Isn't She Great (2000)

An unsuccessful over-the-top actress becomes a successful over-the-top authoress in this biography of Jacqueline Susann, the famed writer of "Valley of the Dolls" and other trashy novels. ... See full summary »

Director:

Andrew Bergman

Writers:

Michael Korda (article), Paul Rudnick (screenplay)

Stars:

Bette Midler, Nathan Lane, Stockard Channing

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bette Midler	...	Jacqueline Susann
Nathan Lane	...	Irving Mansfield
Stockard Channing	...	Florence Maybelle
David Hyde Pierce	...	Michael Hastings
John Cleese	...	Henry Marcus
John Larroquette	...	Maury Manning
Amanda Peet	...	Debbie
Terrence Labrosse	...	Radio actor
Jeffrey Ross	...	Shecky
Christopher McDonald	...	Brad Bradburn (as Christopher MacDonald)
Paul Benedict	...	Prof. Brainiac
Dina Spybey-Waters	...	Bambi Madison (as Dina Spybey)
Pauline Little	...	Leslie Barnett
William Hill	...	Passerby
Mal Z. Lawrence	...	Mort

Storyline

An unsuccessful over-the-top actress becomes a successful over-the-top authoress in this biography of Jacqueline Susann, the famed writer of "Valley of the Dolls" and other trashy novels. Facing a failing career, Susann meets a successful promoter who becomes her husband. After several failures to place her in commercials and a TV quiz show, he hits upon the idea for her to become a writer. In the pre-1960s, her books were looked upon as trash and non-printable. But then the sexual revolution hit and an audience was born for her books. The story shows the hidden behind the scenes story of Susann's life, including her autistic son and her continuing bout with cancer that she hid up to her death.

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Plot Keywords:

determination | failed actress | publicity agent | novelist | book tour | 

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Taglines:

Talent isn't everything.

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Universal

Country:

UK Germany Canada Japan USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 January 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ela É um Sucesso

Filming Locations:

Hudson, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$44,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,368,705, 30 January 2000

Gross USA:

$2,962,465

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,003,296

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), H2L Media Group, Lobell/Bergman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Truman Capote recanted his insult about Jacqueline Susann. He apologized to the truckers.

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Goofs

When Irving is reading aloud from the last page of the Valley of the Dolls manuscript, what he is saying is totally different from text seen in a close-up of the last page, an actual transcript of the book's real ending.

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Quotes

Henry Marcus: It's not a book anymore. It's a bestseller.

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Connections

References Camille (1936)

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Soundtracks

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
Written and Performed by James Brown

User Reviews

Bette can do better

Bette Midler's new movie, "Isn't She Great," hits mostly wrong notes. It can't decide whether it's a comedy, a biography (of novelist Jacqueline Susann), a tear-jerker, or a camp opus. One can't deny that there are a couple of laughs here. A movie with Bette, Nathan Lane and Stockard Channing can't be all bad. The best scene is shown over and over again in the TV and theatre ads. The cleaning woman is describing her opinion of Susann's first novel, "Valley of the Dolls," as filthy and salacious. Then when someone says "Oh! You hated it!", she replies, "no, it's the best book I ever read!" In a later scene, as Susann (Midler) watches the premiere of the "Valley" movie, she slinks down in her seat and says, "I hate this movie." She probably said the same thing to herself at the premiere of this one. Too bad, because "Bette is great!", just not here. Bette will do better next time.