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Like Anthony, I am a lover
of good-bad movies. My best friend David and I live
in New York City and every Thursday night we visit the
Chelsea Cinemas on West 23rd Street where
they have Chelsea Classics. Sometimes these “classics”
are wonderful Oscar winning movies. But other times…other
times they’re camp classics (i.e. good-bad movies!)
that sell out.
As Anthony explained to Max,
a good-bad movie is a movie that was originally made
with the intention of being good, but somehow, along
the way, became a disaster! But even though it’s a
disaster, it’s still enjoyable.
The movies I’ve listed below
I’ve seen many, many times because they’re so much fun.
If you’ve never seen any of these screen gems, I suggest
you hurry to your local video store – or go onto Net
Flix -- rent a copy and then invite a bunch of friends
over to watch. Good-bad movies are always more fun
to watch with a group!
Here, in no particular order,
are ten of my favorite good-bad movies. Hopefully you’ll
enjoy them as much as I have!
- MOMMIE DEAREST: Faye Dunaway
thought she was going to win her second Oscar for
portraying screen legend Joan Crawford. The movie
is based on the memoir, Mommie Dearest, by
Joan Crawford’s adopted daughter, Christina, who tells
all about her horrible, horrible, HORRIBLE childhood
in Hollywood. If you’ve never seen this movie, you
are in for a treat! Some of my favorite lines: “I’m
not mad at you, Helga, I’m mad at the dirt!” “Tina!!!!
Bring me the ax!” And of course, “No wire hangers…EVER!!!”
- VALLEY OF THE DOLLS: Before
it was made into a movie, Valley of the Dolls
was a New York Times bestseller written by Jacqueline
Susann. In fact, it’s one of the bestselling novels
of all time and is still in print! The plot is very
simple: three single girls are trying to make it
in Hollywood. Unfortunately, they get sucked into
the darker side of Hollywood. This movie is SOOO
over the top! I’ve lost count of the number of times
I’ve seen it. Some of my favorite scenes: Neely
flushing Helen’s wig down the toilet. Neely and Tony
singing a duet in the mental hospital. Anne’s hairspray
commercial.
- MAHOGANY: Diana Ross is
Mahogany, a struggling dress designer – when you see
her designs, you’ll know why she’s struggling -- living
in the ghetto in Chicago who finds success as a supermodel.
Anthony Perkins co-stars as Sean, the photographer
who’s obsessed with her. My favorite scene in the
movie is when Mahogany is trapped in a runaway car
with Sean who keeps taking her photo. Take a look
at the photos when they’re developed. I’m surprised
Miss Ross allowed them to be shown!
- SHOWGIRLS: Elizabeth Berkley
from Saved By The Bell fame stars as Nomi,
a dancer in Las Vegas. You’ll howl when you see the
way she puts ketchup on her French fries. It’s all
downhill after that! But keep an eye out for Gina
Gershon’s performance, which is amazing!
- HUSH, HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE:
This movie has a very clever plot and it was nominated
for a couple of Oscars. It stars Bette Davis as Charlotte
Hollis, a faded Southern belle who’s going crazy.
Or is she? There are lots of fun plot twists that
you aren’t going to see coming. What you WILL see
coming is Bette’s over-the-top acting. Ditto with
Olivia deHaviland, who plays her nasty cousin Miriam,
and Agnes Moorehead of Bewitched fame as Charlotte’s
maid, Velma.
- THE BEST OF EVERYTHING:
Three single gals are trying to make it in the world
of publishing. Joan Crawford plays their evil boss.
During the day, I work in publishing. The first time
I saw this movie, my mouth dropped open. I work with
people like this!
- BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE
DOLLS: This movie is in no way connected to the original
Valley of the Dolls and it makes that movie
look like a classic! Insane is the only word I can
think of to describe this movie. INSANE!!
- THE STEPFORD WIVES: Rent
the 1970s version, not the remake that starred Nicole
Kidman and Matthew Broderick. Trust me. It’s worth
renting just for the scene with Paula Prentiss malfunctioning
in her kitchen.
- THE TOWERING INFERNO: In
the 1970s, disaster flicks were all the rage and they
followed a simple formula: take a bunch of celebrities,
put them in a life threatening situation and then
kill them off one by one. In this one, a bunch of
celebrities are trapped in a burning building and
they can’t get out. I can remember my grandmother
taking me to see this movie when I was a kid. I loved
it!
- THE BAD SEED: A seven year
old is a killing machine and no one knows it.
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