The song goes and the kid with it. The only hit that comes out of a Helen Lawson show is Helen Lawson and thats me baby, remember? FANTASTIC backstage drama!!!!
Movie star and stage actress Betty Hutton claims that she was the broad in Ethel Merman's show on Broadway that got a can tied to her tail for stealing Merman's thunder in the show.
Academy Award Winning Actress Susan Hayward was called by her old studio 20th Century Fox to replace Judy Garland who was fired. Susan Hayward was superb playing the Broadway battle ax patterned after Ethel Merman.
@@nassauguy48 And then there was that one episode of "That Girl" where Ethel was the sweetest person ever. She took a shine to Ann (Marlo's character).
@@nassauguy48 But no hard feelings? I wonder: maybe she came at him with a crowbar. Suddenly I was thinking about the two of them going at it in bed (the love stuff) and I am no longer hungry for lunch.
This is exactly what Ethel Merman (who Helen Lawson is based upon) did to Betty Huttons hit song in a Broadway show. Tried to wipe her out. But Hutton went on to a successful movie career. A side note is that Neely Ohara was a character based on Judy Garland. Ironically Hutton replaced Judy Garland in "Annie Get Your Gun".
If I was Susan Hayward I would have stayed clear of Valley of the Dolls. Valley of the Dolls put the final nail on the coffin of Miss Hayward's struggling motion picture career. After Valley of the Dolls Susan Hayward went the way that most ex movie actresses go when their motion picture career hits the skids....she went to Las Vegas to do Mame! No one can remember any movie that Miss Hayward did after Valley of the Dolls because she was only offered TV type movies afterwards. In fact, Valley of the Dolls killed the motion picture career of almost everyone who was involved in this campy fiasco except for those who maybe had a brief walk on like Richard Dreyfuss. After Valley of the Dolls, Barbara Parkins went back to TV and B grade TV films. Patti Duke went back to TV work, mostly in made for TV films. And the actor who played Toni completely disappeared from the screen after Valley of the Dolls. After Valley of the Dolls Sharon Tate somehow was able to squeeze a few minor motion pictures into release until her untimely death just a few years after Valley of the Dolls. Lee Grant's film career was already finished by the time she did Valley of the Dolls as she had been blacklisted from motion pictures years before. So I would say Valley of the Dolls neither hurt nor helped Lee Grant. Lee Grant was a well respected actress so she did go on to do wonderful TV and stage work. Mark Robson, the director went on to make few mostly undistinguished films. Only Jacqueline Suzanne, the writer herself was able to continue to write best seller books that were made into motion picture films.
@@jackjules7552 The only exception, I suppose, would be Lee Grant, who went on to win a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for "Shampoo". Oh, and let's not forget Richard Dreyfus. He only had a cameo in this, but he certainly went on to Oscar winning fame and acclaim.
I just cant see Judy Garland playing a scene like this , saying son of a bitch /broad/get off his butt ..etc and dangling a cigerette between her lips like a salty old sailor , after seeing her innocence in movies like- Meet me in St.Louis , Easter Parade,A Star is Born and of course -Dorothy Gail from Kansas , Now Susan was a perfect replacement as she says in the movie .." I've had it rough before , i'm a Barricuda " and the famous catfight with Neely , no, Judy would not have been the one .
Judy Garland could do anything -- Susan Hayward stinks in this movie. Not her fault - bad direction - made it campy and cheap. With Garland the movie would have had a little more class.
@@davemattia Susan Hayward was perfect for this role. She was from Brooklyn and had a rough edge to her. She was totally believable. Judy Garland would have presented a more sympathetic figure.
Have to say that I agree with others, can't see Judy Garland in a role such as this due to her vulnerable and sweet persona. It would have been interesting casting to be sure, probably wouldn't have done much to help Judy at that point career-wise - of course this is just speculative on my part.
By this time, Judy was also physically emaciated. She would not have exuded the commanding presence that Susan Hayward did. She was also a Midwestern girl, Susan was a native New Yorker, accent and all, and that added to her toughness.
Movie versions are often changed, often for the better. In the book, Anne and Lyon reconcile at the end with the intent of getting married. And at the beginning, Anne arrives in New York on a blazing hot day, not a cold and snowy one.
