‘SCANDALOUS WOMEN’ BY GILL PAUL

 

First and foremost I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for handing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review, so without further ado...

 

SCANDALOUS WOMEN is my introduction to Gill Paul’s work even though I already own many novels by her (yes, you can say that I’m a bookaholic). The reason I chose this one is quite simple. It’s all about my two favorite Js: Jacqueline and Jackie. Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins, that is. Yes, both women are featured in this historical fiction novel that begins when VALLEY OF THE DOLLS is about to get published. From then on the reader meets budding novelist Jackie Collins married to her first but troubled husband and fictitious Nancy White who ends up working for Jacqueline Susann’s publisher Bernard Geis. Like in Valley, each chapter is focused separately on a main character.

 

The trio eventually meet but the story really centers around the relationship between Susann and White (while struggling Collins tries to finish her first novel in the UK), which is fine in itself as it keeps reality (Susann and VALLEY OF THE DOLLS) and fiction (White’s advocating the novel) bound together. As soon as the story takes a turn to focus on Nancy’s unlucky love life, however, SCANDALOUS WOMEN somehow falters. Not as exciting, alas, and this reviewer ends up craving even more for the two Js and their eventual fictitious meeting.

 

When it does happen, what’s thought to become addictive ends up being only so-so. What the book may lack is a sooner approach to their get-together. It takes pages and pages of biographical events before the ultimate crossing of each other’s lives, and, in the long run, this overshadows any form of excitement when we do get there.

 

Still, the author sure knows her subjects and the narrative is solid enough (minus some anachronisms like one character punching the air in happiness, an untypical move for the ‘60s era).  I would say go for it, if you have yet seen Collins excellent documentary LADY BOSS or read Barbara Seaman’s 1987 bio about Jacqueline Susann called LOVELY ME. Other than that if your main goal is to focus more on the fictitious character Nancy White then you will be served, since her story does to a degree read like a Collins or Susann novel.

You can purchase SCANDALOUS WOMEN wherever books are sold.

 

 

Until next post—Martin

 

 

 

“THE AGE OF MELODRAMATIC MINISERIES” BY SCOTT HUMPHRIES.

 

If you’re into glitzy miniseries from the ‘80’s like I am—and I have a big hunch that you are if you’re reading this—and if you’re always on the lookout for something related, well have I got the book for you. Oh yes, THE AGE OF MELODRAMATIC MINISERIES by Scott Humphries is a fascinating look at all the minis made between 1980 and 1995. And let me tell you, this guy knows his stuff.

 

Fool of me to ever think that I was perhaps the sole go-to when concerning miniseries and books from which they are based. Of course, other people, like this Scott Humphries fellow here, could be as knowledgeable, if not more. I recently discovered him on Facebook.  After happily browsing his online page I told myself that I had to get a copy of THE AGE OF MELODRAMATIC MINISERIES, and I’m so glad I did.

 

This highly entertaining book brings you right back into the era of high-budget TV adaptations based on American trashy bestsellers found mostly in supermarkets and airports. Moreover, the book also goes abroad by focusing on other minis derived from original ideas like Australian FLAIR and RING OF SCORPIO which I barely knew about. Humphries takes an in-depth look at all of their glorious and sometimes not so glorious productions and gleefully shows us what made them tick. 

 

From ‘Defining the Genre’ (‘Character Types and Tropes’...) to ‘Analyzing the Texts’ (‘Work, Power and Conflict’...) Scott’s thesis-like book is fun, insightful, filled with on-set photographs and publicity stills, and will certainly make you feel nostalgic. A truly treasure trove for lovers of ‘80s miniseries everywhere. So, go on, do as I did. Take a look at THE AGE OF  MELODRAMATIC MINISERIES and enjoy the ride.

 

Until next post—Martin 

LACE AND SHIRLEY CONRAN (1932-2024)

In 1984 I had just come out of the closet. I was living my best gay life, or so I thought when one is barely an adult. I was 19, full of life, self-centered but also a lot of fun, and moody at times, a lot moody really—probably caused by years of brutal bullying: from my family, schoolmates, from anyone who was mean spirited. I never understood what set me apart from other people. Yes, I was an odd kid but wasn’t anybody? Sure, I wasn’t that boyish. I didn’t particularly enjoyed sports, and I preferred playing with dolls more than with trucks but that didn’t mean anything, right, right?!

