Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story

Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story

Jamie Lee Curtis as Dorothy Stratten
Genre Biography
Drama
Written by Donald L. Stewart
Directed by Gabrielle Beaumont
Starring Jamie Lee Curtis
Bruce Weitz
Robert Reed
Theme music composer Roger Webb
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Executive producer(s) Larry Wilcox
Producer(s) Paul Pompian
Tim King
Cinematography Emil Oster
Editor(s) Morton Tubor
Running time 100 minutes
Production company(s) Wilcox Productions
MGM Television
Distributor NBC
Release
Original network NBC
Original release November 1, 1981

Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story is a 1981 American made-for-television biographical film directed by Gabrielle Beaumont.[1] It is a true dramatization of the life and the murder of Playboy Playmate of the Year Dorothy Stratten, played by Jamie Lee Curtis.[1] The movie was aired on NBC on November 1, 1981.[2] Two years later the same story was developed by director Bob Fosse in his movie Star 80, starring Mariel Hemingway and Eric Roberts.

Cast

Production

As revealed by Peter Bogdanovich in his book The Killing of the Unicorn, at the family's insistence, the names and relationships of her mother and sister were altered.[2]

Reception

The New York Times critic John J. O'Connor praised the movie, saying: "the movie works remarkably well in building a dramatic momentum. Jamie Lee Curtis's Dorothy is a thoroughly understandable, if not sympathetic figure. And Bruce Weitz is extraordinary".[3] People magazine also praised the film, saying: "Jamie Lee Curtis is just right as Stratten, and Bruce Weitz is a standout as her ex".[4] Movie critic Leonard Maltin described the film as "exploitive".[1]

Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story aired on NBC and finished 27th in the Neilsen ratings. When the film was broadcast a second time on NBC in the summer of 1983, it fared better by finishing 4th in the ratings.[2]

Release

The movie was first issued on VHS on September 1, 1998. It was later released on January 25, 2010 on DVD.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Maltin, Leonard (1997). Leonard Maltin's 1998 Movie and Video Guide. Signet Books. p. 322. ISBN 0-451-19288-5.
  2. 1 2 3 Peter Bogdanovich (1984). The killing of the unicorn: Dorothy Stratten (1960-1980). W. Morrow. p. 169. ISBN 0-688-01611-1.
  3. John J. O'Connor (October 30, 1981). "TV WEEKEND; TERROR IN FICTION AND FACT". New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  4. People November 2, 1981 Vol. 16 No. 18 page 6 "Picks & Pans Tube"

External links

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