Joan Crawford, at a slightly younger age, most certainly could have played this role perfectly, no offense to Susan Hayward intended. However, by this point, Crawford was a little too mature in years to play Helen Lawson. Helen I assume is supposed to be, I guess around 49-50 years old or so ~
@@danielappel1368 Yeah, at this time, Joan was 63. Still, that did not stop her from playing daughter Christina's 28 year old character in Secret Storm when Christina was hospitalized, and Joan was 60! 😆
"You...OUT!" I say this to just about everyone these days.
no but she couldn't sing either , more like a walrus bellow.
The song goes and the kid with it.
The only hit that comes out of a Helen Lawson show is Helen Lawson and thats me baby, remember?
FANTASTIC backstage drama!!!!
Trash talkin', old school Hollywood/Broadway broads, doin' what they do BEST!
@@richardiritano1197 "I know all about run of the play con-TRACTS!"
Don't mess with a Brooklyn gal!!!
This was a thinly disguised Ethel Merman. Hayward steals the picture - not too difficult!
Movie star and stage actress Betty Hutton claims that she was the broad in Ethel Merman's show on Broadway that got a can tied to her tail for stealing Merman's thunder in the show.
@@jackanthony976 Hard to believe because Hutton was not that talented.
@@65wiseman I agree, but I wonder whom the character of Neely WAS modeled on.
@@nassauguy48 Neely was modeled after Judy Garland. Judy’s pill popping, drinking, erratic behavior and suicide attempts were well known.
@@nassauguy48judy garland
Love Helen Lawson!
The only hit that comes out of a Helen Lawson show is Helen Lawson and that’s me baby remember?!
Academy Award Winning Actress Susan Hayward was called by her old studio 20th Century Fox to replace Judy Garland who was fired.
Susan Hayward was superb playing the Broadway battle ax patterned after Ethel Merman.
Are you telling us that Ethel was a horrible person?
@@rr7firefly She apparently was!
@@nassauguy48 And then there was that one episode of "That Girl" where Ethel was the sweetest person ever. She took a shine to Ann (Marlo's character).
@@rr7firefly God, yes. But, in real life, her marriage to Ernest Borgnine lasted only a few weeks before he dumped her!
@@nassauguy48 But no hard feelings? I wonder: maybe she came at him with a crowbar.
Suddenly I was thinking about the two of them going at it in bed (the love stuff) and I am no longer hungry for lunch.
This is exactly what Ethel Merman (who Helen Lawson is based upon) did to Betty Huttons hit song in a Broadway show. Tried to wipe her out. But Hutton went on to a successful movie career. A side note is that Neely Ohara was a character based on Judy Garland. Ironically Hutton replaced Judy Garland in "Annie Get Your Gun".
And, more ironically: Judy Garland was originally supposed to play Helen Lawson in this movie!
La Lawson tells it like it is, no sugarcoating, no b.s.💕
Lauri Bricker Judas Garland could barley stand up.
Every line! Each and every line!
Gimme a fountain pen. And not one of those lousy ballpoints!
Don't forget her W in there--- bawwlpoints
"and I don't intend to. Not until bellamy ties a can to that little broads tail". Love it. So diva.
Sharon Tate was stunningly beautiful. Susan Hayward could make even a lousy script work she was a great actress.
"...and, that's ME Baby, remembahh!???" (1:34) ...Yahhh, YAHHH!! ...ha-HAA!! ...love The 'Lawson'!!
And this, children, is why we keep our damn mouths shut in front of divas.
Hayward clearly realized it was a campy comedy!
Because she was castigated for being campy in some of her movies over the years.
@@ilovebarbra2 As evidenced by her Oscar winning performance in "I Want To Live!" (Even the title was campy).
Strange how some critics saw both this as well as Whatever Happened To Baby Jane as dark comedies!
