Hello friends and neighbors---well the time has come for another movie night club extravaganza, our first since the end of this year’s Halloween series, Scary Bitches. As Joseph has returned from a grueling affair afar, he was given the honor of selecting the next film feature screening and theme, which happens to be pop divas in film, a double feature event showcasing Diana Ross and Whitney Houston.
For our first pop diva feature, we will be screening the 1975 camp classic Mahogany, starring Diana Ross, her wardrobe, Billy Dee Williams and Anthony Perkins (yes, the Anthony Perkins you should all know). Mahogany happens to be the one and only feature film to be directed by producer Berry Gordy. British auteur Tony Richardson (ex-husband of Vanessa Redgrave and father to those Richardson girls, including darling Natasha, who passed away tragically this year) was originally slated to direct but was fired by Gordy. And from one diva to another, it was widely known that Perkins hated Ross, considering her to be an amateur actress, and therefore, was indubitably an ass to her on the set. Oh, those shameless purists. In honor of the Oscar nominated song from the film, “Do You Know Where You’re Going To,” (which was later covered by both Mariah Cary and Jennifer Lopez), we will be serving “Do You Know Where You’re Going To Eat Mahogany Cake.”
And for our second pop diva feature, we will be screening the 1992 sensation, The Bodyguard, the romantic comedy thriller musical starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. Now, The Bodyguard has an interesting back story—originally this was going to be a vehicle for Ms. Ross in the mid 1970’s, co-starring Steve McQueen, but was rejected as being too controversial (I’m assuming this was due to the explicit “interracial” nature of the story). Then again in the late 70’s this was going to be a vehicle for Diana Ross and her then boyfriend, Ryan O’Neal, which also never fell through (this time the blame being placed on the lovers’ quarrels). Other tidbits---Costner based his portrayal on Steve McQueen, this was director Lawrence Kasdan’s first written screenplay, the proposal for the film was rejected 67 times, and a hasty, hasty recut of the film was administered when test audiences were distracted (this is a screaming euphemism) by Ms. Houston’s performance. In honor of all things Whitney and The Bodyguard, we will be serving “I Will Always Love You Interracial Pastries.”
For our first pop diva feature, we will be screening the 1975 camp classic Mahogany, starring Diana Ross, her wardrobe, Billy Dee Williams and Anthony Perkins (yes, the Anthony Perkins you should all know). Mahogany happens to be the one and only feature film to be directed by producer Berry Gordy. British auteur Tony Richardson (ex-husband of Vanessa Redgrave and father to those Richardson girls, including darling Natasha, who passed away tragically this year) was originally slated to direct but was fired by Gordy. And from one diva to another, it was widely known that Perkins hated Ross, considering her to be an amateur actress, and therefore, was indubitably an ass to her on the set. Oh, those shameless purists. In honor of the Oscar nominated song from the film, “Do You Know Where You’re Going To,” (which was later covered by both Mariah Cary and Jennifer Lopez), we will be serving “Do You Know Where You’re Going To Eat Mahogany Cake.”
And for our second pop diva feature, we will be screening the 1992 sensation, The Bodyguard, the romantic comedy thriller musical starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. Now, The Bodyguard has an interesting back story—originally this was going to be a vehicle for Ms. Ross in the mid 1970’s, co-starring Steve McQueen, but was rejected as being too controversial (I’m assuming this was due to the explicit “interracial” nature of the story). Then again in the late 70’s this was going to be a vehicle for Diana Ross and her then boyfriend, Ryan O’Neal, which also never fell through (this time the blame being placed on the lovers’ quarrels). Other tidbits---Costner based his portrayal on Steve McQueen, this was director Lawrence Kasdan’s first written screenplay, the proposal for the film was rejected 67 times, and a hasty, hasty recut of the film was administered when test audiences were distracted (this is a screaming euphemism) by Ms. Houston’s performance. In honor of all things Whitney and The Bodyguard, we will be serving “I Will Always Love You Interracial Pastries.”
Please RSVP for showtimes.
I wonder if the producers of The Bodyguard meant for it to be referred to as a "romantic comedy thriller musical?" Whatever, I love it!
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