I
LOVE YOU ALICE B. TOKLAS
Written by: Paul
Mazursky and Larry Tucker - Character name:
Nancy
Directed by: Hy Averback
- Studio: Warner Brothers, 1968
Starring: Peter Sellers,
Jo Van Fleet, Joyce Van Patten, Herb Edelman.
My Comment: My first
film, and what a joy! Everything and everyone was
magical. It was a reference point for excellence, great talent and great
fun. The film is delightful to see as it captures the
"energy" of the Sixties.
THE
BIG BOUNCE
Written by: Robert
Dozier - Character name: Nancy Barker
Directed by: Alex March
- Studio: Warner Brothers, 1969
Starring: Ryan O'Neal,
Van Heflin, Lee Grant
My Comment: This was Van
Heflin's last film. The character of Nancy was another
character challenge. She was a psychotic, a killer and a
nymphomaniac! This was a first film for Ryan and me
together.
THE
ADVENTURERS
Written by: Michael
Hastings and Andy Lewis Gilbert - Character name:
Amparo
Based on a novel by Harold Robbins. - Studio:
Paramount, 1969
Directed by: Louis
Gilbert
Starring: Bekin Fehmiu,
Candice Bergen, Yorgo Voyagis
My Comment: I traveled
to Colombia, South America, Rome and England to work in
this film. It was my first big "epic". It was also
the largest film budget from a major studio at the
time...16 million dollars. Today that amount is considered slightly
above a small budget film.
THE
BUTTERCUP CHAIN
Written by: Peter Draper
- Character name: Manny
Based on a novel by Janice Elliot - Studio:
Columbia, 1969
Directed by: Robert
Ellis Miller
Starring: Hywell
Bennett, Jane Asher and Sven-Bertil Taube
My Comment: This movie
provided me the opportunity to work in Sweden, Spain and
England. I personally loved my performance in this
film. This was greatly due to the sensitive direction of Robert Ellis Miller. Jane Asher had
just come out of her long relationship with Paul
McCartney. Sven Bertil is a famous Swedish
folksinger, and son to legendary composer Evert Taube.
THE
GAMES
Written by: Erich Segal
- Character name: cameo role
Based on a novel by Hugh Attkinson - Studio:
Fox, 1969
Directed by: Michael
Winner
Starring: Ryan O'Neal,
Charles Aznavour, Stanley Baker, Michael Crawford
My Comment: This movie
was about the marathon run in the Olympic games.
Michael Winner was a wild, tempestuous
English director. The cast was impressive and
fascinating. I was asked by Michael to do a cameo role
with Ryan.My character had to out-run Ryan in the scene,
which was great fun. I loved shooting a month in
Rome and listening to the many stories of this gifted
cast.
THE HORSEMEN
Written by: Dalton
Trumbo - Character name: Zereh
Directed by: John
Frankenheimer - Studio: Columbia, 1970
Starring: Omar Sharif,
Jack Palance
My Comment: What an
experience! I traveled to Afghanistan and made great
friendships with Frankenheimer, Omar Sharif and Jack
Palance. James Wong-Howe, the great cinematographer and his writer wife, Sonora, became my
closestfriends when I returned home. Each film is such a unique experience due
to the story being told, the creative process of
developing your character, and meeting the diverse and memorable people
with whom you work.
THE GANG THAT COULDN'T SHOOT STRAIGHT
Written by: Waldo Salt -
Character name: Angela
Based on a novel by Jimmy Breslin
Directed by: James
Goldstone - Studio: MGM, 1971
Starring: Robert DeNiro,
Jerry Orbach, Jo Van Fleet, Lionel Stander.
My Comment: When I was
13, and living in Michigan, my dream was to be a dancer
in Broadway musicals. I first saw Jerry Orbach in a
Broadway musical called Carnival in 1961. Just
ten years later he was playing my older brother inThe
Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight. He now stars in
television's Law and Order. Robert DeNiro was
then already well on his way to becoming not just a star, but a great actor. The director suggested
that I gain 15 pounds to play the character of Angela. I did it, and I will never do it again.
