A television network decides to reunite the three female stars of a 60s movie, for a special programme. However, problems arise almost immediately due to the fact that the three women can’t stand the sight of each other. When they do all agree to the reunion, things certainly don’t get any easier….
Starring Debbie Reynolds, Shirley MacLaine and Joan Collins as respectively, Piper Grayson, Kate Westbourne and Addie Holden, this film is a hoot. The three actresses send themselves up beautifully, and I hope that they had as much fun making this film as I did watching it! Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor also puts in an appearance as Beryl Mason, agent for all three women, but her role is very small, which is something of a shame, as she seemed to be sending herself up as much as the others.
The first scene where Beryl and Piper meet is very funny in itself, but even funnier if you know the real life background of these two actresses. There was a huge scandal in the 1950s, when Reynolds’ husband Eddie Fisher, ran off with her friend Liz Taylor, who subsequently married him. This film is in fact the first time that the two women have appeared on screen together since then. And in the scene, Beryl apologises to Piper for running off with Piper’s husband ‘Freddie Hunter’ (which was CLEARLY a reference to Eddie Fisher!) Piper soothes Beryl and says that she forgave her years earlier, before the two women pull ‘Freddie’ to pieces!
However, the rest of the film also has several delights. The catfights between the women are so funny, and Jonathan Silverman, as Kate’s adopted son, who is supposed to be directing the whole reunion, has a rare old time trying to keep things together without one or other of them storming off. Add to the mix a prison escapee, and a big secret in Kate’s past, and the stage is set for lots of laughter.
(Bit of trivia: This film was co-written and co-produced by Carrie Fisher, who is the real-life daughter of Debbie Reynolds, the former step-daughter of Elizabeth Taylor, and who played the daughter of a character played by Shirley MacLaine in Postcards from the Edge.)
Admittedly a lot of the enjoyment in this film is the sheer novelty value of seeing four legends on screen at the same time, but it is actually a very clever and funny film in its own right. Definitely one to watch if you get chance.
Year of release: 2001
Director: Matthew Diamond
Producers: Ilene Amy Berg, Carrie Fisher, Laurence Mark, Elaine Pope, Lewis Abel, John D. McNamara, Deborah Edell Underwood, Sally Young
Writers: Carrie Fisher, Elaine Pope
Main cast: Shirley MacLaine, Debbie Reynolds, Joan Collins, Elizabeth Taylor, Jonathan Silverman, Nestor Carbonell
I’ve never seen this movie but it definitely sounds entertaining! What a cast as well!
Just watched the film on TV , it was a hoot. Feel so envious that they all looked so great at their age, better than loads of other women half their age?
Ha, you are absolutely right! I think some of them may have had some ‘help’ though 🙂 I do love this film, and like to think that they had as much fun making it as we did watching it!