Oh how wrong I was.

Anyway, back to my gay outing. The thing I liked most back then, besides clubbing and drinking and dabbling in illegal drugs (remember, it was the ‘80s), was reading trashy novels. Like everything else, I found that they helped me cope with life in general.  One of those novels was Shirley Conran’s LACE. I remember vividly the first time I came to know of it. I was watching its TV adaptation and enjoying the heck of it and telling myself that I needed to get a hold of the book, ASAP.

I got a paperback copy that same week. In fact, I still own it. Though the novel ended up being quite different from what I had witnessed on the small screen, I couldn’t get enough of Lili, Pagan, Maxine, Judy and Kate, who was the fourth friend in the novel. Even to this day, 40 some years later, I still go back to LACE whenever I feel the need to re-immerse myself in these fascinating women.

Which brings me to the author. Dame Shirley Conran just passed away today (May 9^th of 2024) and I’m sad. She was 91. She will never know how much she meant to me. Just the simple fact that she liked one of my tweets once (when she was on social media) brought me the greatest joy. For the longest time, she, like the rest of her peers, gave me a reason to get up every morning. I felt safe in her surroundings. I still do. And for that I will eternally be grateful.

RIP, talented lady, and thanks for everything.

 

Martin

‘THE SECRET KEEPERS’ BY TILLY BAGSHAWE

 

Tilly Bagshawe’s latest is a juicy family drama set before, during, and after WWII. It focuses mainly on the Challants, a well-to-do English family, led by a devout father whose sole purpose in life, it seems, is to make everyone around him unhappy. Especially his frail devoted wife, who’d rather spend time collecting exotic birds than focusing on her crumbling marriage. The couple has four children: three girls and a boy, the latter the most obedient, though not necessarily the favorite (that would go to the youngest girl who later on would pay dearly for this privilege). When tragedy strikes one summer night during a raging thunderstorm, the life of the Challants is not only affected but forever changed as secrets from the past eventually surface.

 

As expected, there is more than meets the eye in this compelling tale of love and lost. It starts off quite strong, with one protagonist in the present time facing some inner demons on a shrink couch, and paces efficiently once the novel revisits the past for the family drama to unfold. From the get-go I felt connected with most of the characters (I draw the line with the rotten dad), especially the four siblings who try their best to stay afloat despite constant turmoil in their lives. Of course like in any well-made or not so well-made sagas, everyone is gorgeous and rich (or surrounded by wealth) and suffers greatly in the name of love (or self love to some) but never did I feel, in this particular novel, unattached to their plights.

 

Fans still looking for Bagshawe’s unique bonkbuster style, however, may be a tad disappointed as the sex and shopping approach in this one is quite tamer, but overall THE SECRET KEEPERS is still a very amorous affair with its strong narrative, colorful characters, not to mention its finely-tuned historical flavor. Indeed, since her previous novel THE SECRET OF SAINTE-MADELEINE, there’s a new Tilly Bagshawe in town, a Tilly Bagshawe who’s matured to an ever greater storyteller, a writer who knows where she stands in this so-called women fiction territory. And all is left to say is: brava, talented lady, you’ve got another winner in your hands.

 

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this 4 and a half stars reviewed ARC.

 

Until next post—Martin

 

 

 

 

DYNASTY: SEASON 8 (1987-1988)

 

It’s official. DYNASTY is back on track, thanks to a kinder eighth season. If you recall, season seven was almost abysmal. It was mainly about Kristina’s heart disease and her eventual recovery. Very, very boring, if you ask me. Sure, the remaining storylines were more watchable, especially in the first half of the season, but not enough to grant the overall season a must-see. Anyway, enough about that; let’s move on to season eight. 

