Sixties Cinema - starring fantasy femmes, film fatales, drive-in dream girls and teenage beach movies from the 60's

Thursday, January 27, 2005



Received an inquiry about Pamela Tiffin. Poster agreed with a previous blog where I voiced my opinion that I always found Stefanie Powers to be bland and one-note and not worthy of the "fame" that she achieved over some more worthy 60s starlets like Carol Lynley, Anjanette Comer and Pamela Tiffin.

As for the question regarding Pamela, you can read a lengthy interview with her in my first book Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema, but in a nutshell Pamela refused to dye her hair blonde despite pressure from Hollywood. However, when producer Carlo Ponti came a-calling with an offer to be the first American leading lady to star opposite Marcello Mastroianni, Pamela yelled "Si" even though there was a stipulation that she had to dye her hair. The film was called Oggi, domani, dopodomani (1966) but released in the US in 1968 as Kiss the Other Sheik. Pamela was so enthused with the attention she received and unhappy with her marriage to Esquire publisher Clay Felker who encouraged his wife to work much to her distress that she decided blondes really do have more fun and kept her hair that way. Returning to the states, she took a role on Broadway in the Jean Harlow part in the revival of Dinner at Eight and when the show closed so did her marriage. Pamela packed her bags and moved to Roma to act in films that were beneath her.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

What about Laurel Goodwin, a sixties starlet who seems to be all but forgotten?

I've had a soft spot in my heart for her ever since I saw the original Star Trek pilot episode. But for a long time, I only knew her as "that cute redheaded yeoman".

However, recently I saw her in "Girls! Girls! Girls!" playing opposite Elvis (and apparently, Little Elvis) and developed a major crush on her.

As a result, I find myself and these poor feathery creat-- I mean, as a result my evaluation may not be quite objective, but I thought her performance showed promise, considering she was only 20 and it was her debut. So how did she end up so soon in small guest roles in silly tv shows like "The Beverly Hillbillies", and a total of only four film roles?

And why the heck have they replaced her picture - with someone I don't even remember seeing in the movie - on the DVD cover of "Girls! Girls! Girls!"? That's just plain wrong.

As I understand it, she's featured in one of your books, but which one?

5:37 PM

 
Blogger Marquise said...

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my Pamela Tiffin inquiry.

I have been a big fan of hers ever since I saw her in "The Pleasure Seekers" (1964). I admit I only saw the movie because I am an Ann-Margret fan but I fell in love with Pamela in it.

Ever since then I went out of my way to get my hands on all her US films. I loved her in "One, Two, Three" and "Come Fly With Me" as well.

I was doing some research on her on the Internet and to my shock I saw pictures of her as a blonde! I then found out she did quite a few Italian films. At first I couldn't believe it was the same girl from "The Lively Set".

Talk about a 360 degree change in image! That marriage must've really done a number on her.

I will most definitely be purchasing your book Tom.

You are lucky you got the opportunity to meet and interview her. I hope she knows she is still very much admired by many.

How is does she look these days? Is she still a blonde.

P.S. Sorry but I think I posted this twice, so please forgive me.

1:26 AM

 

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