tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post999675461592187920..comments2024-03-26T05:01:57.793-07:00Comments on DREAMS ARE WHAT LE CINEMA IS FOR...: ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH 1975Ken Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-78575584765918891092023-05-17T08:56:13.999-07:002023-05-17T08:56:13.999-07:00Hello G of G - What a delight to hear from someone...Hello G of G - What a delight to hear from someone with "I was there!" anecdotes about that last of Susann's screen adaptations. And what a thrill it must have been for a teenager to a part of such an old-school style production...big-budget, high-profile, classic Hollywood stars, and a production staff with credits extending back as far as the 1930s. <br />It's enlightening to know that there was actually pushback against the film being more "Susann-ish," just as it's nice to know that the movie set, as part of the industry machine, responded so empathetically to Susann's diagnosis. <br />You must be so proud of your talented dad and loved getting to work with him. That three months must have provided quite learning experience.<br />Thank you for reading this and for contributing a bit of history to this post. Cheers!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-39521818158190442892020-08-22T11:37:11.738-07:002020-08-22T11:37:11.738-07:00You must be an Angeleno! I grew up in the Bay Area...You must be an Angeleno! I grew up in the Bay Area and we never got The Golden Globes on TV until the 80s. <br />I can well imagine how surprising the results of that year were for you.<br />Looking back on that year via Google, I can thoroughly see what you mean. The list of winners when contrasted with who was nominated in those categories borders on the absurd. Reflective of what has always plagued Golden Globes...the winners seem to reflect the pet favorites of a tiny few (somebody that year REALLY though The Sunshine Boys was special) and not indicative of a standard that made much sense to most.<br />As you say, Marilyn Hassett over Lily Tomlin or Ronee Blakely is a bad joke even when one adheres to “Everybody’s tastes are different!”<br />I love Brenda Vaccaro, but given the level of performances coming out of Hollywood that year, the accolades heaped on her head for ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH has always felt out of proportion. Thank you again, Kip, for reading and commenting!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-18757569514296867612020-08-22T09:49:57.629-07:002020-08-22T09:49:57.629-07:00I'm a huge Nashville fan, and I remember watch...I'm a huge Nashville fan, and I remember watching the 1976 Golden Globes as a kid all excited because the movie had a record 9 nominations (still unequaled.). I knew Cuckoo's Nest was a shoo-in for best drama and director, but I still thought Nashville would prevail for supporting actor, supporting actress, song and female newcomer. (and what Nashville, a brilliant comedy/satire with wall to wall music was doing in best drama is one of those eternal Golden Globe mysteries that gets repeated every year.)<br />The awards then went to Richard Benjamin, Brenda Vaccaro and Marilyn Hassett. Marilyn Hassett! Years later, when Altman won best director for Gosford Park, I was hoping he'd bring that up. Maybe he just forgot.Kipnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-29640534066967387692019-12-04T02:22:13.356-08:002019-12-04T02:22:13.356-08:00Yes, the desire for respectability has ruined a gr...Yes, the desire for respectability has ruined a great many enjoyably sleazy potboilers. When Jacqueline Susann allowed her book sales to convince her she was a good writer, her films grew less outrageous. And less fun. Thank god a general cluelessness in regard to their intended audience imbues each film with enough sense of "What the hell?" to make the, still enjoyable. Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-84270349610820330142019-12-02T22:37:01.784-08:002019-12-02T22:37:01.784-08:00Tame trash never approaches the glorious absurdity...Tame trash never approaches the glorious absurdity of Valley of the Dolls. Brenda Vacarro gives it a booster shot and George Hamilton was starting to self parody to good effect. A TV movie feel permeates this awkward film. The lesbian scene is embarrassing.Joseph Kearnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03360334357262197758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-60922985398377207252019-02-01T08:44:32.938-08:002019-02-01T08:44:32.938-08:00Yay! So wonderful that you had the virgin experien...Yay! So wonderful that you had the virgin experience of ONE IS NOT ENOUGH nearly 45 years after its release! Time can be quite kind to motion pictures that, at the time, looked shockingly like nightime soap operas or made for TV movies. <br />It's good to hear that the film kept your interest and even entertained, and that your introduction to Deborah Raffin was highlighted by her suitability for the role.