SOYLENT GREEN
Written by: Stanley R.
Greenberg - Character name: Furniture
Based on a novel by Harry Harrison. - Studio:
MGM, 1972
Directed by : Richard
Fleischer
Starring: Charlton
Heston, Edward G. Robinson, Chuck Connors
My Comment: Soylent
Green today is a movie with a devoted
"cult" following. It is a fascinating futuristic thriller with a brilliant
performance by Edward G Robinson. It was also one of
Joseph Cotten's last movies.
LOOKER
Written by: Michael
Crichton - Character name: Jennifer Long
Directed by : Michael
Crichton - Studio: MGM, 1979
Starring: Albert Finney,
James Coburn, Susan Dey
My Comment: I didn't
like myself in this movie, but it was worth doing firstly
because I needed to work, and secondly because I developed good
friendships with James Coburn, Albert Finney and Michael Crichton. These are nice men and
remarkable talents.
SECRET
ADMIRER
Written by: Jim Kouf - Character
name: Elizabeth Simple
Directed by: David
Greenwalt - Studio: United Artists, 1985
Starring: C.Thomas
Howell, Kelly Preston, Fred Ward.
My Comment: I loved this
film. The actors were great and David Greenwalt was a
wonderful first time director. We all had so much fun it came across on
the screen. This film was a very big sale on Video.
JAGGED
EDGE
Written by: Joe
Eszterhas - Character name: Virginia
Howell
Directed by: Richard
Marquand - Studio: Columbia, 1985
Starring: Jeff Bridges,
Glenn Close, Peter Coyote
My Comment: This film
was a case of "there are no small roles". It
was only a three page scene. It proved to be a memorable scene in the
film.
HONEYMOON ACADEMY
Written by: Jerry
Lazarus and Gene Quintano - Character name: Mrs.
Kent
Directed by: Gene
Quintano - Studio: Trans World
Entertainment, 1988
Starring: Kim Cattrall,
Robert Hays, Jonathan Banks
My Comment: Paul Reiser
was in the original lead role. After four weeks of
shooting, he badly injured his leg. We had to recast with Robert
Hayes and start all over again in Spain. It was a very
long shoot as Mrs. Kent.
ACCIDENTS
Directed by: Gideon
Amir - Studio: Trans World
Entertainment, 1989
Starring: Edward Arnold
Jr.
My Comment: Working in
South Africa was one of the richest life experiences I've
had while making . a movie. Gideon Amir, our director is now also a very
fine television producer.
BLISS
Written by: Lance Young
- Character name: Redhead
Directed by: Lance
Young - Studio: Columbia, 1997
Starring: Terence
Stamp, Craig Sheffer, Sheryl Lee
My Comment: It was
extraordinary to work for my own brother. He is very
gifted and Bliss is a very brave movie. My part is small, but I
was honored to be in his first work.
ADDAMS
FAMILY REUNION
Character name: A
socialite Adams family member (YES one 'D'!)
Studio: Saban
Entertainment
Starring: Tim Curry,
Daryl Hannah
My Comment: I took this
job in a moment madness. As a result, I ended up with the
Taco Bell dog on my head! You will have to rent it to get
this joke. It was more than worth doing to work
with Tim Curry.
SLACKERS
Studio: Destination Films
Starring: Devon Sawa, Jason Schwartzman
My Comment: There is a whole story yet to be written about
this role! When it comes out, I hope to receive, with Devon, the most
outrageous scene award from MTV. Don't miss it!!!
KLEPTO
Starring: Jsu Garcia
Studio: Nucleus Films, LLC
A-LIST
Studio: Infin
Starring: Sally Kirkland
SPIRITUAL WARRIORS
Studio: Scott J-R Productions
Starring: Sally Kirkland, Christopher Atkins,
Brandon Maggart
COFFEE DATE
Starring: Wilson Cruz, Sally Kirkland, Deborah Gibson
