Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story

Director: Gabrielle Beaumont Gabrielle Beaumont

Overview

Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story is a surfacy TV-movie rehash of the same real-life events which inspired the 1980 theatrical feature Star 80. Jamie Lee Curtis stars as Dorothy Stratten, here depicted as an ingenuous, highly vulnerable Canadian girl who aspires to show business stardom. Decked out with a generous toupee, Bruce Weitz co-stars as Paul Snyder, the "fringie" who married Dorothy and managed her career. The girl is discovered by Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner, who features Dorothy in a nude foldout spread. As Dorothy's fame grows, Snyder becomes more obsessive and difficult to control. Dorothy tries to make a clean break from Snyder, which culminates in tragedy. Death of a Centerfold initially aired on November 1, 1981.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/06/2009
UPC:	0883316212493
Original Release:	1981
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:37:00
Sales rank:	23,164

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jamie Lee Curtis	Dorothy Stratten
Bruce Weitz	Paul Snider
Mitchell Ryan	Hugh Hefner
Robert Reed	David Palmer
Luca Bercovici	Pooch
Bibi Besch	Hilda Flushing
Jim Boeke	Lyman
Kale Browne	Sidney
Robert Burgos	Photographer
Robert Clotworthy	Floyd
Karlene Crockett	Anna
Nate Esformes	Barney
Gloria Gifford	Jean
Hugh Gillin	Max Halloran
Rick Grassi	Waiter
Hanna Hertelendy	Helen
Steven Hirsch	Sherm
Belinda Mayne	Girl at mansion #2,Lomax
Adam Mills	Photographic Assistant
Tracy Reed	Mindy
Joe Restivo	Artie
Rodney Saulsberg	Reggie
Fred Smith	Bartender
Mark Withers	Billy Compton
Cameron Young	Attendant
Twyla Littleton	Twyla
Roger Webb	Composer

Technical Credits

Donald Stewart

Larry Wilcox	Producer
Gabrielle Beaumont	Director
Donald Stewart	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

This made-for-t.v. depiction of the Dorothy Stratten is well-intentioned but ends up being entertaining for all the wrong reasons. The script chronicles the same series of events later covered in the feature film Star 80 but does so in a clumsy, shallow manner that reduces a real-life tragedy to a particularly banal type of t.v. drama. Director Gabrielle Beaumont gives it a straightforward style and a solid pace but she can't overcome the floridly melodramatic tone of the material. Jamie Lee Curtis delivers a committed performance as Stratten but is a little too quirky in looks and style to be fully convincing as a tragic sex-kitten. However, the film's most memorable performance comes from Bruce Weitz as would-be svengali Paul Snider: he's even more miscast than Curtis and has an awfully-written role so he attempts to combat these problems by devouring the scenery every time he's on camera. As a result, his performance dominates the proceedings and pulls the film into camp-classic territory. In short, Death Of A Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story is a schlocky mess that is best left to bad-film devotees. Those who want a dramatically compelling version of this story should stick to Star 80.

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