MovieChat Forums > S.O.B. (1981) Discussion > Polly Reed

Polly Reed

posted 16 years ago by movieluvr4
10 replies | jump to latest

I know the character of Polly Reed (played brilliantly by Loretta Swit) is based on a real-life Hollywood gossip columnist that gave her fair share of negative attention to Julie and Blake (her name escapes me at the moment). But my question is...would someone like Polly really be that involved and have that much access/day-to-day contact with people like Sally Miles, Felix and Culley, etc? If they despised her so much, then why did they allow her access to the studio and even to their homes (after all, she just walked right in to Felix's house)?

I'm pretty green on the inner-workings of Hollywood and the film business, so I'm just curious to know if that's an accurate depiction of the relationship between some industry reporters and studio execs/directors/movie stars.

[–] jrs-8 16 years ago

Well she didn't just walk into Felix' house. She went around to the back door and snuck in. I think back then powerful columnists were given more leeway with filmmakers and stars so they wouldn't be considered "difficult." In the days of Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons someone could have been ruined if they were completely uncooperative with that columnist. Also remember they didn't allow her access to the studio (assuming you mean the scene when Julie Andrews strips). If you remember she was barred and not allowed in until Robert Vaughn, playing a studio honcho, got her in.

[–] eblackadder3 16 years ago

Yep, in the days of Hedda and "Lolly" if you didn't cooperate with them they really had the power to derail your career. Many stars didn't like either of them, especially Hopper, who could be downright malicious over what she perceived to be the slightest snub. It was just part of the old Hollywood game.

[–] denbeez 16 years ago

The character of Polly Reed is modeled after Rona Barrett, a nationally syndicated TV gossip columnist and film critic of the '70s. She too was a bleached blonde who wore too much makeup.

[–] CanaDman 16 years ago

Apparently, Rona Barrett wished that an alp would fall on Blake Edwards after she saw how he portrayed her in this film.

[–] BoMar5353 16 years ago

It WASN'T Barrett, altho' she wasn't always nice. Check p 269/the Stirling biography. The Reed character was based on Joyce Haber. She dogged Andrews & Edwards, there was real animosity there.
Sometimes actors USED columnists to their own benefit. After WWII, Preston wanted release from his Paramount contract to pursue more fufilling work in films, and more importantly, on the stage. Parsons was used to push the "line" that the studio was abusing a war veteran/hero. Voila ! He was released from his Paramount contract, did several independant films, went to Broadway, developed an esteemed career there, The Music Man erupted, etc.,etc., etc.

[–] murph24 15 years ago

You're right - I lived in LA at the time, and Joyce Haber's column was always full of nasty remarks about Julie Andrews and/or Blake Edwards (this was during the STAR! - DARLING LILI era). As for what another poster said, it was Sue Mengers (the Hollywood super-agent who provided inspiration for Shelley Winters' character) who said she hoped an Alp would fall on Blake Edwards' house.

And regarding the OP's question (about Polly Reed just walking into their Malibu house), this was put into the script to illustrate how shameless and pushy people like Haber could get sometimes.

[–] robertbrad 14 years ago

Actually she was inspired by Joyce Haber, a columnist from Los Angeles Times, who wrote unflattering things about Blake Edwards, Julie Andrews and Rock Hudson during the filming of Darling Lili.

Julie Andrews has been quoted saying, "They should give Haber open-heart surgery and go in through the foot."

You can read more about it in Robert Windeler's biography of Julie Andrews.

[–] shutupandanz 8 years ago

LOL!!! I love Julie Andrews even more now after reading that quote!! :)

[–] robertbrad 8 years ago

I know, right!

[–] 8 years ago

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