<br />I like the happy ending you give her and Mr. Astronaut, which I'm going to apply in my imagination the next time I give this a gander.<br />Kirk Douglas is indeed has a very Joan Crawford quality, and you'll get no arguments from me about how badly male stars of that time aged. Actors like Janssen and Ben Gazarra looked like 60-year olds most of their careers.<br /><br />Hearing about a film I'm over-familiar with from the perspective of someone seeing it for the first time is always a chance to look at aspects of it through fresh eyes. It's like Visene for the jaundiced eye.<br />Thanks for the link to that site which I must check out, and especially for sharing your thoughts on this film. You've joined the ranks of those who've seen the entire Jackie Susann Cinema Trilogy! Thanks, Peter!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-29406423740219111242019-02-01T06:28:10.463-08:002019-02-01T06:28:10.463-08:00I'm late to the party, Ken, but I just watched...I'm late to the party, Ken, but I just watched caught "Once Is Not Enough" for the first time last night! (You can find almost ANY old film on this Russian website, posted by film lovers throughout the world):<br /><br />https://ok.ru/video/391732464270<br /><br />It was trashy, sure, but I was never bored, whereas I couldn't sit through "The Love Machine." I always enjoy Kirk Douglas, I'm always waiting for him to explode: it's his trademark! I forgot if you said this or somebody else but he's a bit like the male Joan Crawford in his utter dedication to his work, regardless of the quality of the material (in fact he's BETTER in the trash where the contrast is greater). I thought Deborah Raffin, whom I knew of only by name, was believable and lovely, truly good in difficult part. She's definitely "square" for the Seventies but the character is a virgin, after all. I was grateful there was no "night of ecstasy" montage (accompanied by the Mancini singers, do doubt) as one might expect from something like this. <br /><br />Re the astronaut, my understanding was that we're to think January will probably end up with the short-shorted, muscle-y Gary Conway, since they'd made plans to meet in West Hampton at the end and he was obviously attracted to her. He's the probable Prince Charming to give the audience some closure. <br /><br />I loved the yellow color scheme in Brenda Vaccaro's apartment but agree that George Hamilton's bachelor pad was right out of a mid-60's Playboy magazine fantasy spread. George looked exactly the same as he did a dozen years earlier in "By Love Possessed" -- he always had (has?) a Dorian Gray quality. <br /><br />I assumed David Janssen was 60-ish like Kirk Douglas, not 43. What is it with so many actors of that era who aged so badly (Tyrone Power, Errol Flynn, Robert Taylor)? I guess all the booze and repressed bisexuality!<br /><br />So glad I stumbled upon your great review, Ken (thank you, Google)!Peter Lappinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-55271296302606123312016-09-10T11:26:21.794-07:002016-09-10T11:26:21.794-07:00Sounds like you got the standard copy that's a...Sounds like you got the standard copy that's available -- a perfectly serviceable, cropped VHS transfer, but context is important with AW. It was something of a dramatic turnaround from the increasingly zaftig Taylor of Hammersmith, Divorce His/Divorce Hers, etc... with Taylor reportedly dropping 40 pounds to play it. In fact, "Hello Liz, Welcome Back To Show Biz!" was the title of Rex Reed's review, in which he observed, "It's the kind of movie Ross Hunter would give his gold plated bathroom to have produced, and I hope it makes a zillion dollars!"