EVENT UPDATE: BALLGOWNS PRIVATE VIEW .. TUESDAY 15TH MAY 2012..

ELIZABETH EMMANUEL ON RED CARPET

Yesterday I featured some images of Joan as she attended the private viewing party at the V&A Museum London, of their new exhibition of Ballgowns from 1950 to Present... Here are some more shots, including an exclusive shot of Joan posing by a ballgown she wore in 1983 and which was designed for her by Royal designers The Emmanuels..

JOAN ARRIVES FOR THE VIEWING..

JOAN POSES BY HER GOWN ON EXHIBIT..

PORTRAIT BY JOHN SWANNELL  .. JOAN IN THE GOWN!

PHOTO OF THE DAY : THOUGHTFUL JOAN IS HANDS ON!

This rare photo from the early 80's features a stunning shot of Joan..

EVENT UPDATE : V&A MUSEUM BALLGGOWNS EXHIBITION PRIVATE SCREENING.. MAY 15TH 2012..

JOAN AT HEATHROW.

Joan returned back from LA on BA to be met by a maddening delay at Heathrow airport.. But the trouper she is, Joan was out on the red carpet at a private viewing of the new exhibition of 'Ballgowns' at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Located in the newly renovated showroom, the exhibition features a wonderful creation made for Joan in 1983 by Royal designers The Emmanuels..  The gown is worn by Joan here in this portrait which can be seen at The National Portrait Gallery... Here also is a photo of Joan arriving for the viewing.. After the event, Joan had dinner at The Wolseley...

JOAN RELIVES THE 80'S WITH HER LAVISH GOWN!

JOAN WITH ELLI RAI AT THE WOLSELY

PHOTO OF THE DAY : ENGLISH ROSE JOAN IS IN THE SWING!

Have had some comments on why there is very little photo's from Joan's 1999 costume drama 'The Clandestine Marriage' around.. I have featured a few before, but here is one of my favourites, that I have used before.. Featuring Joan as Mrs Heidelberg...

EVENT ALERT : BALLGOWNS : BRITISH GLAMOUR SINCE 1950! ..MAY 19TH - JANUARY 6TH 2013..

Just to mention that a new exhibition opens at the V&A Museum in London this coming Friday 19th until January 6th 2013.... The exhibition features Ballgowns from 1950's to the present.. Along with gowns worn by Princess Diana, it will also feature a gown worn by Joan and created by The Emmanuel's.. See link on sidebar for booking details...

PHOTO OF THE DAY: JOAN'S A LADY WHO HANGS OUT WITH THE LORDS!

This photo was taken as part of a shoot by Lord Lichfield in 1974.. A another variation of this photo is in the National Portrait Gallery London..

PHOTO OF THE DAY : TAXI FOR AN ACTRESS!

This 80's photo features Joan leaving a Hollywood restaurant, stalked by paparazzi at usual!

50'S FOCUS : THE GOOD DIE YOUNG ..... 1954 ROMULUS

              United Artists
                      Presents  
   A Romulus Production
The Good Die Young
                   Starring
Laurence Harvey   Gloria Grahame  Richard Basehart  
Joan Collins
John Ireland Rene Ray Stanley Baker Margaret Leighton Robert Morley Freda Jackson                        

Associate Producer - Jack Clayton   Director of Photography - Jack Asher B.S.C  Music by Georges Auric
            Screenplay by Vernon Harris & Lewis Gilbert  From the Novel by Richard Macauley
             Art Director - Bernard Robinson       Edited by Ralph Kemplen         Produced by John Woolf
                                                             Directed by Lewis Gilbert

(c)  1954  Romulus   B/W  98 MINS   REGION 2 DVD From WIENERWORLD LTD ....

This 1954 film was Joan's last British film for some time, as she was nearing the start of her Hollywood career. Before starting work on this film, she was considered by Italian director Renato Castellani, for the role of Juliet in a production of "Romeo & Juliet" opposite Laurence Harvey, her old RADA mate.  But even though the role appealed to her, she was not too keen on Castellani's advice for her to shave her eyebrows, cap her teeth and most drastically have a nose job to give her the roman look!! Harvey did make the film but a starlet called Susan Shentall took the role of Juliet and she hasn't been heard of since! Joan refused to alter her looks for a film and instead co-starred with Harvey in this excellent crime drama.  Joan plays the more grown up role of the newly pregnant wife of an American played by Richard Basehart. She looks radiant in the role of the girl torn between her husband, who wants her to leave England and go to live in America with him, while her conniving selfish mother is determined to keep her in her clutches by constantly faking an illness to prevent her leaving.

