That Dusty Movie Thing....Again....

[allherfaces]

Sorry if this has already been posted--I am unable to keep up with all the threads. Anyway this was passed along to me via email. And don't shoot the messenger, OK. You who know me know that I have no issues about Dusty's sexuality however she or others might define or understand it. The problem that I see with the 'story' below is that it has the tenor of titillation and voyeurism. I don't know, I just think if you're going to make a movie about someone as complicated as Dusty (sexually and otherwise), that you could deal with it in a less gossipy "girl-on-girl action" way--with a tad more seriousness.

What do you think? Am I too old fashioned or is this all kinda cheesy? I wonder if Dusty is mortified, rolling her eyes, or rolling on the floor in laughter.

Oh, and of course the article doesn't say anything about that urm... minor point of Dusty's voice and whether or not we are going to hear it...or just Miss Chenoweth's.

I'm copying below the text and then giving the link--the title of the article says a lot.

Kristin Chenoweth's Lesbian Dream May Come True
Wed., Jan. 13, 2010 5:55 AM PST by Marc Malkin


Jean-Paul Aussenard/Getty Images; Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
Pucker up, Kristin Chenoweth—you could be in for some same-sex smoochin'.

Back in April, Chenoweth not only told us about her longtime hope to star in a biopic about late lesbian pop soul singer Dusty Springfield but also that she wants Kerry Washington to play her lover.

What does Ms. Washington think about this? Well, we just got off the phone with her and…

Washington says she'd jump at the chance to lock lips with the big-piped pint-size entertainer.

After reading our original interview with Chenoweth, Washington ran into her at an L.A. eatery. "I was like, 'I would love to be your lesbian lover!'" Washington says from New York City, where she's starring on Broadway in playwright David Mamet's Race. "It's very exciting. I feeling like I've been waiting to make out with her forever."


http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b161736 ... _True.html

[mssdusty]

HI NANCY NOT SURE IF I'D SEE THIS MOVIE.I GUESS I AM OLD FASHION TOO...

MARY

[memphisinlondon]

Well, I guess it's publicity. At least it shows that Chenoweth hasn't dumped this project yet. But yes it's a rather flippant little snippet of gossip but it's harmless I think.

[jeffery]

Sometimes I have visions of what is to be, and then I'm nauseous when what I've seen comes to fruition. Hollywood - - - Vultures feasting on carrion. I'd hoped for better, but expected as much. They don't love her! No one there loved her! The sharks made a meal out of her! God! I'm just happy she survived. If it hadn't been for her friends coming to the rescue it (L.A.) would have taken her. I'm sticking with the performance videos, and boycotting any such slanderous movies. What would Dusty think? I think she'd say "I just don't give a damn!"

[mnmcv1]

in itself, i think it's just some silly Hollywood facetiousness, although I do think they're being a bit cavalier in their behavior toward's a legend's legacy.

Hollywood is not incapable of producing a good musical biopic (Ray and Walk the Line are recent examples), but Dusty is a different subject altogether. There was an ambiguity about Dusty, and I don't mean just sexually. She never really fit into any mold or genre. And I think there needs to be an understanding of this in approaching her life, and a certain delicate balance. There's 2 things I'm sure of:

1. Chenoweth is talented and likeable, but I really, REALLY hope- IF this movie were to happen- she does not do the singing. Yes, she can sing, but there's nothing really unique about her voice. On the other hand, Dusty's voice was so incredibly unusual, I think it will be next to impossible for her to capture the quality of her vocals that set her apart from her contemporaries in the first place.

2. What would be the source material? If it's "Dancing With an Exploitive Book" (or whatever it's called), I think I may potentially skip the movie.


I keep thinking about what Neil Tennant said in that documentary about her life not being a tragedy...when all was said and done, Dusty survived. Her story, although tragic in places, is NOT a tragedy. I hope they don't ultimately do a routine tragic biopic...it'll be such a wasted opportunity.


PS- had it been a few years back, I think Charlize Theron would've been great for the role. Hell, half the time she already looks like the publicity photos from It Begins Again...

[Douggie]

Hi All

It doesn't surprise me at all. THEY ALL MISS THE POINT!
I think they should just make a movie of both these people
having a romp in a bedroom and other places, and do all the things
they think happened!
It won't make a good movie however they may make some money.
(Which is all they are interested in) showing it at all the sleaze pits,
porno cinemas and no hoper television stations. They could even
get a few awards, but it won't be for their acting and will really
enhance their careers as actors.
Could be they just want to make a porno movie and should if that
is what they want.
BUT don't make Dusty the centre or the catalyst for it.
She was as we all know one of the finest female singers in the world.
Not a porn star. She had wants the same as all of us, but it wasn't what she lived
for and not her life!!
She wanted to be happy, healthy, have fun and continue to do what she did her love of music..

[daydreamer]

Couldn't agree more Douggie. To me it's offensive that they use titilation to lure people into a movie about Dusty. I've been seeing these snippets about this movie re-appear and I'm hoping they're just hype and that they've still not got backing, finished script etc. They say VW is involved, but according to Simon, she says she isn't. I'm not interested in a movie at all because I know what they'll do to it, and to Dusty, to fill their seats. And the women that have been nominated to play Dusty, be it Chenoweth or Kidman are just silly. One of them is about 5' and the other about 6'......make your minds up! And most importantly, both want to do the singing and that, is a total no no. Any movie about Dusty would be a farce without her voice. What would be the point? No sorry, scrap them all for me.

