Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Carolyn Jones in THE BACHELOR PARTY

The role that seems to have brought her the biggest amount well-deserved fame was her Goth hipster portrayal of Morticia in the 1960s ABC TV sitcom adaptation of THE ADDAMS FAMILY. When I was a kid, that show was "must-see TV" mainly because of her. Carolyn Jones had a look and talent I found absolutely fascinating -- even when I was just a movie geek youngster. I watched her on that TV series. I always noticed her in old movies that aired on television. Whether the part was big -- like her excellent performance as the jaded theatrical agent in 1959's CAREER -- or small -- like her part as the kooky, stone-faced dogwalker in 1955's THE TENDER TRAP -- Carolyn Jones always stood out. Like Bette Davis, she had big eyes that the camera loved. Also, like Bette Davis, she was so committed to each character she played that you could not help but remember her when the film was over, even if she only had a few lines in the film. I loved her as a brunette. However, Jones worked in three top hair colors on film. In 1952's THE TURNING POINT, starring William Holden, she's in an uncredited role as the floozie blonde "lady friend from Florida" questioned in a commission hearing dealing with organized crime.. In Billy Wilder's THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH, she's a desperately horny redheaded hospital nurse who throws herself on the middle-aged married man in one of his daydreams. She's a brunette in 1957's THE BACHELOR PARTY, a drama written by Paddy Chayefsky. It's a modern-day New York City drama. Her downtown, sexy bohemian character isn't given a name. She's The Existentialist. Carolyn Jones is only onscreen for about 7 minutes in THE BACHELOR PARTY. However, she was so damn good in those few minutes that the performance brought her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
The movie is adapted from a TV play, also written by Chayefsky, and you can see its roots in the film. There are long scenes of dialogue in a contained space such as a room in an apartment or a space in an office. A group of men, co-workers, go out on a wild night bachelor party. One of the fellows is getting married. As they drink, revelations come out and truths about each other are realized. The main fellow is Charlie, played by Don Murray (previously the young rodeo dude to Marilyn Monroe's chanteuse in BUS STOP). He's a bookkeeper by day. He attends night school. His wife has just learned she's pregnant. He worries that a baby will restrict his night school education and that will handicap him from moving up to accountant. Jack Warden plays the hotshot guy who will handle the bachelor party. He just wants to get laid. He's single. One of the guys was so promising in college that friends felt maybe he could become America's first Catholic president. (Keep in mind this was 1957. A few years before John F. Kennedy made that history in the 1960s). As for the groom -- I think if Chayefsky wrote that character in between 1971's THE HOSPITAL and 1976's NETWORK, he would've made him a closeted gay man.

The groom-to-be is nervous about the marriage. He feels his parents pushed him into the relationship. He still lives with a parent. The woman he's to marry is a widow. He's not sure he really loves her. He intimates that he's never been with a woman and the thought of a wedding night scares him. E.G. Marshall and Nancy Marchand are also in the cast.
At the single man's urging, the party group gets on a subway to head downtown to meet some babes. They encounter a sleek Greenwich Village type on her way to a party. She's The Existentialist. She immediately sizes up the guys. They head off to a bar. Later Charlie, the bookkeeper, goes back to the party and sees The Existentialist. He's attracted to her.
She's seated on the staircase, holding court in a way, talking in a non-stop clip and dropping intellectual references here and there with insouciant mentions of her rent payment problems and the loser men she attracts. It's fascinating talk but it all seems like a well-rehearsed monologue from someone with a mask on top of camouflage. Like she's basically someone who doesn't feel as fabulous and sophisticated as she appears to be. We sense she is in Manhattan to reinvent herself -- and did -- yet she is still lonely and tries not to show it. That is a real New York story. I've been there myself.

I saw this movie on TV when I was in high school. One moment that stayed with me was the look of desperation and heartbreak that broke through in her eyes when she's alone with Charlie after all the fancy talk and she says "Just say you love me." For all her hipster chic and posturing, she's a subject in search of a verb.
I watched THE BACHELOR PARTY again recently. I hadn't seen it in years. Carolyn Jones earned that Oscar nomination. Being older, I connected to the beauty and truth of her performance even more. I have a feeling that Hollywood loved Carolyn Jones and also noticed her remarkable talent no matter how big or small the role. Journalist Michael Musto, a longtime buddy of mine, interviewed her and confirmed she was quite close to landing the role of Alma in 1953's FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. Unfortunately, a bout of pneumonia took her out of the running. The role -- and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress -- went to Donna Reed.

