Inside Daisy Clover

Inside Daisy Clover is a 1965 American drama film directed by Robert Mulligan and produced by Alan J. Pakula. The film stars Natalie Wood as the titular character, Daisy Clover, a young and talented singer and actress who rises to fame in the 1930s, alongside Christopher Plummer and Robert Redford. The movie is based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Gavin Lambert, who also wrote the screenplay. The film features music by André Previn and Johnny Mercer, with cinematography by Charles Lang and editing by Aaron Stell.

● Plot

The film tells the story of Daisy Clover, a young and ambitious singer and actress who grows up in a trailer park with her mother, played by Ruth Gordon. Daisy Clover is discovered by a Hollywood talent agent, Raymond Swan, played by Christopher Plummer, who helps her rise to fame. As Daisy Clover becomes a star, she faces the challenges of fame and the pressures of the entertainment industry, including the demands of her studio, Warner Bros., and the scrutiny of the media, including columnists like Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons. Along the way, she meets and falls in love with a young actor, Wade Lewis, played by Robert Redford, who is struggling with his own demons.

● Production

The film was produced by Alan J. Pakula and directed by Robert Mulligan, who had previously worked together on films like To Kill a Mockingbird and Love with the Proper Stranger. The screenplay was written by Gavin Lambert, who based it on his own novel of the same name. The film was shot on location in California and New York City, with cinematography by Charles Lang and editing by Aaron Stell. The film's score was composed by André Previn, with songs by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini.

● Cast

The film stars Natalie Wood as Daisy Clover, alongside Christopher Plummer as Raymond Swan and Robert Redford as Wade Lewis. The film also features Ruth Gordon as Daisy Clover's mother, Katharine Bard as Melora Swan, and Roddy McDowall as Walter Baines. The cast also includes Betty Harford as Gladys, John Hale as Harry, and Harold Gould as Unconscious.

● Release

The film was released in 1965 by Warner Bros. and premiered at the New York Film Festival. The film was released on DVD in 2004 by Warner Home Video and has since been released on Blu-ray by Warner Archive Collection. The film has also been shown on television on channels like TCM and AMC.

● Reception

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising Natalie Wood's performance as Daisy Clover. The film was also a commercial success, grossing over $2 million at the box office. The film has since become a cult classic and has been recognized as one of the greatest films of the 1960s by organizations like the American Film Institute and the Library of Congress. The film has also been cited as an influence by filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola.

● Themes

The film explores themes of fame, identity, and the Hollywood dream factory. The film also touches on issues of mental health, substance abuse, and the pressures of the entertainment industry. The film's portrayal of Daisy Clover's rise to fame and her struggles with the demands of stardom has been compared to the experiences of actresses like Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland. The film's exploration of the tensions between art and commerce has also been seen as a commentary on the state of the film industry in the 1960s, with studios like Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures struggling to adapt to changing audience tastes and the rise of independent film. Category:1960s drama films