<br /><br />For a sense of what it looked like, catch the YouTube clip of the German dubbed widescreen transfer; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF5hjm71iQE<br /><br />Forgive my going off topic here, I'm obviously passionate about the movie but I don't wanna oversell it! And I confess that touting you onto it is a purely selfish gesture -- I can't wait to read your take on it! (And thanks Roberta for backing me up!)Neely OHarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12967247631845210906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-22250424059392935402016-09-10T07:07:16.251-07:002016-09-10T07:07:16.251-07:00Wow! How did I remain out of the loop so long on t...Wow! How did I remain out of the loop so long on this movie. So many people keep recommending it to me. The transfer I have is good, not super sharp or anythihng, but it has that look typical of VHS.<br />Soon as things slow down for me I''m going to watch it.<br />Thanks Neely! thanks Roberta!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-10191946942601562512016-09-05T07:03:25.205-07:002016-09-05T07:03:25.205-07:00Ken, Jeff is right - ASH WEDNESDAY!!!! It was my ...Ken, Jeff is right - ASH WEDNESDAY!!!! It was my introduction to La Liz's "later" work. Thanks, Jeff, for suggesting it!Roberta Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03065433889234217024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-12304269519843809302016-09-04T16:48:50.038-07:002016-09-04T16:48:50.038-07:00Hope you got hold of a decent Ash Wednesday transf...Hope you got hold of a decent Ash Wednesday transfer -- a widescreen, remastered BluRay is likely never gonna happen! But I can attest that, having seen it 4 or 5 nights in a row in a movie house, it was some LUSH scenery (Liz AND Italy). The credit sequence alone, accompanied by that haunting theme by Maurice Jarre, is worth the price.<br /><br />Oh damn, now I gotta go watch it...Neely OHarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12967247631845210906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-12749223234318953222016-09-04T15:20:31.004-07:002016-09-04T15:20:31.004-07:00Hey Jeff
That's an excellent point you make ab...Hey Jeff<br />That's an excellent point you make about the inclusion of the astronaut character! I'd read on Wikipedia about the original ending and Yargo and all that (Goodness, what WAS she thinking?), but sort of put it out of my mind. But I think you're onto something. At least making it appear that there was a method to her madness in including a character who comes off as wholly superfluous. I've never read Yargo...I love Susann, but <br />the whole premise held no interest for me.<br />Thanks a heap for providing a tie in for Jackie's spacey preoccupations.<br />Oh, and on your recommendation, I finally got my hand on a copy of "Ash Wednesday"! Haven't watched it yet, but looking forward to it. And if it proves to be a good/bad film (like I hope) your mentioning it is not off-topic at all!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-26800465557656054882016-09-04T12:09:42.386-07:002016-09-04T12:09:42.386-07:00Thanks Ken, another wonderful defense/take down of...Thanks Ken, another wonderful defense/take down of another good/bad movie! (And I love your Dionne Warwick catch!) Your essay is hands down more entertaining than the film, but then the movie doesn't set the bar very high, does it?<br /><br />I think I may be able to solve the "What is Gary Conway's character doing in this film?" mystery (or rather, what's he doing in the book -- he could easily have been jettisoned from the film). According to a Susann bio I read (forgive me, I don't recall which one), Jackie's original manuscript ended with January being swept up in a spacecraft and taken to another planet! (Can you imagine being the junior editor tasked with talking her out of that one?)<br /><br />Apparently, it then pretty much segued into a rehash of the plot of the (at the time) unpublished "Yargo." Given how inert the proceedings are, I can only imagine that that ending it might have helped the movie!<br /><br />(And this is completely off topic, but I consistently have TWO words for you -- "...and they ain't 'Merry Christmas,'" as the saying goes: ASH WEDNESDAY!!!)<br /><br />~JeffNeely OHarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12967247631845210906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-1840020215093319132016-09-02T14:46:35.723-07:002016-09-02T14:46:35.723-07:00Yes, and that's usually one of my favorite thi...Yes, and that's usually one of my favorite things about 60s/70s films; David Janssen in the buff, not so much. At least "son" Robert Drivas helped me avert my eyes.Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-43225915731576523082016-09-02T08:43:38.106-07:002016-09-02T08:43:38.106-07:00Janssen's nude scene in "Where It's A...Janssen's nude scene in "Where It's At" was a father and son naked massage, no less. A lot of effort was put into pushing the envelope in the late '60's.George W. Tushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13050905945846094987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-64932662706920605992016-09-01T19:46:57.358-07:002016-09-01T19:46:57.358-07:00Hello Roberta
