Comments on: CAMP DAVID OCTOBER 2009: PETER LAWFORD AND BABY JANE

By: david del valle

david del valle — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:30:53 +0000

Franco

I don’t think Crawford entered into the background material for THE STAR since it was made at a time in the fifites when Crawford was still making at least two pictures a year playing women sexually alluring of indeterminate age. Davis must have been attracted to this project simply because it was such a great role….the only similarity with Crawford was the one Oscar win for MILDRED PIERCE….and Sterling Hayden was Crawford’s leading man in JOHNNY GUITAR that had just wrapped….Crawford would never have worked in a dept store regardless of her circumstances……

Now the truth of that film is still relevant today as you point out with the girl who played Travolta’s first partner in Fever…her career went nowhere right after that…I met her in Hollywood at the Ray Courts autograph show it was sad to see her mentioning that the girlon the poster with John was her…meaning she was his equal in stardom….very Baby Jane…..I have few stories like hers in my book….

By: Franco Frassetti

Franco Frassetti — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:09:13 +0000

David, I just watched The Star, featuring Bette Davis. Is there any truth that Bette Davis did the picture since it was unofficially based on Joan Crawford’s life? With this role, she would be “sticking it” to Joan Crawford? What were the exact scenes in the film that mirrored Crawford’s personal life? Do you see it any different in Hollywood’s treatment toward aging leading ladies?

Unfortunately, some actresses don’t want to see what the mirror sees.
I wrote a script that was actively pursued by an actress who starred opposite John Travolta.
She was on Good Morning America discussing it in which she took it upon herself to mention it. The role she wanted was of the 20something when she was looked her age which was about 50.

By: Byron Black

Byron Black — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 05:28:41 +0000

What an excellent essay and insight into the weird workings of a long-gone Hollywood era. The film holds up very well after the decades; when I show it to Indonesians they are absolutely enthralled and flabbergasted by the intense familial conflict of the two sisters.

Another much-overlooked small jewel is DEAD RINGER, which Paul Henreid directed in a very sure-handed, smooth-running fashion. Peter Lawford’s role, along with that of old war-horses like George Macready and Karl Malden, really plays well, even today. There is actually a nice little promo video on the making of this film on YouTube, by the way.

I found your website when I was rooting around on Google for the quote from the Baby Jane song: “…she didn’t grow up – she just grew old…”

Byron in Jakarta
“It crawled into my hand, honest”

By: manoah bowman

manoah bowman — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:38:43 +0000

I remember the sample chapter you wrote for the book…How fascinating…it’s changed a lot but still very interesting…I never knew that about Peter Lawford…Can’t imagine him playing a sexually ambiguous mama’s boy in the Buono role. As for Robert Cushman, he was indeed a wonderful man. It has been very difficult since his passing. Always enjoy reading your columns and am looking forward to reading your Poe book.

By: Russ Lanier

Russ Lanier — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:19:40 +0000

Another sterling effort, Mr. Del Valle.

By: Richard A. Ekstedt

Richard A. Ekstedt — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:29:12 +0000

A remarkable motion picture that still entertains. And of course, knowing how the leads felt about each other brings to me images of the fin-backed alligator and monitor lizard going at it from “ONE MILLION BC”!