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| Probably the most memorable factor about 1975’s ‘Fortunate Woman’ starring Gene Hackman, Liza Minnelli, & Burt Reynolds could also be this stunning Richard Amsel poster. |
I found basic
movies throughout the early ’70s, on TV afternoon motion pictures. This coincided when
Hollywood struck gold with trendy cinematic gems that harkened to its studio
period heyday: The Manner We Had been; The Sting; Chinatown; and That is
Leisure, to call essentially the most notable.
Alas, there have been an
equal quantity of much-hyped movies that my ’70s teen self could not wait to see, however which by no means made it to my native theater in Higher Michigan. And for good
motive—most have been flops!
One of many few movie
duds that did come to my hometown Manistique was 1974’s The Nice Gatsby. The third model of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel
truly made cash, however was a disappointment due to the big cash
spent making and selling the lifeless film. I used to be turned off as a result of I
already liked the ebook and could not think about why anybody would pine after Mia
Farrow for a decade. As for distant Robert Redford, he was not nice as Gatsby.
The supporting solid got here off greatest on this vogue unfold of a film, which I
by no means noticed once more.
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| My leisure guru of the ’70s was Rona Barrett, who actually beat the drums for 1974’s “The Nice Gatsby.” Observe the Lucy headline at decrease left! |
I used to be additionally excited to
see Lucille Ball as Mame in ’74. I
watched all three of Lucy’s collection, which CBS was operating: I Love Lucy and The Lucy Present
in daytime reruns and This is Lucy in
prime time. The newest collection ought to have been a warning. Canned comedy ensued
at any time when Lucy Carter met a celeb and irritated them along with her star struck antics
or appeared for an excuse to sing. On I
Love Lucy, Ball’s singing at all times precipitated intentional
laughter.
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| ‘Lucille Ball as Mame’ was the hype mantra for this 1974 mammoth musical. |
There have been every kind
of promo for Mame. The homosexual geek that I
was, I saved trying on the large spreads Rona Barrett’s mags, marveling at how
younger Lucy appeared. And there was the brand new fave, TV’s Maude, Bea Arthur in a black Joan Crawford wig and ankle straps. I
was awestruck —and so naive.
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| Love this headline for Rona Barrett’s 1974 story on “Mame.” The quick reply is NO! |
Then the unhealthy critiques for
Mame got here out… then there have been tales in regards to the critiques! I learn one information story of
Lucy at an occasion, dabbing tears away, distraught over the backlash. The information
photograph confirmed that she didn’t look younger, regardless of Ball all dolled up like Mame. The movie by no means shook the blues in
my hometown!
I noticed Mame a pair instances in a while TV. My thought was that if the songs with
Lucy’s raspy singing have been lower, Mame
would have been a lot better. Solely, then you definately would have Auntie Mame once more. So why not simply watch the 1958 Rosalind Russell
as Mame Dennis?
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| Lucille Ball was a favourite veteran star for Rona Barrett magazines. |
Subsequent, I used to be fascinated
that my favourite star, Elizabeth Taylor, was heading an all-star musical remake
of The Blue Chicken, filmed in Russia.
Directed by George Cukor, it was hyped because the ‘70s reply to The Wizard of Oz. I learn gossip gadgets on
the troubled filming, however after I noticed that Rona Barrett was selling an enormous
unfold for the epic in her subsequent concern, I used to be hopeful. Then the problem got here out,
and no sneak preview of Easter 1976’s The Blue
Chicken! I’ve solely seen clips of the elusive epic on You Tube since and that
was lots. The Blue Chicken seems to be like
a chintzy costume get together.
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| I used to be agog after I purchased this Folks journal with Elizabeth Taylor in costume in “The Blue Chicken.” I believe I nonetheless have the Milton Greene cowl shot. |
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| A beautiful poster for 1976’s “The Blue Chicken,” a gawd-awful film. |
By 1976, I used to be
turning into a jaded teen when it got here to trendy Hollywood cashing in on old-time
Tinseltown. I liked the biography ebook, Gable and Lombard, which made me a brand new fan of Carole Lombard. When
they solid Marcus Welby’s James Brolin
as Clark and newcomer Jill Clayburgh as Carole, I used to be appalled. When clips have been
previewed on TV discuss exhibits, I knew as soon as once more that the onscreen Gable and Lombard was by no means coming to
Higher Michigan. I lastly watched Gable
and Lombard throughout 2020’s Covid lockdown, and located the movie bio inaccurate
at greatest, smutty and juvenile at worst.
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| I hoped that 1976’s “Gable and Lombard” would not be as horrible because it appeared… sadly, it was! |
And there was a lot
unhealthy press about Barbra Streisand’s ’76 remake of A Star is Born that I vowed to not go see it. Within the ’70s, individuals
would flock to see Streisand sing from a cellphone ebook, so Star was an enormous hit. My feminine classmates liked it and after I sang
the praises of Judy Garland’s model over Babs’, their sullen stares mentioned, “Shut
up, nerd!” I did not see Streisand’s Star
till 2017, over 40 years later. It was certainly nonetheless terrible, in any case these
years!