Three well-known characters return: Fallon, Jeff and Matthew Blaisdel, the latter with a mission in mind, to take back what’s his: Krystle. Hurray for women’s lib. In the meantime, he holds the Carringtons hostage with the help of some Peruvian mercenaries, one of which is a fine specimen, but I digress. So, to recap this two-episode arc, Matthew fails to win back Krystle. He is instead killed by gay ambivalent Steven who, for the next few episodes, has a hard time dealing with it (not his sexual preference—well, that too—but Matthew’s death). He starts burying his feelings in work, like taking over his dad’s football team which is exactly what one should do when also struggling with his own sexuality. 

As for Fallon and Jeff, well, after being left stranded near the LA desert by a UFO, a comatose Fallon is found by Jeff who does not believe that she had been abducted by aliens (which happened during the second season ender of THE COLBYS which by then had been cancelled, hence Jeff and Fallon’s return to DYNASTY). Back in Denver to recuperate, and in between UFO survivor sessions (which end up going nowhere plot-wise), Fallon hardly gives a damn about Jeff’s feelings. She much prefers mentioning divorce but Jeff is adamant that they stay married, even though he winds up in bed with Leslie. You remember Leslie, Blake’s niece and troublemaker in the making? More on her later.

 

Newlywed Adam wants his bride Dana to give him a child but she’s unable to, on account of complications from an abortion as a teen. But get this: the father at the time had been the same Adam, who, back then, was just Michael Torrence: troubled, drugged up Michael Torrence. She keeps this all on the hush-hush for a few episodes while they hire a surrogate (Stephanie Dunnam). When the cat is finally out of the bag, instead of comforting his bereft wife, he blames her for killing his child, which is so much like Adam. However, he soon comes to forgive her and embarks on a custody battle with the surrogate mother who, having given birth to a baby boy, wants to keep the child. He loses the case but not before promising the world that’ll he’ll get his son back.

 

Blake is on a mission: to become governor of Colorado. With Krystle and Jeff (as campaign manager) at his side he sets out to achieve this, even if it means stepping away as chairman of Denver-Carrington (which he gives to Steven) and running against Alexis. Sabotaged by her on numerous occasions, he still manages to come on top, thanks mostly to his faithful wife who, despite experiencing some impromptu splitting headaches which she tries to hide, has become Nancy Drew in dishing out dirt from Alexis’ past. But in the end both candidates loose against a meatier opponent.

 

As for Sammy Jo, well, having a platonic in-house relationship with her ex, Steven, for the sake of their kid sure does not help her libido. In comes hot footballer Josh (Tom Schanley) who, in between many lines of cocaine, tries to sweep her off her feet but fails miserably. Oh, she still lets him ravish her (who wouldn’t?) but in the end nothing comes of it (the same regarding this plotline, I would say) and he winds up overdosing in his apartment, where a devastated Sammy Jo eventually finds him.

 

Speaking of Sammy Jo, Jeff is hardly indifferent to her plight. Let’s face it, he’s a good guy. A little slutty but a good guy. He’s also tall, dark and handsome, not to mention filthy rich and, more importantly, divorced from Fallon—finally. So no one is really surprised when he goes about setting his eyes on Sammy Jo. Of course, he ends up having a meaningful romantic relationship with her. They even end up hearing wedding bells on the horizon. But old habits are hard to break for him when Fallon is around.

 

Now Alexis. After leaving Adam’s wedding celebration in a borrowed car, and not to mention in despair, over a spat with Dex, she is saved by a total stranger—or so we think—when she suddenly drives off a bridge. This stranger turns out to be the cuckoo brother of—wait for it—Kirby. Yes, season three and four Kirby, boring Kirby, hysterical Kirby, glad she’s not around anymore Kirby. Anyway, to make a long story short, Sean, that’s his name, wants to avenge sis and dad from all the trouble Alexis caused, dad being Joseph, the then majordomo who committed suicide after setting a cabin on fire with Alexis and Krystle in it. So what does Sean do? He courts Alexis, marries her, cheats on her with Leslie (You remember Leslie, Blake’s niece and troublemaker in the making? More on her later) and screws up his wife’s business. Then it all comes down to Alexis finding out how rotten Sean is (kind of like her real-life ex-husband Peter Holm) and watching Dex fighting him off until a gun goes off as a season ender.

