A source has informed me that former actress and 1968’s Playmate of the Year Victoria Vetri is selling off most of her memorabilia collection relating to her career in order to raise money for her legal defense. She allegedly shot her boyfriend and lied to the police. He is supposed to make a full recovery and there is no word if he is pressing charges, but she still faces jail time even if he doesn’t.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrMhFp3j-ro
The Warner Brothers Archive has been going gang busters releasing hard to find movies on DVD on Demand such as Once You Kiss a Stranger, El Condor, Zeppelin, The Green Slime, etc. and a few TV shows. One that has been announced for a 2011 release is The Lieutenant (1963-64) produced by Gene Roddenberry before he hit with Star Trek and starring Gary Lockwood and a pre-Man from U.N.C.L.E. Robert Vaughn. Click here to read more about the release.
The Lieutenant was an one hour long drama about the exploits of Marine Lt. Bill Rice (Lockwood) stationed at Camp Pendleton. Actress Chris Noel was a regular but in an unusual move she usually played a different character week after week. As she recalled in my book Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema now out in soft cover:
“I had so much fun doing The Lieutenant. It was so exciting to have the opportunity to work with Gene Roddenberry. He only wanted one girl on the show. How many actresses do you know appearing in a series that got to play a different role week after week? Not many. That was such an original idea. It goes to show you how creative Roddenberrry was. He was a genius! I was very proud that I got to work with him.”
Recalling her co-stars, Chris remarks, “Gary Lockwood was very cute and we flirted. That made it interesting. He was likable but he could be moody, moody, moody. For instance, one day he commented to me, ‘Why do you do all these pictures for the studio? Why do you go to all the parties? It’s never going to make you a star!’ Robert Vaughn is a very good actor but he wasn’t nice to me. He was very cold and distant.”
Below is a link to a clip of Chris Noel (Armed Forces Radio’s first female DJ during the Vietnam War) and Vetsville a charity she founded years ago to help homeless Vietnam vets:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53805jMumMA
Bond Girl Lana Wood is in the news again about the mysterious death of her sister Natalie Wood many years ago. This time rather than alledging brother-in-law Robert Wagner had something to do with it, she is asking for his forgiveness as she finally comes to terms with the tragedy. I am guessing the author of the recent book Goodby Natalie, Goodby Splendour that paints an unfavorable portrait of Wagner, which Lana endorsed, is not too happy. Click here to read more.
Though I am a day late, I wanted to post a greeting to one of the most handsomest sexist European actors that ruled the silver screen during the 60s and 70s, Alain Delon. Click here to read a tribute to his career and below catch a clip of him playing the amoral Tom Ripley in Purple Noon (1960) based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Talented Mr. Ripley. Below is a clip of the ending scenes. Though in French just enjoy looking at Delon.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pspj7-AczlM