As good a filmmaker as Douglas Sirk was, the best thing about his 1956 film, "Written On The Wind," was Dorothy Malone's over the top portrayal of heiress Marylee Hadley. I shall never forget the scene--which I wish I could show--of her, dressed in toreador pants, dancing on record covers to bongo music, in her bedroom. From that moment, Dorothy enlivened the film every time she appeared in it.
What I did not know, was she planned it that way. Prior to this film, she had a steady, but staid, career as good girl, brunette types. She fired the agent that kept offering her these roles, dyed her hair blonde, and decided to go after the roles of shady women with a past.
Her gamble paid off. Dorothy Malone won the Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress Of 1956, for her performance in "Written On The Wind." What's more, she beat out two of her strongest competitors for the prize, Eileen Heckart and Patty McCormack, for their work in the shocker classic, "The Bad Seed."
With those blonde, sultry looks, she was a shoo-in for the role of Constance Mackenzie, when ABC decided to make a televised soap opera series out of "Peyton Place."
Alas, yesterday, in her hometown of Dallas, Malone, at 93 (!!!! Good for you, Dorothy!) died, of natural causes.
I mean, just look at that dress hair, and car! You know who played Dorothy's romantic rival in this? Lauren Bacall! That's right; a pretty tough gal, herself! But Dorothy walked all over her! The only time I have ever seen Lauren mousy on film!
And, of course, the film's final moment is priceless! Marylee ends up inheriting the family oil business!!!!!!!!!!!!
Way to go, Dorothy!
Your vim and verve will be missed, darling!
Rest In Peace, Dorothy!
And mark my words--in your honor, dozens of queens today are going to get out their vinyl record jackets, and dance on them. Only, no toreador pants! That would not be a thing of beauty, I can tell you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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