Inside Daisy Clover (1965)

A tomboy turned movie star deals with the cruelty of Hollywood.

Director:

Robert Mulligan

Writers:

Gavin Lambert (screenplay), Gavin Lambert (novel)

Stars:

Natalie Wood, Christopher Plummer, Robert Redford

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Natalie Wood	...	Daisy Clover
Christopher Plummer	...	Raymond Swan
Robert Redford	...	Wade Lewis / Lewis Wade
Ruth Gordon	...	The Dealer - Mrs. Clover
Roddy McDowall	...	Walter Baines
Katharine Bard	...	Melora Swan
Peter Helm	...	Milton Hopwood
Betty Harford	...	Gloria Clover Goslett
John Hale	...	Harry Goslett
Harold Gould	...	Cop on Pier
Ottola Nesmith	...	Dolores
Edna Holland	...	Cynara

Storyline

Daisy Clover is a 15 year old Tomboy who dreams of being a Hollywood star. After auditioning for producer Raymond Swan of Swan studios she becomes the toast of Hollywood. Daisy must then come to terms with her new found fame and the 1930's Hollywood star treatment.

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Plot Keywords:

putting one's head in an oven to commit suicide | svengali | reference to shakespeare's hamlet | throwing a radio into water | beware of dog sign | 

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Taglines:

A star at 15. A has-been at 17. Who says?

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on the 1963 novel of the same name by veteran Hollywood screenwriter and biographer Gavin Lambert, which was set in the 1950s rather than the 1930s. As a result of working together on this film, Lambert and Wood would become lifelong friends, and Lambert's last completed book was a comprehensive and well-received biography of Wood.

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Goofs

When Daisy finds her mother after her death, her mother's eyelids move.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Daisy Clover: [monologue narration thoughts while sitting on a trash can in an alley] The 24th of August, 1936; Angel Beach California, USA, the world, the universe; Angel Beach. Happy birthday Daisy Clover. I'm 15 today, but I won't let it go to my head. I'm still the same happy, adjusted, polite young lady. People say I'm quite sophisticated for my age. That's only skin deep. Underneath the veneer, Ill bet my simple, healthy instincts against yours any day!
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Here's Looking at You, Warner Bros. (1991)

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Soundtracks

The Circus Is a Wacky World
(uncredited)
Written by André Previn
Lyrics by Dory Previn
Performed by Natalie Wood (dubbed by Jackie Ward)
Arranged by Alexander Courage

User Reviews

Quirky view of Hollywood

This film seems way ahead of it's time, made in 1965 it's one of the first to show a darker side of Tinsel Town. Natalie Wood plays a tomboy who's plucked from obscurity and becomes a teen singing star. Her character is almost immediately jaded by the experience, manipulated by a studio head and a dubious male heartthrob, played by a stunning looking Robert Redford. Ruth Gordon once again stands out as the teen stars' mother. Christopher Plummer is excellent as the smooth studio head with Roddy McDowall as his cold assistant. Katharine Bard plays Plummers' wife, and her character is fascinating. She seems to float and flow when she moves and her character sums up the film's overall feel. Distant, detached and alien yet seething with anger and disappointment.

The problem with the film is that it's very dark in tone. That is to say the slick big budget production is overshadowed by a strange menace, highlighting the fact that the studio system was basically a people factory, uncaring and cannibalistic. Audiences at the time must have been very confused, expecting a light, breezy musical. Instead it's a realistic yet stylized downer, reminiscent of Valley of the Dolls, which was yet to come. There's very little genuine romance, sentiment or humor, just a steady flow of odd scenes.

This is one of those movies that many have never heard of, it remains obscure despite it's almost epic appeal. It's certainly worth a look, but just try to nail it down to any specific category.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 April 1966 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Inside Daisy Clover

Filming Locations:

Dijon Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Park Place Production, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1