the beautiful jewel-encrusted suit of lights that every matador wears in the ring. The tailor who was making my suit was very by-the- book — it never registered with him that this was for a movie, or if it did, he didn't care. When I went for my first fitting, he looked at me, took my measurements for the jacket, shook his head, and said,

Imposible, senorita.

He was upset because traditionally the stiff jacket must lie vertically against the chest. Given the measurements he wanted, the only way a woman could wear one "properly" would be if she were constructed like supermodel Kate Moss — perfectly flat. Now I wasn't quite Jane Russell, but I did have a bustline; and this little tailor was just sickened at the sight of me because I was ruining the look of his suit. At that point he refused to do any more work on it unless I agreed to have my bosom surgically removed.

When I realised he was serious, I crossed my arms over my chest. We were at an impasse – a Mexican standoff”

--- The million dollar mermaid / Esther Williams, Digby Diehl