I just love this little bit of fluff that Bette Davis did in 1965. I'm just sorry that it wasn't picked up. It would have been a wonderful series. The concept was that Bette was a decorator with a very strange way of doing business. She would move in with her clients while doing over their homes. This first episode finds her being hired by an ego maniacal oil tycoon (Ed Begley) who wants to do over a house on their property in grand style for his daughter and potential son-in-law, in hopes that it will scare him off. Of course, Ms. Davis throws a wrench into the works in traditional sit-com style. She plays her part to the hilt, which is great fun to watch. I'm especially fond of her southern belle routine early on. Also look for the irrepressible Mary Wicks as her assistant.
This is extremely rare. It can really only be found on YouTube, thanks to a three part upload by HeyDeyFan. The first installment is above.
Obscurity factor: 10 (never aired pilot, not available anywhere except YouTube)
Fun to watch. I'm sure that they would have made it appear a bit more lavish, had it gone to series. I decided to research a bit. Davis was QUITE upset that this pilot didn't pan out. TYPICAL Spelling production, even back then! (Guest stars every week...) I worked on a one-season Spelling show in 1994...."Heaven Help Us," with Ricardo Montalban and John Schneider. A toss up of "Fantasy Island" and "Love Boat"....expensive show. Montalban plays an ANGEL who helps a RECENTLY DECEASED MARRIED COUPLE (on their honeymoon, no less) "earn" their way to heaven (!!!?). Ouch. Shirley Jones was in the pilot (though, Spelling had the clout to get a 13-episode commitment, which is all that they filmed). By the way, Jones was NOT very approachable. Schneider and Montalban were amazingly nice, with the latter being A TRUE CLASS ACT.
ReplyDeleteI suppose that Davis had some comfort in knowing that her nemesis, Joan Crawford, also had a failed pilot the year before,"Royal Bay". However, Crawford's pilot was quite a bit more lavish, and in color. It was released as a TV movie named "Della".
ReplyDeleteI think it's such a shame it didn't get picked up. What a fun show that would have been to watch! Della was one of the first posts for this blog: http://theobscurityfactor.blogspot.com/2010/12/joan-crawford-in-della-1964.html
ReplyDeleteA little more background of interest on this pilot. The assistant's part, played by Mary Wicks, whom I had the pleasure of interviewing more than 30 years ago, was meant for a gay man/character. The standards commission wouldn't have it tho. If you watch the last scene where Mary Wicks and Bette are talking on the patio. She refers to sailors and bus stations. This was meant for a gay man to say. They left it just the same even tho Wicks was playing the part in the pilot. ~Paul
ReplyDeleteLoved the symbolism in the first segment. "Liz" is looking at her aging reflection in the mirror surmounting a Bombe chest with an antique clock on top . . the passage of time. When a little girl, reminiscence of her youth and very much like her, is reflected in the mirror.
ReplyDeleteYou just didn't see this kind of quality writing during in the mid-sixties.
You're right, the writing is so good. I had the pleasure of asking Mart Crowly about it when I saw him at a film screening. He said he thought the Ms. Davis could never have reined herself in for the rigors and demands of a weekly television show. More's the pity. The show's like catnip.
ReplyDeleteOK, I totally did not get the Mart Crowley connection, until watching the recent docu on "The Boys in the Band" - "Making the Band" (2011).
ReplyDeleteYup, fascinating, no?
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