Death of a Centerfold
Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story is a 1981 American made-for-television biographical drama film, optioned by Larry Wilcox and his company Wilcox Productions. Wilcox signed the paperwork at midnight and beat out Hugh Hefner and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Later, Wilcox developed the story and pitched it to MGM, where he had a production development deal and subsequently to NBC. MGM and Wilcox then hired director Gabrielle Beaumont.[1] It is a dramatization of the life and the murder of Playboy Playmate of the Year Dorothy Stratten, played by Jamie Lee Curtis.[1] The movie aired on November 1, 1981.[2] Two years later, the same story was developed by director Bob Fosse in his movie Star 80, starring Mariel Hemingway and Eric Roberts.
| Death of a Centerfold | |
|---|---|
 Jamie Lee Curtis as Dorothy Stratten | |
| Also known as | Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story |
| Genre |
|
| Based on | Life of Dorothy Stratten |
| Written by | Donald E. Stewart |
| Directed by | Gabrielle Beaumont |
| Starring | Jamie Lee Curtis Bruce Weitz Robert Reed |
| Theme music composer | Roger Webb |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Larry Wilcox |
| Producers | Paul Pompian Tim King |
| Cinematography | Emil Oster |
| Editor | Morton Tubor |
| Running time | 96 minutes |
| Production companies | Wilcox Productions MGM Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | November 1, 1981 |
Plot
editThe film depicts the life and times of model, actress, and 1980 Playboy Playmate of the year Dorothy Stratten, who was killed at age 20 in a murder–suicide committed by her estranged husband Paul Snider.
Cast
edit- Jamie Lee Curtis as Dorothy Stratten
- Bruce Weitz as Paul Snider
- Robert Reed as David Palmer
- Mitchell Ryan as Hugh Hefner
- Bibi Besch as Hilda Flushing
- Tracy Reed as Mindy
- Gloria Gifford as Jean
- Hugh Gillin as Max Halloran
- Luca Bercovici as "Pooch"
- Kale Browne as Sidney
- Mark Withers as Billy Compton
- Robert Clotworthy as Floyd
Production
editThe TV production was optioned and owned by Larry Wilcox of CHiPs fame, and he negotiated a deal with MGM and NBC for the story to become a movie of the week. At the family's insistence, the names and relationships of her mother and sister were altered.[2]
Reception
editThe New York Times critic John J. O'Connor praised the movie, writing: "the movie works remarkably well in building a dramatic momentum. Jamie Lee Curtis's Dorothy is a thoroughly understandable, if not sympathetic figure. And Bruce Weitz is extraordinary".[3] People magazine also praised the film, writing: "Jamie Lee Curtis is just right as Stratten, and Bruce Weitz is a standout as her ex".[4] Movie critic Leonard Maltin described the film as "exploitative".[1]
Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story finished 27th in the Nielsen ratings. When the film was broadcast a second time on NBC in July 1983, it fared better by finishing fourth in the ratings.[2][5]
Home media
editThe movie was first issued on VHS on September 1, 1998. It later was released on January 25, 2010, on DVD.
See also
edit- Star 80 (1983), starring Mariel Hemingway
References
edit- ^ a b c Maltin, Leonard (1997). Leonard Maltin's 1998 Movie and Video Guide. Signet Books. p. 322. ISBN 0-451-19288-5.
- ^ a b c Bogdanovich, Peter (1984). The killing of the unicorn: Dorothy Stratten (1960–1980). New York City: William Morrow. p. 169. ISBN 0-688-01611-1.
- ^ O'Connor, John J. (October 30, 1981). "TV Weekend; Terror in Fiction and Fact". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- ^ "Picks & Pans Tube". People. Vol. 16, no. 18. November 2, 1981. p. 6.
- ^ "NBC squeezed into the No. 1 spot for network..." United Press International. 3 August 1983.