[Brian]

IF ever a film is made about Dusty, they should concentrate on the music - not the bedroom.
Dusty's 'story' really is one of the greatest in musical terms - she worked hard to get where she did through SHEER talent. She knew what she wanted, but as far as I know she didn't step on anyone to get where she did.
The trouble is the 'story' is 50 years old, and there are not too many people around who knew what REALLY happened, which unfortunately means they can bend the truth.
ANY film should involve injections from people who really knew her - Douggie!, Pat Rhodes, Simon & Madeline, musicians and real fans (come on Carole!!) - in fact Carole could play Dusty (especially if she's on holiday! )
Seriously though - it could and should be a great film - and what a fabulous 'soundtrack'.

Brian
20th Century Foxed.

[karen]

Dusty was to us a brilliant singer , there was nothing that she couldn't sing and make special, if they have to make a film , surely what she has done for music over the years ,and is still doing , is what is at the heart of this person , not her private life, I thought that in this day and age more people had come to accept peoples personal preferences re. their love life.[not like then,] Like Douggie said , what sort of film are they wanting to produce ? ?

Karen.

[Cardiff Bluesgirl]

well this was a big talking point on the old forum and I certainly havent changed my views on any of it. except that now I want to throw up at the thought of the whole thing. it will be nothing to do with Dusty the best singer the UK ever had, it will be just an excuse to make a sensational film about sexuality and drug addiction and all the things that sell all these crappy sleazy magazines.
I wish, as I said before, they would just leave her alone,and IF people like V.W. are involved then I despair, does this "friend" never learn.
none of us cared about her "not being perfect" I dont think ther are many perfect people around.those who dont really remember her in her prime wont be interested and for us well we dont need this trash.
I suppose Carole Pope will be in it as well to say nothing about the frying pan incident and the damage done to her lovely face.
I doubt much music will be fitted in and if they dont use her voice then that is at least one small thing to be thankful for.I hope the recession will mean this project gets shelved and I certainly dont think Hollywood should be trying to produce it either,for obvious reasons.

[Dandy]

The only one good thing that could come from a biopic of Dusty would be that people would be more aware of her and it would shift a few more CDs. Otherwise I don't really want to see anyone impersonate her - apart from the lovely celebratory tribute that Katy Setterfield did for Dusty a couple of years ago.

Did the biopics on Ray Charles, Johnny Cash and Edith Piaf have a big effect on their sales? If they didn't there's no point of making a movie.

Especially a muck-raking, sensationalized one of a very private person. She wasn't Katy Price!

[karen]

Agree here Dandy , she definitely wasn't "upfront " like Jordan. pardon the pun.

Karen.

[Carole R.]

I've always thought that the starting point for any film /book or whatever should be:

Would you have done this /written this, had Dusty still been alive?

If the answer is "No" then the film or book must be disrespectful to her memory, therefore should'n't be done/written.

The only reason for pushing forward Dusty's private life and I emphasise private rather than her musical career must be in order to appeal to the publics never ending thirst for salacious gossip.

Dusty didn't, and never wanted that sort of celebrity, and I'm guessing that she'd be horrified to learn of these latest attempts at cheap publicity.

Pathetic.

CR xx

[jeffery]

Plain and simple - I'd rather see a British production of this bio. Ain't no secret what goes on in Hollywood. I'd like to show those screen writers 140 pounds of my Irish wrath! I think we all see thru their mask. Exploitation to boost $ale$.

[Sweetbaby]

Seems to just be another go-round for this non-story about Kristin C's Dusty biopic which Kerry Washington's being enthused over playing Kristin's lover doesn't bring any closer to fruition. If Kristin were to play Dusty it's inevitable that she'd do her own singing . That she can sing is her only recommendation for the part - she's the wrong nationality & has no track record as a dramatic actress or film leading lady. That's not a problem for me: I like the idea of someone portraying Dusty fully to the point of doing her own singing & I think Kristin has the vocal prowess to render Dusty's song book attractively & evoke the original without sounding identical. I understand Dusty's fans being discomfited by the online blurbs focused on the casting of a lover role but Kristin's in-depth statements belie any suggestion of her wanting her Dusty biopic to be sexually focused. So I remain open to the concept of Kristin portraying Dusty - I just don't think it's likely to happen. When Kristin announced her intent of playing Dusty in a biopic some years ago I believe she'd worked almost exclusively in musical theatre with some forays into TV. Since then her film appearances have been second leads in a few unremarkable movies, the mainstay of her career being as a TV actress in comedic roles & I don't think this is a career direction which is going to endear her to movie producers. Also while musically themed films had a certain vogue in recent years there are signs that vogue has passed - witness the current flopdom of NIne (which might directly & negatively impact on NIcole Kidman's anchoring a musical biopic).

[jeffery]

Yeah, thats some openly thoughtful stuff Sweetbaby. I can go along with that, but in the end their all at the mercy of the Hollywood movie mill. It needs to be taken to Britain.

[Dandy]

If Hollywood want to make a biopic of a woman with big hair, big wigs, a harsh beginning, an amazing back catalogue with a heartbreaking voice then the answer is simple: make one of Dolly Parton. I'd buy a cinema ticket! But leave Dusty to rest in piece ...

[mssdusty]

SAME HERE...

MARY

[allherfaces]

Question to the Brits -- why do you think a (non-documentary) film about Dusty doesn't get made over there? Even the stage play versions can't seem to get financed these days.

[Dandy]

Question to the Brits -- why do you think a (non-documentary) film about Dusty doesn't get made over there? Even the stage play versions can't seem to get financed these days.

Michelle Collins (EastEnders) was very keen to play Dusty, as I recall.

But I'd be wary, to say the least, of any Dusty biopic - either side of the pond.