50'S FOCUS : THE GIRL IN THE RED VELVET SWING... 1955..

20TH CENTURY FOX

Presents

A Cinemascope Production

THE GIRL IN THE RED VELVET SWING
 Starring
RAY MILLAND       JOAN COLLINS    FARLEY GRANGER

Luther Adler  Cornelia Otis Skinner  Glenda Farrell  Frances Fuller  Philip Reed  Gale Robbins
    John Hoyt  Robert Simon  Harvey Stephens  Emile Meyer  Leslie Parrish.
Assistant Director - Ben Kadish    Director of Photography - Milton Krasner A.S.C
Music by Leigh Harline  Art Director - Lyle R Wheeler & Maurice Ransford  Edited by William Mace
   Written by Walter Reisch & Charles Brackett    Costumes by Charles La Maire
           Produced by Charles Brackett   Directed by Richard Fleischer

True life scandal as showgirl Evelyn Nesbitt becomes involved with two men, who hate each other as much as they love her! Playboy architect Stanford White and millionaire Harry K Thaw, take their jealousies over Evelyn out in public. Jealousy that ends in murder and a sensational trial ensues. A trial that shocked a nation and focused attention on The Girl In The Red Velvet Swing!

(c)  1955  .. FOX .. 109 MINS .. COLOR by DELUXE ..  REG 1 DVD From FOX Home Entertainment.

"The Girl In The Red Velvet Swing" was originally intended for Marilyn Monroe, but she was deemed too old for the role and she had been put on suspension, she refused to do the role as she felt it too serious a part for her. It then was set to star Sheree North, who was a contract player at that time, but the role finally was offered to Joan. It is loosely based on the scandalous case of Evelyn Nesbitt, the original Gibson girl, who became involved with married, ageing architect Stanford White and the unbalanced young millionaire Harry Thaw. The real Evelyn was employed as a technical advisor on the film, which critics complained gave a sanitised version of the story and portrayed Evelyn as the victim. In reality Evelyn sat on a bottom glass seat for white as she swung knickerless or even naked for him. Where as in the film, she is portrayed as the virginal girl next door, pounced on my worldly wolves! Following the court case, the real Evelyn went on to make eleven movies from 1914 to 1922. But after bad investments she became penniless, until she died in 1967. Joan enjoyed making the lavish film, which Fox spent $1.6 million dollars on. It turned out to be Joan's grandmother Hettie's favourite film's of hers! While making the film, Joan learned some valuable make-up tips from Hollywood expert Witey Snyder, which she put into use on her subsequent film roles. She also began to take more care in her public appearances, after some harsh words from director Richard Fleischer, who saw her lunching in the Fox commissary with no make-up and untidy hair and clothes. He told her to never go out without grooming herself, as it is a star's duty to always look their best for their public. This is a lesson that Joan has continued to practice, to this day, as she always appears in public looking well groomed and eternally glamorous! It also did not do her any favours when top Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper commented..
" Joan Collins obviously combs her hair with an egg beater!"
The film gave Joan the opportunity to appear on the cover of "Life" magazine, which was something of a prestigious event at that time.
One critic commented... " Joan Collins is startlingly beautiful and sexy as Evelyn. She's a torrid baggage!"
Some reviews of the film at the time included;
VARIETY -

"Joan Collins is a captivating, bundle of sex appeal!"

DAILY SKETCH -

"Joan Collins is a young woman of almost disturbing beauty, technically accomplished, perfectly poised, stylish from the top of her head, to the turn of an ankle. She possesses the capacity to express an eager eroticism, beneath the appearance of virginal innocence and gives a performance as sweet and intelligent as any we have reason to expect."

ROBERT OTTAWAY -

"Joan was the most mishandled actress that ever belonged to the Rank Organisation. Now she is set to join the ranks of top grade international stars!"

Joan was still living with Sydney Chaplin at this time but he still was lounging around, watching TV and playing golf and showing her little attention. The last straw as far as she was concerned came in Palm Springs, where he had agreed to pick Joan up at the airport, but he was too wrapped up in his golfing and his friends that he never bothered! She had enough at this stage and moved out of the Beverly Glen apartment they shared, which she had hated anyway! She then found an apartment on Olive Drive, which coincidently was near to her next beau, Arthur Loew Jr!
Despite it's big budget, sadly the film lost money at the box office. But it still is a glorious film to view today and Joan looks stunning as the ill fated showgirl.

JOAN ON SET WITH REAL EVELYN NESBITT

(c)  2010 ...   Mark Mc Morrow ....