Catch these films for proof that there are no small parts -- if you're a talented, skilled actor like Carolyn Jones was. You'll stand out.  See her in 1953's HOUSE OF WAX, 1956's INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, 1958's KING CREOLE with Elvis Presley, 1959's A HOLE IN THE HEAD with Frank Sinatra and -- my favorite film performance of hers -- 1959's CAREER starring Anthony Franciosa, Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine.

Cancer robbed us of a fine, versatile actress. She died at age 53.

6 comments:

  1. Thanks doctor Collins Ebosetale for bringing my ex husband back to celebrate this new year with me and my kids....
    Greetings everyone here, my name is Rose Fred and I am from Canada but I based in UK, my husband left me 2 years back just because of a little mixed understanding and I found out that he was dating a Lady in Texas and I fell bad about it and I try all my possible best to bring him back but it was not working until a friend of mine told me about doctor Collins Ebsetale so I contacted him and he explained all my situation and it was all true so he told me what to do and I did all what he asked me to do and within 48hours I received a phone call from my ex husband it was just like a joke, within 7days my ex husband came back to me and I was so happy and now we are living peacefully..
    Contact doctor Collins Ebosetale on WhatsApp. +2348119102287. Or write him on Email : dralexsherbalhomeh@gmail.com for instant spell........

    ReplyDelete
  2. Life is always beautiful when you have good health. For almost a year i had Hpv and I was lonely and sad luckily I was directed to a very kind and Great Dr Onokun who helped me cure my Hpv and today I am free from Hpv and very healthy thank you so much Dr Onokun Email him via: Dronokunherbalcure@gmail.com 

    ReplyDelete
  3. few weeks ago i left some pains and i want to the hospital my doc told me i had HPV about 1 year and i need to start the treatment early he gave me some medicine to be taking and i told him no i will not because i hated taking medicine when i wont not see cure for the purpose after i got home i started getting worried searching for strong advice and i found valid natural treatment online lot people says they got HPV cure from Dr onokun and i email Dr onokun 3 days passed i purchase his cure online some weeks after the process taking his treatment i got cured i went for checkup twice after taking the natural treatment from the herbalist called Dr onokun and i tested negative contact him on email :Dronokunherbalcure@gmeil.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. My ex-husband and I had always managed to stay friendly after our divorce in February 2017. But I always wanted to get back together with him, All it took was a visit to this spell casters website last December, because my dream was to start a new year with my husband, and live happily with him.. This spell caster requested a specific love spell for me and my husband, and I accepted it. And this powerful spell caster began to work his magic. And 48 hours after this spell caster worked for me, my husband called me back for us to be together again, and he was remorseful for all his wrong deeds. My spell is working because guess what: My “husband” is back and we are making preparations on how to go to court and withdraw our divorce papers ASAP. This is nothing short of a miracle. Thank you Dr Emu for your powerful spells. Words are not enough. here is his Email: emutemple@gmail.com or call/text him on his WhatsApp +2347012841542

    He is also able to cast spell like 1: Lottery 2: Conceive 3: Breakup 4: Divorce 5: Cure for all kinds of diseases and viruses.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Never give up in life they all say no cure to HSV 2 which is a big lie I have pass through many process also i never believe there is really cure to HERPES until I meet Dr.Aire the doctor that have been helping many people for many years, I come across this doctor online when I was searching for cure online I found out about this man, and to my greatest surprise this man have the herbal medicine which I have been looking for years I explain my problem to him through the email I found on someone who testify about him also, Dr.Aire write me a reply and explain how the process work so after ordering for the medicine I got it within 4 days and I took it according to the way Dr.Aire instructed, I was so happy after two week I took the medicine there was very big change in my health when I was done with the process I go for test, I found out I am negative that was the day I have the tears of joy you can also get in contact with my doctor through his email now drairehome@gmail.com or you can also WhatsApp him +2347036740271. And He also have herbs medicine to cured the following diseases; eczema,urethra wart,chronic problems.Herpes, Cancer, Als,Hepatitis, Diabetes, HPV,Infections,ulcer ETC

    ReplyDelete

  6. The best herpes remedy online…

    Thank you!! for saving my life,

    I am cured from herpes

    His result is 100% guarantee.

    Robinsonbuckler11 ((@ gmail. com ))

    ReplyDelete

Colman Domingo in RUSTIN

In the first ten minutes of Steven Spielberg's LINCOLN, we see Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln talking to two Black soldiers on a Ci...