INSIDE DAISY CLOVER
US, 1965, 128 minutes, Colour.
Natalie Wood, Robert Redford, Ruth Gordon, Christopher Plummer, Roddy Mc Dowell.
Directed by Robert Mulligan.
Inside Daisy Clover was adapted by Gavin Lambert from his own novel. It explores the character of a young would-be actress of past decades, her being introduced into stardom and the Hollywood way of life and her downfall. The film traces life and work at the studios and draws on popular stories and myths about Hollywood and its lifestyle. Natalie Wood is attractive as the heroine, Robert Redford in an early role portrays a homosexual actor. Hollywood villainy is suavely presented in the form of Christopher Plummer. Ruth Gordon had one of her early eccentric mother roles in this film - she was to do this kind of role very frequently over the succeeding decade.
Direction is by Robert Mulligan, a director of human dramas with a touch of feeling. His films at this time included Love With The Proper Stranger with Natalie Wood and Up The Down Staircase. Hollywood has always been interested in its own story - there was a trend of 'inside Hollywood' films in the '70s including such films as Gable and Lombard', W. C. Fields and Me.
1. The title, the study of Daisy Clover, her feelings and interior life? A portrayal of character successfully? Therms of human nature? Success?
2. Audience interest in Hollywood, the Hollywood style of life? The Hollywood treatment of the them: Panavision, colour, locations, the picture of the studios and filming, the affluent lifestyle? Musical score? The trimmings of Hollywood, Long beach, wealth, previews, the ballyhoo, musical numbers? The film's use of Hollywood and its critique?
3. Hollywood myths about the 1930s? Audience knowledge of this period, publicity, star system, ruthlessness, fans? The film of the time? The businessmen trying to sell their films and the stars? Private lives and the manipulation of these for public consumption? Daisy Clover as victim?
4. The basic Hollywood myths of stardom, a young girl's hope, chances, the rise to stardom, the role of producers and directors, the manipulation of stars? Disillusionment?
5. The film's presentation of publicity myths compared with the harsh realities? The portrait of Mrs. Clover, her caravan, attitude towards her children, attitudes towards Daisy? Her eccentricities, eviction, influence, death? The importance of the lies told about Daisy’s life, origins? The P.R. of her marriage with Wade? The reasons for the public believing this publicity and these stories?
6. Natalie Wood's portrayal of Daisy? Embodying the American dream and going to Hollywood? Seeing her at home with her mother, with the family, her child-like style? Her hopes, talent? Going to the studios, being used, being changed? The manipulation of her marriage and its disillusionment? Relationship with Raymond Swann, his wife. The emptiness of glamour? Her decision to opt out? Her defying of the system? The film's endorsing her rebellion?
7. How much of the inside of Daisy did the film portray? Did it remain on the outside? The start, her birthday, Gloria? Her relationship with her mother and devotion to her? Her relationship with the boy, the selling of the stars, the record, the car, her self-presentation as an urchin? The real Daisy Clover at the beginning?
8. The way that the urchin image was used, the song, transformation? Her ability in film , the preview, Little Valentine?
9. The portrait of Mrs. Clover and the importance of this background to understanding Daisy? Her character, attitude towards the police, concentration, the cards? The questions of her being put away? The party? The scenes on the beach? Her death? Mrs. Clover as a victim of the Hollywood system and of the hardening of people's hearts?
10. Christopher Plummer’s style as Raymond Swann? Affluence, his role as a producer, his sinister aspects, his control over Daisy? His ability to discard people? His relationship with his wife? The affair and his brutalising of Daisy? A credible picture of a Hollywood unscrupulous tycoon? The nature of his suave lack of scruple? The portrait of his wife and her hysteria? Balnes and his being used and his character, his subservience to Swann, his being there for the dirty work, his way of executing it? Audience attitudes towards this ruthlessness?
11. Wade Lewis as glamorous star, his rebelling, presence at the party, attitude towards Daisy, calling her 'dear heart', the reasons for his marrying her, the possibilities of happiness, the wedding and its joy and the fanfare, the disillusionment of the wedding night, Daisy being left in the motel? His disappearance, his return, the film's treatment of his homosexuality and its influence on his behaviour? His callow and callous attitudes towards Daisy?
12. The picture of Hollywood hard work, the filming, presence on the sets, the various people at their jobs, dubbing work, Daisy overwhelmed by it and breaking, withdrawing? Swann and his skills and ambiguous personal attitudes towards his staff and the stars?
13. How genuine was Daisy's suicidal feeling, the build-up to it, the comic aspects, the explosion? A symbolic gesture?
14. How enjoyable a melodrama, how much insight into people? The universal experience of people in this real but artificial world?