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| By the point 1976’s “A Star is Born” got here out, I by no means wished to listen to about this ego journey once more. I lastly watched Babs’ model in 2017! |
This brings me to
1975’s Fortunate Woman, which impressed all
these film reminiscences. This was one other occasion film that I used to be all enthusiastic about
again then: Cool Burt Reynolds! Judy Garland’s daughter, Liza Minnelli! Gene
Hackman, that man from The Poseidon
Journey! And dreamboat Robby Benson, who sealed the deal! They have been
starring in a comedy caper like The Sting,
which I liked. As soon as once more, I pored over my bible, Rona Barrett’s magazines,
attempting to determine what Fortunate Woman
was all about. Seems, not a lot! The Christmas blockbuster was appeared upon
as a cinematic lump of coal and unhealthy phrase of mouth trumped three superstars at
the peak of their attraction. This too did not come to go at my hometown’s
theater.
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| Simply watched 1975’s “Fortunate Woman” for the first time in 2026! Higher late than by no means? |
I simply noticed a terrific
copy of Fortunate Woman for the primary time
on YouTube, in March 2026, over 50 years later. The disjointed story and elegance
of Fortunate Woman displays its troubled
filming. The plot of Fortunate Woman was
impressed by rum operating tales on the western coast and basic buddy motion pictures
the place the lads combat over the sassy main woman. What appeared onscreen was
fairly skinny, and nobody knew how you can finish the film. Nobody preferred the unique
finale, the place the lads have been killed, ala Butch
Cassidy and the Sundance Child. One model that was rapidly discarded had
the trio reunited of their senior years and looking out decomposed, not aged.
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| The “outdated age” ending for 1975’s “Fortunate Woman” was rapidly scrapped, for good motive. The celebrities look mummified! |
Stanley Donen, a
basic period director fave of mine, was previous his prime and out of his depth. As
the romantic triangle, Gene Hackman fares properly sufficient, displaying an early
comedian contact. Liza Minnelli, the main woman, simply wrote in her memoirs that
Gene was extraordinarily impolite to her all through filming. Hackman could possibly be a
curmudgeon, I believe as a result of he was not often solid as a romantic main man. Or
maybe it was as a result of Gene was appalled by Liza’s obnoxious efficiency as
Claire. In case you appeared up “excessive,” within the dictionary, I am positive
Liza’s image is on that web page. And Liza goes past the pale in Fortunate Woman. Minnelli is all around the
place—character, comically, and he or she caterwauls her dialogue and two songs, each
Kander and Ebb on autopilot. My guess is director Donen turned Liza unfastened,
hoping the outcomes can be triple menace Judy another time. She seems to be like a
deranged Clara Bow and whines and wheezes in her harried moments like Shelley
Winters! Burt Reynolds is the shock right here. Because the good-looking however dim rum
runner, Burt would not fall on his mock macho shtick and is sort of endearing. Reynolds
was a pure comedian actor and could possibly be a powerful dramatic one, too. A disgrace Burt
did not prioritize these qualities over stardom.
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| Liza Minnelli, Gene Hackman, & Burt Reynolds take over the “Tonight Present” to advertise 1975’s “Fortunate Woman.” Everybody appears jovial right here. |
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| Gene Hackman, Liza Minnelli, & Burt Reynolds could also be questioning how they acquired caught in 1975’s “Fortunate Woman” here. |
It have to be mentioned whereas
Gene, Liza, and Burt have been on the prime of their ‘70s stardom, unbiased trendy
day stars weren’t any higher at selecting scripts than the outdated studio star
system. All three made some actual clinkers throughout this time: Gene in Zandy’s Bride and Chunk the Bullet; Liza in A
Matter of Time and New York, New York;
Burt in W.W. and the Dixie Dance Kings,
At Lengthy Final Love, and Nickelodeon. None of which I’ve
seen, nor plan to, ever!
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| Of the superstar menage a trois with Burt, Liza, & Gene? I might take just one! 1975’s “Fortunate Woman.” |
As for Fortunate Woman, what started with anticipation
turned a boondoggle, with a closing movie that glad nobody. Visually, it is
beautiful regardless of the extreme smooth focus, filmed alongside the water in Mexico. Some
stunning structure serves as backdrops. Regardless of the incoherent story and
unfunny dialogue, Gene, Burt, and Robby Benson, do respectable work. However you may have
to be a hardcore Liza fan to take pleasure in her efficiency—she’s one unfortunate woman right here.
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| A candy snapshot of the “Fortunate Woman” solid: Robby Benson, Burt Reynolds, Liza Minnelli, & Gene Hackman. |
Up subsequent for Minnelli
was New York, New York, which was
one other troubled manufacturing that flopped on first launch. Just a few years later, a
director’s lower was launched, to raised impact. Whereas Liza gained reward for New York, New York, it is virtually an
anti-musical, not a tribute. To revamp a quip that Bette Midler made about
one other ’70s song-laden film catastrophe, “I by no means miss a Martin Scorsese
musical.”
Properly truly, I did. I don’t
even recall if New York, New York
got here to Manistique—a Minnelli miss to be remedied at a later date!
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| One other large film everybody was enthusiastic about… till it was launched! Rona Barrett offers the massive build-up for 1977’s “New York, New York.” |
My deep dish on Barbra Streisand’s diva version of A Star is Born:
https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2017/08/barbra-streisands-star-is-born-still.html
