Editing Raquel Welch (section)

==== Film ====

Welch was due to star in a 1982 adaptation of [[John Steinbeck]]'s ''[[Cannery Row (film)|Cannery Row]]'', but was abruptly fired by the producers a few weeks into production. The studio claimed she was not living up to her contract, by refusing early-morning rehearsals, and was replaced with [[Debra Winger]]. Welch sued [[MGM]] for breach of contract.<ref>Robertson, Carol. (2012). ''The Little Book of Movie Law''. Chicago: ABA Book Publishing, American Bar Association. [https://www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers/publications/tyl/topics/poplaw/all-about-eve-fickle-director-demanding-star-welch-v-metro-goldwyn-mayer-film-co.html/ "All About Eve: The Fickle Director and the Demanding Star – Welch v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Co."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806163803/https://www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers/publications/tyl/topics/poplaw/all-about-eve-fickle-director-demanding-star-welch-v-metro-goldwyn-mayer-film-co.html/ |date=August 6, 2020 }}</ref> Studio executives claimed in testimony the reason Welch was following through with the trial was that she was an actress over 40 and generally actresses in that age range cannot get roles any more. Welch's evidence at trial proved there was a conspiracy to falsely blame her for the film's budget problems and delays. The jury sided with Welch and she won a $10.8&nbsp;million verdict against MGM in 1986.<ref>Modderno, Craig. (June 26, 1986). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1986/06/26/welch-celebrates-verdict-hollywood-cautious-on-rulings-impact/ba9261f4-2279-41ee-bf74-7f014c02dab9/ "Welch Celebrates Verdict Hollywood Cautious on Ruling's Impact"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041230/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1986/06/26/welch-celebrates-verdict-hollywood-cautious-on-rulings-impact/ba9261f4-2279-41ee-bf74-7f014c02dab9/ |date=December 1, 2017 }} ''The Washington Post''</ref><ref>Murphy, Kim. (June 25, 1986). [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-25-me-20292-story.html "Raquel Welch Awarded $10.8 Million Over Firing"]  ''Los Angeles Times''</ref>

Despite the win, Welch wished the whole episode never had happened. "I just wanted to clear my reputation and get back to my work, my work in movies", she said.<ref>AP (June 25, 1986). [https://apnews.com/7132962d64d84c928d3e09393cdd78ea "Raquel Welch Wins $10.8 Million Judgment"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006231204/https://apnews.com/7132962d64d84c928d3e09393cdd78ea |date=October 6, 2022 }}. APnewsarchive.com.</ref> But she was blackballed by the industry and the incident affected her film career on the big screen from that moment on.<ref>Higgins, Bill. (December 10, 2015). [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-flashback-raquel-welch-fired-845470/ "Hollywood Flashback: When Raquel Welch, Fired and Replaced by an Actress 15 Years Younger, Sued MGM (and Won)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117174837/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-flashback-raquel-welch-fired-845470 |date=November 17, 2017 }} Retrieved November 14, 2017, from ''The Hollywood Reporter''</ref>

In 1994, Welch made a cameo appearance in ''[[Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult|Naked Gun {{frac|33|1|3}}: The Final Insult]]'', in the scene where [[Leslie Nielsen]]'s character crashes the [[Academy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite news |last = Portman |first = Jamie |date = March 19, 1994 |title = Nielsen a man with a mission |work = North Bay Nugget |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118735968/nielsen-a-man-with-a-mission-raquel/ |access-date = February 16, 2023 |via = [[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date = February 16, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230216082622/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118735968/nielsen-a-man-with-a-mission-raquel/ |url-status = live }}</ref> In 2001, she had a cameo in the comedy film ''[[Legally Blonde]]'' with [[Reese Witherspoon]], playing a wealthy ex-wife in court.<ref>{{Cite news |last = Murray |first = Steve |date = July 13, 2001 |title = Witherspoon's not-so-smart role choice |work = The Atlanta Constitution |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118741741/witherspoons-not-so-smart-role-choice/ |access-date = February 16, 2023 |via = [[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date = February 16, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230216153444/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118741741/witherspoons-not-so-smart-role-choice/ |url-status = live }}</ref> Also that year, Welch appeared in ''[[Tortilla Soup]]'', a family comedy-drama inspired by [[Ang Lee]]'s ''[[Eat Drink Man Woman]]'', playing Hortensia, a domineering mother determined to marry the master chef who thinks he is losing his sense of smell and taste.<ref>{{Cite news |last = Maurstad |first = Tom |date = October 19, 2001 |title = 'Tortilla Soup' has a big helping of family charm |work = The Spokesman-Review |agency = Dallas Morning News |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118741999/tortilla-soup-has-a-big-helping-of/ |access-date = February 16, 2023 |via = [[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date = February 16, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230216154455/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118741999/tortilla-soup-has-a-big-helping-of/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

Welch starred in ''[[Forget About It (film)|Forget About It]]'' (2006), a mobster comedy in which Burt Reynolds, [[Robert Loggia]], and [[Charles Durning]] competed for her affection.<ref>{{Cite news |date = October 26, 2006 |title = Capsule reviews – Opening this week – Forget About It |work = Hartford Courant |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118742213/capsule-reviews-opening-this-week/ |access-date = February 16, 2023 |via = [[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date = February 16, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230216154913/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118742213/capsule-reviews-opening-this-week/ |url-status = live }}</ref> She played a single billionaire grandmother in the romantic comedy ''[[How to Be a Latin Lover]]'' (2017).<ref>{{Cite news |last = Cordova |first = Randy |date = April 27, 2017 |title = Derbez charms in good-natured Latin Lover |work = Green Bay Press-Gazette |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118735908/derbez-charms-in-good-natured-latin/ |access-date = February 16, 2023 |via = [[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date = February 16, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230216081804/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118735908/derbez-charms-in-good-natured-latin/ |url-status = live }}</ref>