Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Attention Hollywood, BBC, or HBO! Time for a Dolly Sisters Remake



Recently I saw an article on ArtDaily.org about the sale of a bronze sculpture (see photos above and below) by Art Deco sculptor Demetre Chiparus. The subject of the piece are the Dolly Sisters, identical twins who were big stars in the 1920's. The sculpture will go on sale November 14 at Bonhams. 




The sisters had a fascinating but tragic life together. Their story was made into a film in 1945 with Betty Grable and June Haver. You may know both names if you're a fan of Classic Films.








But I truly believe given the real story of the Dolly Sisters that this film is overdue for a remake, I think the story needs time to tell, and maybe a multi-episode TV series by the BBC or HBO would be just the thing. I also think our less idealistic times are perfect to tell the story.

So what is the story of the Dolly Sisters, you're all asking right now. Well, read part of the ArtDaily article below and see if you agree with me about what a perfect series for the BBC or HBO this would be:

"The sisters story reads like a morality tale, fantastic fame and fortune, celebrity, gilded lovers and wild exoticism all ending in sadness, tragedy and early death. Born in Budapest and brought to America, aged 12, in 1905 by their immigrant parents the sisters, ‘Rosie’ Roszika and ‘Jenny’ Janszieka Schwartz were already dance-mad. Within two years, they were on the vaudeville stage, where their looks as well as their dancing captivated audiences. They were very attractive with dark skin, shoulder-length hair and dark gipsy eyes. 


 The Real Dolly Sisters

Their performances at the Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway confirmed their star attraction. Men were entranced and packed their shows out. It was not long before they were receiving gifts, including on one occasion a beribboned Rolls Royce, after their show. Soon they had stormed the heights of society and were being entertained by the Vanderbilts and Hearsts who invited them to their homes. In Europe they were to conquer even greater social heights. 


Selfridge

They came to London in 1920 to star in a Charles Cochrane stage extravaganza and met the younger sons of King George V, later meeting the Prince of Wales. His path and that of the Dollies seemed to cross for some years and it was said that he was particularly fond of Jenny. In Paris they met King Alfonso of Spain, who was a regular visitor. One of their attractions was that the Dollies were discreet. Their romantic attachments never became public. But they broke hearts, and bank balances, too, even those of the super-rich. Gordon Selfridge, the American-born founder of Oxford Street’s grand department store, at the age of 69, fell so hopelessly for the 33-year-old Jenny that he squandered a large part of his fortune on her. Drawn to gambling they were casino regulars, winning massively, draped in the latest fashions and dripping jewellery. Their gambling earned them $850,000 in one season at Deauville and in one evening in Cannes, Jenny won four million francs which she converted into jewellery, going on to win another 11 million. As their dancing career ended Rosie fell in love with a man named Irving Netcher, and was deliriously happy. Jenny was lonely and on the course that led her eventually to reach for the sash of her dressing gown committing suicide in 1941 having lost a fortune. Rosie in 1962 attempted to follow her sister in suicide. The bid failed. She died on February 1, 1970, succumbing to heart failure." (From ArtDaily.org)



Rosie Dolly and Irving Netcher

I think Irving Netcher or even better, Max Constant, would be a good role for Richard Armitage. Constant was a French sportsman, aviator, and actor who was Jennie's boyfriend. 


From Richard Armitage Central 


So who would you cast as the Dolly Sisters? 












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