 With an all star cast including Academy Award winning actress Gloria Grahame, who although born in Los Angeles, she had an English mother, the stage actress Jean Grahame.  Director Lewis Gilbert was not too keen on the casting of Grahame in the film as she had quite a reputation as a difficult to work with star! However producer Jack Wolfe was so impressed by her performance in "The Bad & The Beautiful", he felt she was perfect for the role of the trampy actress Denise. Gilbert recalled one day in makeup, Gloria inquired if England had any psychiatrists, as she used a lot of pills and was worried she might not get another supply! Lewis said of her "Gloria wasn't a great star or a great actress. But she had an extraordinary style as an actress, more than many great stars!"  Laurence Harvey stars as the ring leader, who masterminds the robbery at the centre of the story. Harvey plays the son of a rich Sir, played by Robert Morley, who never works and lives off  a rich older woman played by Margaret Leighton. Harvey married Leighton sometime later! He also would team up with producer Jack Clayton for "Room at the Top". Richard Basehart and John Ireland were cast in the film to appeal to American distributors, as was common then to cast American stars to boost overseas sales.
The film's director Lewis Gilbert went on to direct three of the classic Bond films as well as the popular "Shirley Valentine". Gilbert had also directed Joan in the earlier film "Cosh Boy". "The Good Die Young" was shot at Shepperton Studios and on location around London. The British censors at the time, were not happy with the original script and had the scene of the robbery changed from a bank to a post office! To give a moral tone, they had Lewis add voice-overs, as a sort of sermon to the audience on the perils of crime! Away from the cameras, Joan was still suffering in her marriage to Maxwell Reed and it would be only a matter of time before the marriage would over and she would be on her way to Hollywood! After she finished work on this film, she did more theatre and co-starred with Donald Houston in the American comedy "Claudia & David".

(c)   2010   Mark McMorrow..

PHOTO OF THE DAY : BEAUTY IS IN THE BOOK FOR JOAN!

This rare photo from 1980 features Joan at London store Liberty to sign copies of her then best-seller 'The Joan Collins Beauty Book'....

VIDEO UPDATE : JOAN IN HAMBURG APRIL 2012..

Here is a video of Joan recently when she was in Hamburg for a press call in relation to her appearance in the current Snickers campaign...

PHOTO OF THE DAY EXTRA : JOAN TAKES A HOT SHOT!

This new photo is one of a new set of promo shots taken by top photographer Fadil Berisha, who has taken all of Joan's recent promotional photo's....

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S BEST FOOT FORWARD IN THE BEAUTY STAKES!

This rare shot is one of a series of photo's taken for Joan's 1980 best-seller..'The Joan Collins Beauty Book'.....

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S A HANDS ON CO-STAR!

This rare photo features Joan with Robert Hardy in the 1973 thriller 'Dark Places'.....

TRIBUTE : VIDAL SASSOON .. 1928 TO 2012

JOAN SPORTING THE SASSOON LOOK IN THE 60'S

JOAN'S GOT THE LOOK!

Sad to report the legendary hair stylist Vidal Sassoon has passed away, Vidal suffered with leukaemia in 2011, but it's not determined if this was the cause of his death.. Joan was one of the first to sport his trendy new hairstyles in the 60's and she remained friends for many years..

RECENTLY WITH NIKKI HASKELL

PHOTO OF THE DAY : OK GIRLS! IT'S A TALL ANT TALE.. JUST SMILE!

This photo features Joan on set of the 1976 sci-fi cult monster movie 'Empire of the Ants', with co-star's Robert Lansing and Jacqueline Scott.....

PHOTO OF THE DAY : ONE NIGHT AT JOAN'S FOR NIKKI AND CO!

Joan is currently in Los Angeles where she is catching up on business and old friends.. This great shot taken last evening at Joan's apartment, features longtime friends Nikki Haskell, Darren Ramarez and Jacqueline Bisset...Thanks to Nikki for sharing this photo! Check out Nikki's site at www.starshapeproducts.com or see link on sidebar!

PHOTO OF THE DAY : THEY'VE GOT THE LOOK..JOAN WANTS!

I recently posted a photo of Joan with Jon Erik Hexum in the 1983 tv movie 'The Making Of A Male Model'.. aka 'The Look'.. A few people asked if I would be featuring more.. This classic shot was used to promote the film and features Joan as Kay Dillon with Jon Erik as Tyler with s lineup of handsome models!

PHOTO OF THE DAY : IT'S A KNEES UP FOR JOAN..AT HOME!

This shot of Joan was taken in the 70's at her London home.....

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S THE STAR ATTRACTION IN HER OWN DRAWING ROOM!

This great shot of Joan was taken by Stan Jaanus for a feature in the Sunday People in the mid seventies, taken in Joan's home at that time....

PHOTO OF THE DAY EXTRA : ONE NIGHT..ON STAGE WITH JOAN!

This great shot features Joan on stage at Tge De La Mar Theater in Amsterdam recently for her sell out show 'One Night With Joan'....

PHOTO OF THE DAY : IT'S A PRIME TIME FOR ALANA & JOAN!

This photo from 1988 features Joan with good friend Alana Stewart at a party to celebrate the USA release of Joan's first novel 'Prime Time'....