The most vivid segment of your comme...Hello Roberta<br />The most vivid segment of your comment is the copy of "Valley of the Dolls" your mom hid in the laundry basket! I love that. I think many of us can recall some popular "scandalous" book our parents unsuccessfully tried to keep out of our hands (Myra Breckinridge was mine).<br />You're so right in reiterating that Once Is Not Enough's biggest offense is in being so dry and so little fun. Seems such a silly notion to write absolute sleaze and then convince yourself you've created great literature. Popularity is notorious for convincing artists that they are "good" when they are merely liked.<br />And what was it with David Janssen and nude scenes? back in 1969 I remember Rona Barrett's magazine was full of the inside poop on Janssen's nude scenes in the film "Where It's At" and how he was carrying on with co-star Rosemary Forsythe. I only saw the film recently on TCM, but sure as shootin, Janssen has a protracted nude massage scene. Maybe he was considered to be sexier than I give him credit for.<br /><br />I wish I remembered the Merv Griffin episodes. I would have loved to have heard how the cast tried to positively spin this rather average film. The movie pulls so many of its punches, shock-wise, did they really think it would do well on the strength of that "bait and switch" you refer to. Certainly they had to know disappointed word-of-mouth would spread.<br />Kirk Douglas never did much for me, either, save for provide me with an absolutely terrible impersonation I'd annoy my sisters with (in truth, more an impersonation of Frank Gorshin impersonating Kirk Douglas).<br />I'm glad this film didn't turn you off of Jackie Susann films (The Love Machine is a bit on the dull side too, but at least it has Dyan Cannon) and that your eventual discovery of "Dolls" may have helped blot out the image of Janssen's backside and that hair patch.<br />Thanks, Roberta! Nice of you to stop by during your vacation!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-16465563628519069372016-08-31T15:07:24.247-07:002016-08-31T15:07:24.247-07:00Ken, I vividly recall seeing OINE. My parents had...Ken, I vividly recall seeing OINE. My parents had a second TV in their bedroom. I'd find reasons to go upstairs and sneak in to watch the HBO and pay channels my parents wouldn't let us watch on the family TV downstairs. When OINE was scheduled, I wasn't going to miss it. Nudity! Lesbians! Jacqueline Susan! (I haven't yet seen Valley if the Dolls yet, although I knew my mom had the book hidden in the laundry basket in the basement.). What a disappointment. The term you and your readers use is lifeless. This movie leaves you gasping for air! The first nude male I ever saw was David Jansen's backside? (And that patch of hair? Ugh! I almost cancelled puberty after that.). <br /><br />I do appreciate what my OINE experience did - it taught me how movies often pull the bait and switch on audiences, promising one thing and delivering something else. I've tried to go into a movie theatre with an open mind, and hope for the best. As we all know, even a really, really bad film can be fun. This is just a really, really unfun movie that is bad.<br /><br />I remember how heavily this film was promoted, and what a big build up Deborah Raffin was given. I think Merv Griffin had someone from the cast on every show for awhile. <br /><br />I have never been a Kirk Douglas fan. But as a teen I realized how silly he looked trying to be a hip leading man. The 70s were all about the wide sideburns and sprayed hair for the guys, and of course Douglas did it on steroids. I remember how unseemly it was when he'd talk about this "sexy" movie in his sansabelt pants and leisure suit jackets. I felt sorry for Deborah Raffin then. I feel sad for Kirk now. Among the male actors of his generation, I think he had the hardest time making the adjustment from leading man to character actor. Burt Lancaster, William Ho!den and others seemed to move on a bit sooner and with a bit more self awareness and grace.