To Me, She Will Always Be L.A. Joan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               That was my introduction to Shelley Duvall, when I first saw "Nashville" back in 1975.  I was very sad to hear of her passing on July 11 of this year, just four days past her 75th birthday on July 7.  She had a quirkiness that worked for here in films, especially those made by Robert Altman.  I mean, she was just BORN to play the role of Olive Oyl in "Popeye," where she turned out to be the best thing in Altman's otherwise worst film.

                                   She struck gold with "Faerie Tale Theatre," which ran for six seasons on TV.

                                    But there came a point, incomprehensible to me, where the quirkiness did not work anymore, taking over her personality instead.  It stripped her of her unconventional beauty, leaving her a haggard, homeless look wreck, living out of a trailer.  Shelley Duvall?  Yes, darlings.  Without Altman as a compass to guide her, it all became too much.  Why she did not seek help, or no one reached out to her I cannot explain.  I know it was a tragedy, and resulted in an early departure, for Shelley, whom I mourn.

                          Just take a look at this photo, darlings.  It says it all. This is from Altman's 1977 film "Three Women," my favorite next to "Nashville."  Shelley, Sissy Spacek, the images and the color and composition thereof say more about filmmaking and the kind that unfortunately does not exist today. I do not just mourn Shelley Duvall, but the kind of filmmaking that allowed her to flourish.

                             Rest In Peace, Shelley Duvall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!