50'S FOCUS : THE ADVENTURES OF SADIE ( OUR GIRL FRIDAY ) 1953

Renown Picture Corporation
              Presents
The Adventures Of Sadie
                Aka
     Our Girl Friday
                           Starring
       Joan Collins
                 as
           Sadie Patch
Kenneth More as Pat Plunkett
George Cole as Carrol
Robertson Hare as Professor Gibble
Walter Fitzgerald as Captain
Hattie Jacques as Mrs Patch
Hermione Gingold as Old Spinster


     Edited by John Seabourne / John Pomeroy  Music by Ronald Binge  Screenplay by Noel Langley
    Art Director-Fred Pusey  Director of Photography-Wilkie Cooper  Assistant Director-Denis O'Dell
                Produced by Noel Langley & George Minter   Directed by Noel Langley
          (c)  1953 ..  88 Mins .. Color .. Region 2 DVD from DD Home Entertainment ..

Made in 1953, this was Joan's first film which saw her name above the title and it proved a hit in Britain. "Our Girl Friday" was filmed on the island of Majorca, which at that time was far from populated and well before the advent of the package holiday! The film features a cast of British comedy greats, which include Hattie Jacques as Sadie's nagging mother and Hermione Gingold as a dotty spinster! Joan plays the role of Sadie, a spoilt rich girl, whose parents have their own business and she is the only female character for much of the film's running time. Kenneth Moore, who had just had great success with the now classic film "Genevieve", stars as Pat Plunkett, a hard drinking Irish man, who is the sunken ships stoker. George Cole plays the role of Carrol, a cynical journalist, who bears a love hate feeling for Sadie. Robertson Hare is the irritating Professor Gibble, an economics professor, who has an eye for Sadie, despite his pompous air!
The film was released in the USA under the title "The Adventures of Sadie".Even after and unflattering review by the New York Times, Joan's performance was noticed by Hollywood Studio head Darryl Zanuck who ordered Fox executive Edward Leggevie, if she would be interested in going to Hollywood under contract!

THE NEW YORK TIMES....
"Joan Collins is perfect for the bikini suit in which she swims and in which she undulates across a  beach. And she doesn't make a bad impression in a tattered dress either. She makes no impression as an actress!"
VARIETY  1953.......
"Three men and a girl, stranded on a desert island, should be an obvious vehicle for a spicy, sexy comedy. But this British effort does not quite come up to expectations. The story from Norman Lindsay's novel "The Cautious Amorist", has it's moments of fun, but the dialogue is often flat and forced."

After this film Joan went back to the theatre to appear in the play "The Praying Mantis", where she played her first vamp / bitch role of a Byzantine empress, who makes love to young warriors and then has them executed! At this time Joan was still married to Maxwell Reed, but the marriage was near it's end and Joan was glad of the location shoot in Majorca. Props and special effects for the film were orchestrated by Eddie Fowlie, who later went on to do all of David Lean's films and became his lifelong friend.
Having viewed the film under both titles, it appears that the American version under the "Adventures" title, appears to have extra scenes not seen in the UK print. Notably some additional underwater shots and at the climax, we see the professor (Hare) stranded on an island, after the second sinking and finding the dotty spinster (Gingold), much to his horror! In the British release, we only see Joan as Sadie, coming out of the sea, hearing Plunkett (More), warbling an Irish ditty! Joan looks stunning in the film and overall the picture is amusing and has some wonderful eccentric characters and a great location. One adventure well worth seeking out!

   (c)   2010   Mark McMorrow..

PHOTO OF THE DAY : MADAME JOAN'S IN A RIGHT LATHER!

This photo features Joan as Madame Carrere in the 1982 film 'Nutcracker', where she plays the role of the director of a ballet school in London.....

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN IS NOT SHORT ON STYLE!

This stylish shot of Joan was taken for a fashion shoot for an issue of Marie Claire magazine that Joan herself edited in the 90's..

PHOTO OF THE DAY : FUREVER ALEXIS..THAT'S JOAN!

As I featured the sleeve for the upcoming region 1 release of 'Dynasty' season 6 part 2 which does not feature Joan on the cover, here is a promo photo form ABC, featuring a fabulous shot of Joan as Alexis!

DVD UPDATE : THE VIRGINIAN /POLICE WOMAN REGION 1 ..

Just to mention that Joan's episode of 'The Virginain' entitled 'The Woman From Witchita', is available on the Season 6 dvd set of the classic Western drama series 'The Virginian' just released on dvd from Timeless Media, out now! In this episode Joan plays Lorna who is left property in a will and comes to town to claim it with the help of her friend Belle played by Rose Marie...
                                             On the subject of Joan's tv episodes.. The first of her two 'Police Woman' eps ..'The Pawn Shop' can be found on the Season 2 release of 'Police Woman' out on dvd from Shout! Factory..This classic 70's series stars Angie Dickinson, who is a good friend of Joan's..Both dvd sets can be ordered from Amazon....

One last mention for the upcoming Region 1 release of 'Dynasty Season 6', which has been available in Europe for some time, Season 8 is due in July here.. I have featured the cover for Season 6 here, but I noticed the cover for the Second part of the release is exclusive to the USA.. Here is a look at it....

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S THE LADY WITH HER FINGER ON THE PART!

This rare photo from 1979 features Joan and the late Pat Booth, at a press call to announce plans to film Pat's best-selling book 'The Lady And The Champ', with Joan as the star.. However apart from some pre-production photo's, the film was never made....