 

The season also ends with Blake learning of Krystle’s sudden disappearance from the mansion which forces him to recognize the severity of her health issues; Jeff taking over Denver-Carrington and putting himself in a compromising situation when he sleeps with both Sammy Jo and Fallon; Leslie being saved by Steven and Adam from troubled Sean (you remember Leslie, don’t you? Blake’s niece and... oh never mind.); Steven leaving a letter to bid farewell to his family (in real life the actor wanted out of the series); and Adam discovering he‘s really been a Carrington all along which, despite that happy fact, does not save his crumbling marriage. All in all a pretty good season, even though it dropped to #41 in the Nielsen ratings. Yes, I agree, the entire Sean storyline was a tad comical but the end result still managed to glue me to my seat. I even rushed to season 9 to check out the outcome of his faith, even though I had a hunch where it was going. But that, dear readers, is for another blog entry.

 

 

So until next post—Martin

 

 

THE WOMEN FROM ‘BEAUTY FOR SALE’ (1933)

 

BEAUTY FOR SALE, made by MGM, focuses on three young women whose lives are as tumultuous as any on-screen melodramas. Think THE BEST OF EVERYTHING, THE WOMEN plus a dash of VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, and you’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s in store (the film is based on a novel by Faith Baldwin). Made before the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines, BEAUTY FOR SALE is considered mild by today’s standards but oh what a scandalous film it must have been back then: adultery, unwanted pregnancy, booze, suicide... 

The film features Madge Evans, a former child actress who got signed by MGM in the early ‘30s. By the time she landed the lead in BEAUTY FOR SALE, she had already shared the big screen with many big names, such as James Cagney, Bing Crosby, Jean Harlow, Robert Young, just to name a few. To say that she’s sensational in this picture would be an exaggeration on my part, for I find her a bit wooden at times. Nevertheless, she does have star power, I’ll give her that. She plays Lettie Lawson, a poor girl recently hired as a wet behind the ears beautician. As it is often the case in many American films, she quickly learns the tricks of the trade and winds up being highly sought after, even making house calls for rich clients. One of whom ultimately being the spouse of married man she is secretly dating. Should she go on with this charade? Or should she stop the affair?

Sharing the screen as Lettie’s BFF and co-worker is Una Merkel who plays money-grabbing Carol. She tells Lettie to go on with the affair, to jump in with both feet and live it up like she does. You’ve got to love that character. She is one heck of a firecracker. She’s hell-bent on finding a sugar daddy and does so eventually. Merkel’s part is the comic relief of the film and she is indeed quite a hoot. The way she goes around cajoling an elderly rich man is truly enjoyable. She has the strongest presence, in my opinion and shines every time she appears. The actress made a career playing second fiddle and it finally paid up when she was nominated for an Academy Award as best supporting actress in 1961 for SUMMER AND SMOKE which I have yet to catch.

That leaves Florine McKinney who portrays Jane, the third co-worker, whose naivety and amorous impulses lead her to an unwanted pregnancy by the salon’s owner’s son. Jane is sort of like the Jennifer of the trio, referring to Jennifer from VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, of course. Let’s just say that rose-colored futures are not in her cards. Though she has less screen time, McKinney is perfectly cast as the used and tossed away heroine. The scene where she realizes that she has been left at the altar by her baby daddy is both sad and poignant, so much so that the cinephile in me wanted to save her l. And every time that happens, I call it magic on screen. I will be on the lookout for other Florine McKinney vehicles.

Oh yes, BEAUTY FOR SALE is pretty much on the melodramatic side and if you’re on the lookout for such fares as I always am, you couldn’t ask for a better film. The overall delivery is indeed quite fetching, heightened mostly by three fine actresses in three intertwined storylines which sometimes take a comedic turn (on that note, another worthy mention goes to Isabel Jewell as the on and off sophisticated manager of the salon). Director Richard Boleslawski is just the right fit for this pre-code women picture.

 

Until next post—Martin