FILM FOCUS : THE FLINTSTONES IN VIVA ROCK VEGAS ...1999

UNIVERSAL PICTURES
Presents
FROM AMBLIN ENTERTAINMENT
FLINTSTONES IN VIVA ROCK VEGAS
Starring

MARK ADDY as Fred Flintstone
STEPHEN BALDWIN as Barney Rubble
KRISTEN JOHNSTON as Wilma Slaghoople
JANE KAROWSKI as Betty O' Shale
JOAN COLLINS as Pearl Slaghoople
THOMAS GIBSON as Chip Rockefeller
ALAN CUMMING as Gazoo / Mick Jagged
HARVEY KORMAN as Colonel Slaghoople
ALEX MENESES as Roxie

Director of Photography - Jamie Anderson
 Art Director - Bradford Ricker
   Music by David Newman
Screenplay- Deborah Kaplan/Harry Elfont/Jim Cash/Jack Epps Jr
  Edited by Kent Beyda A.C.E
    Executive Producers - Hanna & Barbera
      Produced by Bruce Cohen
        Directed by Brian Levant

IT'S DAME ENDA SLAGHOOPLE!

Back! Back! Back we go to the dawn of a new romance, as we join Fred and Barney as they search for the prehistoric women of their dreams! However.. Love does not run smooth... What with a conniving playboy, not to mention a glamorous meddling mother in law from hell!! There is only one thing to do! Only one place to go! Join The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas!!
  (C) 2000 UNIVERSAL  89MINS  REG 1/2 DVD'S UNIVERSAL

PEARL ADVISES WILMA

This prequel to the 1994 blockbuster 'The Flintstones', charts the romance between Fred and Wilma. The original film starred John Goodman and Rosie O' Donnell, with Elizabeth Taylor in the role of Pearl Slaghoople, now played by Joan! Director Brian Levant returns and he was more than delighted to helm the production.
"I like things that creat happiness and there is nothing in my mind that makes you smile as much as the imagery of 'The Flintstones'. Our goal was to find people who not only physically resembled the characters, but who also embodied their spirit and then to redefine them."

JOAN CHECK THE RUSHES WITH DIRECTOR BRIAN LEVANT

Star of 'The Full Monty', Mark Addy plays Fred and he was more than delighted to get the role.
"I looked at the original animated 'Flintstones' and watched Jackie Gleeson in 'The Honeymooner's', since Gleeson's character and Fred possess the same qualities and faults. They are both big hearted and big mouthed, they don't think before they speak, they get into all manner of scrapes."

'3rd Rock From The Sun', star Kirsten Johnston plays Wilma and she enjoyed the experience...
"I love to create new characters and Wilma is so different from what she ends up being. She is very innocent and naive. She has been protected and lived a very wealthy sheltered life. I have never played an ingenue before and one of the great things about the part is I get to do my own stunts. I love doing physical comedy."

DARLING! HOLD STILL AND YOU WON'T CRACK UP!

The film features over 200 visual effects and puppets of The Jim Henson Creature Shop. It was filmed on location around Los Angeles, with the Paramount Ranch becoming Slaghoople Manor. Director Brian Levant found it challenging recreating the prehistoric age!
"In creating Rock Vegas, we wanted to expand beyond the Flintstones world of stone, bone and lava. We wanted to introduce new elements and vary the palette. We had hundreds of people in a 40,000 square foot warehouse, making moulds and manufacturing cups, glasses, silverware and clothing."

JOAN ON SET WITH HER MORE ANIMATED CO-STAR!

Other locations for the film included, Rocky Peak which was transformed into Fred and Barney's trailer park. The Cal Mat Quarry in Sun Valley doubled for Bedrock, the Melrose Place apartment building, while a local swap meet, doubled for the Bronto King and The Rock Vegas Resort. When it came to Rock Vegas's design, the art department, utilized materials such as fibre glass and special coated glitter filled fifty five gallon drums. Interior's were built on stage, at Universal Studios. The films 27,000 props included platters of food, Seagrock's Seven Shell Whiskey, rock crystal martini glasses, Perrier Jurassic Champagne and giant olives. Costumes for the production were created by Emmy Award winning designer Robert Turturice.

"I think they were looking for outrageous, flashy clothes and someone who wasn't afraid to just take the risks and go completely over the top. I mean what does couture of BC look like? So many elements go into achieving the look. All the jewellery are stones that have been cast. Everything was made.. The costumes are sewn, but all the seams of leather are glued together and then very narrow strips of leather are threaded through the holes that are punched in the leather, so technically they are all sewn by hand."

DARLING! HE JUST RAINED ON MY PARADE!

Joan looks fabulous in the film, with her costumes been the most over the top, as expected! Ironically Joan took over the role of Pearl, originally played by Elizabeth Taylor. Though it was hardly compensation for 'Cleopatra'! The film was not a box office smash as hoped, with mixed reviews....
TOTAL FILM....
'Undemanding tots will adore this Jurassic lark, which overflows with prehistoric puns. CG dinos and colourful sets and costumes. Adults, however may be harder to please, though they will no doubt relish Joan Collin's game turn as Wilma's mother. Still fans of the original series should enjoy comparing the new stars with two dimensional counterparts. However Brian Levant and his four screenwriters weaken the scenario by having a pint sized green skinned ET named The Great Gazoo, passing comment on things. But ignore Gazoo, chances are you'll have a gay old time!"

DARLINGS! I HAVE A BONE TO PICK WITH YOU!

NEW YORK POST....
'A cheerful prequel to the 1994 hit, has a new downmarket, but better chosen cast and a story that must have seemed dated in the paleolithic era! Joan Collins plays Wilma's snobbish mother, she looks great and attacks her first big screen role in years as if it were Noel Coward!'

FEATHERS WILL FLY IF PEARL DOES NOT GET HER OWN WAY!

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE...
'Watching this new 'Flintstones' prequel is just like being at Universal Studios dinner theatre, only it's edited and there's a sense of camp, so palpable you can taste the velour of the costumes! 'Viva Rock Vegas', is a depressing show of how truly, madly, deeply outmoded Hollywood can be, as the film can barely decide, with it's lame slapstick and diet raunch, if it's aiming for kids or their folks! Wilma's mother is played by Joan Collins, who is histrionic as ever. Her scenes with Harvey Korman as her senile husband, are among the most dejecting pieces of pop camp ever filmed!'

RARE TEST SHOTS OF JOAN...

Although failing to set the box office alight, the film did well on video and dvd and is fun entertainment.. Joan is certainly the highlight of the film and there is good fun to be found in her scenes..


UK DVD SLEEVE



JOAN SPITS FEATHERS WHEN SHE READS THE REVIEWS!