Oof. Something tells me this last week of Summer Under the Stars is going to be a struggle. I wanted to write more, to write, perhaps, something interesting about the films, but every day after my viewings, I seem to be absolutely exhausted. So I’m not going to make any promises and simply write these little entries about what I saw and hopefully come back with something more substantial in Autumn.
Anyway, onto Shirley MacLaine!
Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970)
The film I really did not vibe with at all and to me this was the worst watch of today. Clint Eastwood rescues a woman being sexually assaulted. After she puts her clothes back on it turns out that she’s a nun. At first Clint is freaked out but that but then sees he can get something for himself out of the situation.
Shirley MacLaine wears a lot of mascara for a nun in the Wild West.
Shirley’s character is pretty white saviour-y and Clint’s character get gross when he pressures her into talking about sex. I did not care about these characters and did not enjoy the film.
Being There (1979)
Being There is a classic, it pops up often on the „best of” lists. I can see why – it’s wonderfully acted, touching, and charming. And it tells you as much about politics as it does about humanity.
Peter Sellers plays the lead but Melvyn Douglas is also in the film and I am pleased I got to see it before the month ended even though I missed it on “his” day. He plays a millionaire whose sickness prevents him from doing much. Shirley MacLaine plays his wife. Peter Sellers, a mysterious character calling himself a Gardener, comes into their life after his „master” dies and he is made to leave his house. They both are very attracted to him for different reasons and he changes the order of things in the mansion.
I was struck by how much Being There felt like a late 80s film (rather than still one from 1970s) – an influential picture for sure.
Postcards from the Edge (1990)
Postcards from the Edge was written by Carrie Fisher and she based it on her own life. Meryl Streep plays the „Carrie” character and Shirley plays her mother – „Debbie Reynolds” not-so-thinly-veiled.
„Carrie” is battling addiction while also trying to continue on with her acting career. To keep a role in a film currently in production she is made to stay with her mother who comes with her own set of issues.
I enjoyed both of the performances and the film as a whole, but I’ll be honest – I absolutely LOVED the 2016 documentary Bright Lights about Carrie and Debbie and THIS is the film about them I would recommend.
These Old Broads (2001)
NOW we’re talking. Everything about These Old Broads just screams ICONIC! We’ve got Shirley MacLaine, Debbie Reynolds (in person this time!), Joan Collins, and ELIZABETH TAYLOR.
Together! AND they play a group of older women about to reboot their old show Boy Crazy. AND it ends with them living it up in a gay club. AND it features a scene of both Debbie and Elizabeth shading Eddie Fisher. WHY is no one talking about this film?
Well, probably because it’s awful and people prefer to forget all about it.
But you know what? I don’t care. It’s SO much fun. And I talked about my fondness for psycho-biddy already this month – I think this is kind of reverse psycho-biddy, just older actresses having fun.
I also watched The Celluloid Closet in which Shirley talked about her film The Children’s Hour where she played a teacher in love with Audrey Hepburn. Of course, The Celluloid Closet is essential viewing for everyone.
Swingin' at the Seance 