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Leigh and Lynde were right....director was obsessed with Ann-Margaret...

posted 8 years ago by moviethrush
3 replies | jump to latest

I've heard how Janet Leigh and Paul Lynde were fairly appalled at how the film was warped into an Ann-Margaret vehicle.....if you want to take the true measure of director George Sidney's delirious obsession with her, try enduring "The Swinger", in which Sidney concocts scene after scene in which she's humiliated, losing articles of clothing... and the the movie's grand set pieces, A-M rolling around the floor in day-glo body paint....

[–] denis-38 7 years ago

He also directed/obsessed-over-her in "Viva Las Vegas." Elvis (and the Col) were not pleased. To be fair, she was extremely charismatic, gorgeous. BUT, he literally handed "Birdie" and "Viva" to her. Without the knowledge of the other players.

By the time of "The Swinger," it looked like revenge. Maybe A-M hadn't shown the proper "appreciation" for all Sidney's efforts. "The Swinger" was one of the films that began her swift fall, after an amazing (but brief) rise. She would never again be a viable box-office star. (She was a huge attraction in clubs and on TV) After her comeback in "Carnal Knowledge" she became a glamorous featured player/youngish character actress. Not trying to regain her youthful popularity, assured A-M a long career, and two Oscar nominations.

But I'd love to know the story behind George Sidney's embarrassingly obvious ardor.

[–] Blueghost 7 years ago

No offense, but she was worth obsessing over. What a hottie 

[–] cpmorr 7 years ago

A director fetishizing his female lead is nothing new. Look at Hitchcock's films; would they have worked as well without this element?