So, How Was It, Girls???????????? Let's Find Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           "Feud--Capote Vs. The Swans" was stylish, highly entertaining and featuring every actor in a perfect performance, even Joe Mantello as Jack Dunphy.  But, as The Raving Queen, and a purist, I have some carping to do.

                               The film opens beautifully with a lake shot of swans, and Capote looking at them.  But when he gets to Babe Paley's apartment, things fall apart.  First, the place never looks as elegant as it should, and the lighting in almost every interior scene suggests sepia.  Why?  At Babe's he sends the children out, on him, to see "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"--the is 1968--at the Paris Theatre, and then to Serendipity for ice cream and hamburgers.  Listen, girls, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" never played the Paris Theatre; it played at Loew's State Two in Times Square.  I know this because around the same time, my parents took me to see "Oliver!," which was playing at Loew's State One.

                                 Then there was La Cote Basque.  The layout was all wrong.  Having dined there, girls, I can tell you it was mostly banquettes.  I certainly sat in one; I remember it well.  Actually, the restaurant looked more like La Grenouille, than La Cote Basque.

                                  And the wardrobes!  I was looking forward to some great costumes, even if they weren't Hermes or Mainbocher originals.  But where was the color?  Why did they always look, even before Capote's piece appeared, like they were going to a funeral????????????

                                  I wish Ryan Richards' production team had done more research into the glamour era of Manhattan, which still exists on the shoulders of Anna Wintour, so they would have gotten the atmosphere and visuals right.

                                   And who would have thought Jennifer Jones started the whole thing.  The actress, played by Jamie Askew, who can hardly pass for Jones, was the one who invited Truman onto a plane trip with she and David O. Selznick (whoever played him did NOT resemble him at all; another inaccuracy) as well as the Paleys. So, it was Jones who ignited the friendship between Capote and Babe.  Interesting.

                                      The best thing about the show is the acting.  Everyone is spot on in their roles, particularly Naomi Watts as Babe Paley.  More than any of the others--who are fine, nevertheless; I mean, this is Demi Moore's best acting job since 1996's "If These Walls Could Talk!"--Watts seems to transform before the viewer's eye into the incarnation of Paley.  Treat Williams is much too handsome as husband Bill Paley, but his acting is spot on.  Even minor parts, like Joe Mantello's Jack Dunphy, and Russell Tovey's John O' Shea are standouts.  Tovey is important in illustrating the dangers of associating with a closet case, something I think the Swans here caught on to.  I would like to know what became of this closeted loser.  Most of these types end unhappily.

                                    As for Tom Hollander, he caught both sides of Capote--the brilliant and the despicable.  Again, addressing the rumor that I once slept with Capote, let me say I never could, because I would not tolerate his bitchiness, and two bitches under one roof just does NOT work!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Darlings, in spite of my carping, it HAS to be seen.  And remember, girls, as one of the Swans says-- "You earn the face you deserve!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                          Cheers, dears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!