Best known for her non-fighting role on "Dallas", few fans recall Barbara's long and distinguished career as a broad-backed little body-banger for MGM in the 50s and 60s. "Oh, she was a hardnosed one," recalls Kim Novak of her pint-sized stablemate. "I rated her as equal to Barbara Eden as a puncher - she just lacked Eden's flair for the unexpected. I see girls like Hayden Panettiere and Danielle Fishel getting a lot of attention for the pressure they bring...but they would have suffered badly against Babs in her prime. She hit harder, and was a lot tougher than the small girls fighting today." Often pitted against A list brunettes, Barbara became a hated and feared opponent, especially for a violet-eyed little temptress by the name of Elizabeth Taylor. "I never had any use for Bel Geddes," Liz has said on many occasions. "When I was at my best, she couldn't compete. I honestly don't know why they kept putting us together."

To help answer that question - here's a little known contest from 1957-58 featuring Barbara Bel Geddes and Liz at the wrap party for Hitcock's "Vertigo". Fighting in a hotel room with two single beds, Barbara sported a bright pink bra and hipster-fit panties look against Liz in baby blue. Both girls were outfitted with the small, grabby work out gloves of the time, and fought on this occasion before a star-studded room which included cast and crewmembers of Vertigo, as well as members of Taylor's standing retinue.

During R1: Barbara Bel went right after Liz in classic Geddes fashion: chipping a stubby left jab from a bobbing crouch; lashing a short right hand to Taylor's waist; digging hooks from there. The Geddes hook was a thing of beauty: very short - little more than a shrug of the shoulder with Barbara's bodyweight behind it; delivered in close; tucked to tummy or breasts, then curled back to Barbara's chest on follow-through. Grunting Liz gave ground, and soon found herself caught in the narrow channel between the two beds. Shoulder to shoulder; forehead to forehead, the two vixens bumped and brawled - Geddes forcing the well-schooled Taylor to fight the blonde's grinding fight. Liz grit her teeth and dug at hated blonde belly, but clearly came in second best as Bel Geddes' short, clubbing rights and lefts claimed steadily against breasts, tummy, flanks and face. A fuming Taylor stomped to her side of the room after the bell, and complained bitterly about the layout of the room while a calm, cool and collected Bel Geddes sipped water and awaited the second round with a professional demeanor.

R2: Liz punched her jab into Barbara's face this round, effectively slowing - though not preventing - eager blonde pressure. BBG continued her thudding body attack - swinging wide lefts and rights to the Taylor midsection and hips, beating a little pout of discomfort onto Elizabeth's face. Fighting at the foot of one of the beds, a crisp Bel Geddes hook caught Liz to chin and sat her down on the edge of the mattress: Taylor bounced quickly up, and the punch was hastily ruled as NOT a knockdown, despite all evidence to the contrary. Liz did her best to erase the moment with a concentrated attack upon Bel Geddes' tummy - backing the blonde up with two-fisted chugging. Compact and ferocious, Liz Taylor could be effective inside, and Barbara Bel was momentarily fought to a standstill as the fight drifted back to the center of the room. The round ended to the sight of both women hooking each other savagely amidships, then coming over the top righty. Again, it seemed as though the sturdy Bel Geddes was getting the better of the ring-a-ding-dong exchanges. During the break, Taylor complained bitterly to her seconds, stamping her foot and standing with hands on hips as her trainer tilted a water bottle to her lips.

R3: Chipping her way in with a stubby, knocking jab, Bel Geddes nestled her left shoulder in Taylor's chest and went to work. Shoving hooks dug at Taylor's tummy. Swatting hooks cuffed across Taylor's breasts. Chopping right hands bit in above Taylor's left hip. Gasping, baring her teeth, Liz stumbled about as she was belted - struggling to hold carpet against her cold-eyed blonde. Inch by inch, Barbara Bel Geddes continued to come forward on Liz Taylor, walking through Taylor's choppy receipts to bang out the exchanges. Barbara's punches up top were turning Elizabeth's head now, and Taylor was visibly lumping up under the attention. A frazzled and disheveled Taylor fretted on her side of the room during the break - a black lock of hair dangling over her left eye making her look all hot and bothered.

R4: Taylor featured a lashing, sidearm right to Barbara's waist in an attempt to win respect early, but Bel Geddes answered with tightly-turned hooks against the breasts to once again back Taylor up. Punching and pushing, Bel Geddes walked Taylor into the channel between the beds and went to work once again in the narrow confines. Liz was beside herself: teeth bared, eyes blazing: she dug right hands up into Barbara's midsection, but simply couldn't answer the blonde's systematic clubbing assaults. Short, pulverizing blows bashed at Taylor's temples/shoulders/chest - beating down her defences. Hooks plied the Taylor midriff and scoured her breasts, and before long Liz found herself bound on three sides by the beds, and an unyielding wall at her back. Crossing her wrists at her chest, Liz spluttered in outrage as Bel Geddes stamped away: the hardworking blonde punching in straight, palm-down lefts and rights against her foe's chest and face. At the bell, Geddes stopped her right hand in mid-air, refusing to punch Liz late, allowing Taylor the chance to land a cheap right hand to Barbara's chin instead. A surprised Bel Geddes turned to her right with the blast, and Liz tackled her around the arms, sending both bodies caroming off one bed and onto the floor. It was typical Liz Taylor - using any means at her disposal to ruffle the composure of a girl who seemed to in total command through 4.

Bel Geddes/Taylor Retro Bout conc.

Posted by simguy on 11/3/2009, 6:10 pm