Inside Daisy Clover ***½ (1965, Natalie Wood, Christopher Plummer, Robert Redford, Ruth Gordon, Roddy McDowall) – Classic Movie Review 5,308

The polished 1965 Hollywood satire drama film Inside Daisy Clover stars a fine team in Natalie Wood, Christopher Plummer, and Robert Redford and Ruth Gordon, who won Golden Globes. Reputedly Robert Redford did not want to play a gay character but the film is recognised as one of the significant early depictions of a gay or bisexual character in mainstream American cinema.

Co- producer/ director Robert Mulligan’s polished 1965 Hollywood satire drama film Inside Daisy Clover stars a fine team in Natalie Wood, Christopher Plummer, Robert Redford, Ruth Gordon, and Roddy McDowall.

Ruth Gordon won a Golden Globe as Best Supporting Actress and Redford won another for Most Promising Newcomer – Male. There were three Oscar nominations but no wins: for Ruth Gordon as Best Supporting Actress, Robert Clatworthy and George James Hopkins for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color, and Edith Head and Bill Thomas for Best Costume Design, Color.

Gavin Lambert’s dark-toned satirical novel, with its Thirties Hollywood tale about the 15-year-old tomboy singer Daisy Clover (Wood)’s dreams of being a Hollywood star and her dramatic rise and fall, makes for a fascinating if sometimes hesitant mixed bag of goodies movie.

Wood is perhaps not ideally cast as Daisy Clover, who becomes a teen singing star, and nor is Redford as Wade Lewis, the gay/ bisexual matinée idol heartthrob movie star she weds. Both actors look right and work hard but don’t quite seem to be able to pull off their roles.

However, Plummer has an excellent time as producer Raymond Swan, the smooth studio movie boss who auditions Wood’s Daisy Clover and makes her a star. The other ideal actors really enjoying themselves include Gordon as Daisy’s mother Mrs Clover, McDowall as Walter Baines, Swan’s chilly assistant, and Katharine Bard as Swan’s wife Melora.

The Mulligan/ Alan Pakula producer team has a good feel for the period and an eagle eye for Hollywood’s absurdities in a plush big budget production. Lambert writes his own screenplay, based on his 1963 novel. André Previn composes the score.

Homosexuality prohibited by the Hollywood Hays Code before the Sixties and was still a taboo subject in American society in 1965. Redford’s character was gay in the original novel. Reputedly Redford did not want to play a gay character and reportedly insisted that his character have some interest in women and could portray him as vain instead, but a scene was added later to establish the character’s real orientation. Warner Bros insisted that the film only acknowledge the character’s bisexuality through a few bits of dialogue.

However, Inside Daisy Clover is recognised as one of the significant early depictions of a gay or bisexual character in mainstream American cinema who is unashamed of his sexuality and does not end up committing suicide.

Also in the cast are Betty Harford, Paul Hartman, John Hale, Harold Gould, Ottola Nesmith, Edna Holland, John Philip Dayton and Peter Helm.

Wood insisted on casting her friend Gordon as her mother against the wishes of the studio.

Wood’s singing voice is dubbed by session singer Jackie Ward, apart from the introduction to the song ‘You’re Gonna Hear from Me’ (by Dory Previn and André Previn).

Inside Daisy Clover is directed by Robert Mulligan, runs 128 minutes, is written by Gavin Lambert, based on the 1963 novel by Gavin Lambert, is produced by Alan J Pakula, is shot by Charles Lang, is scored by André Previn, is made and distributed by Warner Bros.

Release date was December 22, 1965.

Its box office of $1.5 million in estimated US/ Canada rentals was disappointing but it has gained a cult following.

The cast are Natalie Wood as Daisy Clover, Christopher Plummer as Raymond Swan (aka The Prince of Darkness), Robert Redford as Wade Lewis, Ruth Gordon as Lucile Clover, Roddy McDowall as Walter Baines, Katharine Bard as Melora Swan, Peter Helm as Milton Hopwood, Betty Harford as Gloria Clover Goslett, John Hale as Harry Goslett, Harold Gould as Cop on Pier, Ottola Nesmith as Dolores, Edna Holland as Cynara, and John Philip Dayton.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5,308

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