Debbie Reynolds in The Debbie Reynolds Show (1969)

Debbie Thompson (Reynolds) is wife to Jim (Don Chastain), a successful sports reporter herself. Unsatisfied at home, she spends her time scheming to become a reporter, assisted by her sister Charlotte. Their schemes get them in all sort of trouble and exasperates Jim, who just wants his wife to stay home and keep house. Is this sounding familiar? Perhaps because the show was produced by one of the former writers on I Love Lucy - Jess Oppenheimer and featured the writing talents of Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis, also Lucy veterans.

This series was only on for one season, which isn't surprising, considering how the somewhat tone deaf concept failed to take into account the changing times. Debbie is delightful in it, however, displaying her knack for physical comedy. Look for Tom Bosley as her brother-in-law. The series can be hard to find. It's never made it to DVD and the only presence it has on YouTube is the network promo for it. It's above, uploaded by MattTheSaiyn.

Obscurity factor: 9 (hard to find, not on DVD, largely forgotten)

Debbie Reynolds & Shelly Winters in What's The Matter with Helen (1971)

Obscurity factor: 7

In the grand tradition of Baby Jane we have this star turn shocker about the mothers of two thrill kill killers. Adelle (Reynolds) and Helen (Winters) are shamed and disgraced by the murder their sons committed, so they pick up and leave Iowa for Hollywood where they open a dancing school for children. All is not well, however. They've been targeted by their son's victim's former boyfriend who has sworn to make them pay for their sons' act. Several odd men start showing up in their lives in Hollywood. Could one of them be their tormentor? Meanwhile Adelle has struck up a romance with one of her student's father, and Helen is acting strangely.

The production values of this film are particularly good with well rendered details in the sets and costumes that were nominated for an Academy Award. Look for Agnes Moorehead's cameo as an evangelist.

This film has been released on DVD as a double bill with another shocker - Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? It's also available in full on YouTube, though the uploader has disabled embedding. You can see it here. The trailer above is uploaded by punkymom76.

Obscurity factor: 7 (has a cult following, available on DVD, largely unknown to the general public)

Dick Van Dyke & Debbie Reynolds in Divorce American Style 1967

In light of yesterdays post (The Happy Ending, 1969) I thought it would be interesting to discuss a film that was made 2 years earlier, also with Jean Simmons that takes a lighter look at relationships. The plot of this one finds Dick Van Dyke and Debbie Reynolds unhappily wed. Through a series of standoffs where neither party is willing to blink first, they end up getting a divorce. This leads to awkward dating episodes, greatly reduced circumstances for Dick, heartless lawyers and another divorced couple (Simmons in a role that could been seen as an extension of her role in The Happy Ending and Jason Robards) scheming to get Dick to marry Jean and get Debbie married off to Van Johnson, so everyone's money woes can be solved. If you like your comedy black with just a touch of sugar, this film will please. Also in the cast are Van Johnson, Shelly Berman, Lee Grant and a young Eileen Brennan. Look for a wonderful cameo by nightclub performer Pat Collins - the Hip Hypnotist.

This film is available on DVD, though it's not well known. There are some scenes from it uploaded to YouTube, but not the whole film. I just love the trailer above, put together by FilmBuff2000. It really captures the feel of the film.

Obscurity factor: 6 (on DVD, partially available on YouTube, largely forgotten)