| re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. | |
| Posted by: | shadowlight 09:37 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - jesse21 07:09 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| “Oh. Well, of course she can’t sell any tickets!” Bacall said. “That’s how we got her to go on,” Wilner says. Welch turned out to be even more of a diva than Bacall. Two weeks into her run, the entire cast showed up at the theater wearing T-shirts. They read: “Bring back Betty!” IF Bacall actually said that, she was not only not a "consummate professional", but also incredibly petty. The claim that she threatened not to go on for her final performance over an ad makes no sense. What were they going to do to appease her? Make the ad magically disappear? Give her another diamond bracelet? I also doubt the veracity of the insulting group tshirt incident. However much a diva Welch may have been, that is unacceptable and unprofessional behavior. What stage manager would allow that? Who but Riedel would think his article makes Bacall sound like a "formidable" diva, worthy of adoration? If I were to get a picture of her based on his article alone, I would think she was a shallow, demanding, childish, greedy, insecure bitch - and bitch wasn't the first word that came to mind. Diva wasn't the second. | |
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| This isn't social work...it's Show Business | |
| Posted by: | Jax 01:31 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. - shadowlight 09:37 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| There are similar stories about everyone from Sinatra to Garland. Lauren Bacall was a star for 70 years -- in itself a jaw dropping achievement -- because she instinctively knew how to play her tough girl persona, from a seductress ("To Have and Have Not") to a diva ("Applause") to a grand dame ("Murder on the Orient Express"). Audiences always want their stars to be bigger than life, and Bacall managed to be a bit stronger, a bit tarter than any of her rivals (Alexis Smith, for example.) And please don't say "nothing excuses bad manners." In show business success has always trumped good behavior. As Joan Crawford is reputed to have said, "If you want the girl next door, go next door." | |
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| re: This isn't social work...it's Show Business | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 02:15 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | This isn't social work...it's Show Business - Jax 01:31 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| Of course, you're right that there are stories of bad behavior about a great many stars. But you seem to be implying that a certain acting persona necessarily goes hand in with bad behavior, which is not true. You also seem to be be implying that bad behavior is NECESSARY for success in show business, which of course is not true, either. | |
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| re: This isn't social work...it's Show Business | |
| Posted by: | Jax 02:32 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: This isn't social work...it's Show Business - Michael_Portantiere 02:15 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| You misread me. My point is that a performer's "bad behavior" (by which, in Bacall's case, I only mean not suffering fools, gladly or otherwise)is irrelevant to their stardom. Beyond that, audiences often come to enjoy a performer's persona: Sinatra's tough guy stance, Bacall's edge. Who would you rather see in "Goodbye Charlie," Lauren Bacall or Debbie Reynolds? (Author George Axelrod said he never even saw the film due to the casting.) | |
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| re: This isn't social work...it's Show Business | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 05:01 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: This isn't social work...it's Show Business - Jax 02:32 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| Thanks for clarifying. | |
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| re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. | |
| Posted by: | enoch10 12:24 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. - shadowlight 09:37 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| >> a "consummate professional", but also incredibly petty. you seriously think it isn't possible to be both? have you ever met - let alone worked with - a diva? a real one? | |
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| re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. | |
| Posted by: | shadowlight 11:46 pm EDT 08/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. - enoch10 12:24 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| "have you ever met - let alone worked with - a diva? a real one?" If you count Bebe Neuwirth, Patti LuPone and, briefly, Lauren Bacall, then yes, I've worked with a diva or three. | |
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| re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 09:48 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. - shadowlight 09:37 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| But Riedel does say how hung out with her fellow actors during Applause. The article does seem rather shallow, though, if he's paying Bacall a tribute. | |
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| re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. | |
| Posted by: | IThespis 01:05 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. - lowwriter 09:48 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| He told me. In CACTUS FLOWER she gave Bob Moore notes! That just isn't done. In APPLAUSE a story floated around after one performance, an understudy or swing had gone in, after the show she passed his dressing room saying "Nice try." I was to a wedding, at the groom's table for God's sake …. she was a guest of the bride … in a narrow space while passing from one side of the tent to the other, here she comes … I raised my camera straight up in the air as we squeezed by one another. I expected a pleasant smile, all of us in it together, a happy day for the bride and groom. She glanced at the camera, gave me the look of death. Larry13 has it right, throughout over 50 years Bacall stories aren't particularly likeable. | |
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| re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. | |
| Posted by: | BruceinIthaca 12:52 am EDT 08/17/14 |
| In reply to: | re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. - IThespis 01:05 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| I have only one such recollection and it is actually an odd televised one. It was the Tonys, and she had won that night for "Woman of the Year." Some entertainment reporter (I can't recall who, a woman) shoved a mic in her face on the way out and said, "How did it feel to win tonight?" to which she answered (I paraphrase), "Well, you must be surprised since you predicted Chita Rivera would win for 'Bring Back Birdie'!" That seemed like such a classless moment--as a colleague of mine says, a sore loser is one thing, but a sore winner is much worse! | |
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