<br /><br />I saw this movie a couple of times after my furtive viewing in my parent's bedroom. It has not held up. I guess it seemed dated even then! The good news is, I gave Jacqueline Susan a second chance and saw The Valley of the Dolls a few years later. Now that's a movie worth sneaking into mom and dad's bedroom to watch!Roberta Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03065433889234217024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-11056925078589824972016-08-29T08:05:19.437-07:002016-08-29T08:05:19.437-07:00Yes, excised from the film, that number does seem ...Yes, excised from the film, that number does seem "cute." But the film is a wonderfully dark, but humorous, look at the twisted young people who worship - WORSHIP - Broadway musicals. And you know they are all nuts. Todd Graff nailed it with this insider's look at a very particular aspect of the thea-tah. George W. Tushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13050905945846094987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-13438456510469807042016-08-29T01:32:06.826-07:002016-08-29T01:32:06.826-07:00Thanks for the working link, Rick. What a terrific...Thanks for the working link, Rick. What a terrifically informative piece! That was an inspired idea to look at the parallel similarities/differences between the two authors. I think any fan of Jackie Susann will get a kick out of it. And what a coincidence our collective consciousnesses were focused on Susann at the same time. Thanks for sharing this with us!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-13850371633518614352016-08-27T04:51:44.127-07:002016-08-27T04:51:44.127-07:00Linking is not my strong point! Try this...
http:...Linking is not my strong point! Try this... <br />http://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2016/08/jacqueline-susann-grace-metalious-women.htmlhttp://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/https://www.blogger.com/profile/14243899548141583461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-61240408512324794852016-08-26T11:05:44.847-07:002016-08-26T11:05:44.847-07:00Hey Ken, hope you don't mind my linking an ess...Hey Ken, hope you don't mind my linking an essay about Jackie Susann and her sister in sensational-sellers, Grace Metalious. "Valley of the Dolls" and "Peyton Place" have much in common! And so did the two women, though there was a few BIG differences.<br />Here's my post: [url]http://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2016/08/jacqueline-susann-grace-metalious-women.html[/url]http://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/https://www.blogger.com/profile/14243899548141583461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-15198321409270042022016-08-25T17:24:36.762-07:002016-08-25T17:24:36.762-07:00I've never seen the entire film, but because a...I've never seen the entire film, but because a friend knows I'm a big Burt Bacharach fan, he sent me a link to the kids performing "Turkey Lurkey Time." It looked pretty cute. Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-87396248504094664392016-08-25T17:22:17.073-07:002016-08-25T17:22:17.073-07:00"Your best friend's really pretty older s..."Your best friend's really pretty older sister" is about the best description of Raffin's particular appeal I've ever read. Spot on!<br />And you're right about her sort of being everywhere at the time. No matter what direction her career may have taken, it certainly wan't for lack of visibility and promotional push.<br />Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-10703934500181845632016-08-24T23:43:36.253-07:002016-08-24T23:43:36.253-07:00Never saw this (I was too young back then and I do...Never saw this (I was too young back then and I don't think I would have wanted to, even if I had been old enough,) but it was nice to be reminded of one of my first celebrity crushes, Deborah Raffin. Aside from the promotion for the movie, she seemed to be everywhere in those days-TV shows, magazine covers, advertisements-and I remember being quite taken with her. Her look was definitely more "your best friend's really pretty older sister" than timeless movie star beauty, but that was fine for the eleven-year-old me. Maynard's Dadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09941230385981785004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-78771500886326837412016-08-24T19:10:37.108-07:002016-08-24T19:10:37.108-07:00It's a small film, but a favorite. I would su...It's a small film, but a favorite. I would surely enjoy reading your thoughts about CAMP. George W. Tushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13050905945846094987noreply@blogger.com