MovieChat Forums > Mistral's Daughter (1984) Discussion > Casting

Casting

posted 17 years ago by cshep79406
13 replies | jump to latest

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but was SO disappointed by the casting of the mini-series. Stacey Keach was okay as Mistral, but most of the rest of the casting was HORRIBLE. Stefanie Powers as Maggy? She's certainly attractive, but she did not look 18 in any way, shape or form. And that dreadful faux French accent! In the book, Teddy was supposed to be the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth; in the movie, the girl who played her was just barely pretty. Same with Fauve. The only perfectly cast person was the art dealer, Avigdor, played by the very fine actor Ian Holm. They tend to miscast all Krantz's novels-into-movies. I had high hopes for Scruples, and it was dreadful. Didn't follow the book, and Lindsay Wagner as Billy?

[–] millysanne 16 years ago

Just a little correction - Ian Richardson is Avigdor - Ian Holm plays Bilbo Baggins in Lord of the Rings. Sorry...

[–] amyghost 9 years ago

I'd happily watch several hours of Ian Richardson reading the phone book, and he's the only thing that induced me to watch this otherwise hot mess. I hope he was well paid for his part in this, he surely deserved it: his character was the one believeable human being in what was otherwise a farrago of one-dimensional cliches.

[–] mpedfound 16 years ago

I agree with the casting of Teddy. That actress was not the most beautiful woman. She wasn't even pretty at all. She seemed too snobby. And the wig/hair on the little girl whoe played Teddy as a child was awful. Otherwise, I was pleased with the casting and love the movie.

[–] fred3f 16 years ago

Dunnam as Teddy was not "a great beauty." Powers, while she has a a lot of hair, is not that beautiful - her face is too long and her mouth is too big. The worst thing about Powers: what beauty she does have reminds you of too many other models - there is nothing unique about her. Frankly, the best looking woman with the best figure is Lee Remick, even though she is trying her best to look ordinary, and she was pushing 50 at the time. She also does an excellent job of acting in this otherwise poorly acted piece.

[–] ceebeegee 14 years ago

Remick is incredible in this--I cannot believe how old she really is, and she is playing--and LOOKS--a character in her early 20s (Kate is 23 at the beginning of the book). She pulls it off completely. Unbelievable genes.

[–] rob-949 14 years ago

You're opinion of Stefanie Powers' beauty is your own, but I highly disagree. She's never impressed me much as a great actress (more a personality TV actress than a great actor), but she's a very striking woman with a great face and figure -- exotic and even regal without being unapproachable. Sorry it's lost on you. The curly hair in this film doesn't help. She looks stunning with straight hair and it suits her much better in my humble opinion.

[–] babyof80 14 years ago

agree rob-949, I thought Ms.Powers pulled it off,also her and Dalton were hot together.

[–] Calliegrl03 8 years ago

Agreed. Stefanie Powers is def NOT a good actress, but she was beautiful in her prime. She looked great in "Deceptions," but her acting though...terrible!

[–] amyghost 8 years ago

I got the feeling that Powers was trying, unsuccessfully, to imitate Stephane Audran's accent the whole time.

None of the actresses portraying the Lunel women were the great beauties Krantz imagined them as , but I'd frankly have preferred Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu as Maggie--she was the correct age, and was prettier in a more naturalistic way than Powers; although she was obviously a fairly weak actress, she showed some ability and with a bit of coaching could have probably pulled off the role decently enough.

[–] Calliegrl03 7 years ago

Powers was TERRIBLE in MD. Horrible! She was totally miscast.

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[–] amyghost 7 years ago

It only made it worse that she was surrounded by a lot of good actors--Keach, Remick, Dalton, Richardson, Audran, etc. When she was in scenes with any of them it made her fairly weak acting skills stand out even more painfully. At least Robert Urich was more in her league and didn't highlight her lack of ability quite so dramatically in her scenes with him.

50 Is The New Cutoff Age.

[–] Calliegrl03 7 years ago

Lee was amazing in MD! She was the BEST thing in the movie and she looked amazing, even though she had to hide her beauty.

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[–] amyghost 7 years ago

Remick was a beauty in this, and certainly made a more convincing younger woman than Powers did.

50 Is The New Cutoff Age.