If I was Susan Hayward I would have stayed clear of Valley of the Dolls. Valley of the Dolls put the final nail on the coffin of Miss Hayward's struggling motion picture career. After Valley of the Dolls Susan Hayward went the way that most ex movie actresses go when their motion picture career hits the skids....she went to Las Vegas to do Mame! No one can remember any movie that Miss Hayward did after Valley of the Dolls because she was only offered TV type movies afterwards. In fact, Valley of the Dolls killed the motion picture career of almost everyone who was involved in this campy fiasco except for those who maybe had a brief walk on like Richard Dreyfuss. After Valley of the Dolls, Barbara Parkins went back to TV and B grade TV films. Patti Duke went back to TV work, mostly in made for TV films. And the actor who played Toni completely disappeared from the screen after Valley of the Dolls. After Valley of the Dolls Sharon Tate somehow was able to squeeze a few minor motion pictures into release until her untimely death just a few years after Valley of the Dolls. Lee Grant's film career was already finished by the time she did Valley of the Dolls as she had been blacklisted from motion pictures years before. So I would say Valley of the Dolls neither hurt nor helped Lee Grant. Lee Grant was a well respected actress so she did go on to do wonderful TV and stage work. Mark Robson, the director went on to make few mostly undistinguished films. Only Jacqueline Suzanne, the writer herself was able to continue to write best seller books that were made into motion picture films.
@@jackjules7552 The only exception, I suppose, would be Lee Grant, who went on to win a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for "Shampoo". Oh, and let's not forget Richard Dreyfus. He only had a cameo in this, but he certainly went on to Oscar winning fame and acclaim.
I just cant see Judy Garland playing a scene like this , saying son of a bitch /broad/get off his butt ..etc and dangling a cigerette between her lips like a salty old sailor , after seeing her innocence in movies like- Meet me in St.Louis , Easter Parade,A Star is Born and of course -Dorothy Gail from Kansas , Now Susan was a perfect replacement as she says in the movie .." I've had it rough before , i'm a Barricuda " and the famous catfight with Neely , no, Judy would not have been the one .
hlywdplayer totally agree it wouldn’t have worked
Judy Garland could do anything -- Susan Hayward stinks in this movie. Not her fault - bad direction - made it campy and cheap. With Garland the movie would have had a little more class.
@@davemattia Susan Hayward was perfect for this role. She was from Brooklyn and had a rough edge to her. She was totally believable. Judy Garland would have presented a more sympathetic figure.
@@user-sv1td1nc8i She was always Dorothy Gale to many people.
@@davemattia I disagree. Imo, Susan did a great job in this movie. She actually was the best thing in it! She understood that role
I love this! As fabulous as Jean Harlow ❤, Billie Burke and Marie Dressler in Dinner at Eight.
I LOVE HELEN LAWSON
bawlpoints
Have to say that I agree with others, can't see Judy Garland in a role such as this due to her vulnerable and sweet persona. It would have been interesting casting to be sure, probably wouldn't have done much to help Judy at that point career-wise - of course this is just speculative on my part.
By this time, Judy was also physically emaciated. She would not have exuded the commanding presence that Susan Hayward did. She was also a Midwestern girl, Susan was a native New Yorker, accent and all, and that added to her toughness.
Votd needs be remade ,set in the 1940s like the book .with Ryan Murphy in control of everything . I wonder who would play la lawson ????
Lady GaGa would be awesome
I'd cast Patti LuPone or Donna Murphy in the role.
@@eamonndeane587 brilliant.!!!
Helen kicked out Terry King in the book, not Neely, did the director and the writers even read the book?
Movie versions are often changed, often for the better. In the book, Anne and Lyon reconcile at the end with the intent of getting married. And at the beginning, Anne arrives in New York on a blazing hot day, not a cold and snowy one.
And not one of those lousy ballpoints...😅
Tacky, but entertaining.
I wonder if the fact that she was sent a green kid right out of NYU is a sign of her slipping power as a star? Or maybe she feels that way?
Broadway performers did not get the experienced staffers that their Hollywood counterparts did.
He looked a little old to be a green kid right out of NYU.
Joan Crawford, at a slightly younger age, most certainly could have played this role perfectly, no offense to Susan Hayward intended. However, by this point, Crawford was a little too mature in years to play Helen Lawson. Helen I assume is supposed to be, I guess around 49-50 years old or so ~
She was 47 years old.
@@Reader1984 Susan was born in 1917, so she turned 50 in 1967.
Joan would also have been impossible to work with, even without Bette Davis.
@@danielappel1368 Yeah, at this time, Joan was 63. Still, that did not stop her from playing daughter Christina's 28 year old character in Secret Storm when Christina was hospitalized, and Joan was 60! 😆
Joan Crawford played a Helen Lawson type in the film "Torch Song" where she plays a Broadway star who is a bitch on wheels as they say.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Why does she remind me of Kathleen Turner?
The voice!
@@lohiau If they did a remake version, Turner could easily have played Helen!