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Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story

  • TV Movie
  • 19981998
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
77
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ann-Margret in Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story (1998)
  • Drama
Told mostly in flashbacks, the film tells the story of Pamela Digby Churchill Hayward Harriman, one of the greatest and probably most famous courtesans of the twentieth century. While not sh... Read allTold mostly in flashbacks, the film tells the story of Pamela Digby Churchill Hayward Harriman, one of the greatest and probably most famous courtesans of the twentieth century. While not showing her childhood, first marriage to Winston Churchill's son, or most of her affairs, we... Read allTold mostly in flashbacks, the film tells the story of Pamela Digby Churchill Hayward Harriman, one of the greatest and probably most famous courtesans of the twentieth century. While not showing her childhood, first marriage to Winston Churchill's son, or most of her affairs, we do get to see her affair and eventual marriage to Broadway producer Leland Hayward, and t... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
77
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Waris Hussein
  • Writers
    • Christopher Ogden(book)
    • Lisa Friedman Bloch
    • Kathy Kirtland Silverman
  • Stars
    • Ann-Margret
    • Mitchell Ryan
    • Natalie Radford
Top credits
  • Director
    • Waris Hussein
  • Writers
    • Christopher Ogden(book)
    • Lisa Friedman Bloch
    • Kathy Kirtland Silverman
  • Stars
    • Ann-Margret
    • Mitchell Ryan
    • Natalie Radford
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1User review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 3 nominations total

    Photos

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    Top cast

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    Ann-Margret
    Ann-Margret
    • Pamela Harrimanas Pamela Harriman
    Mitchell Ryan
    Mitchell Ryan
    • Averell Harrimanas Averell Harriman
    Natalie Radford
    Natalie Radford
    • Pamela Harriman at 20as Pamela Harriman at 20
    John DeMita
    John DeMita
    • Peter Duchinas Peter Duchin
    Susan Ruttan
    Susan Ruttan
    • Janetas Janet
    Cynthia Harris
    Cynthia Harris
    • Kathleenas Kathleen
    Gail Strickland
    Gail Strickland
    • Betsey Cushing Roosevelt Whitneyas Betsey Cushing Roosevelt Whitney
    Sydney Walsh
    Sydney Walsh
    • Minnie Churchillas Minnie Churchill
    Joan Severance
    Joan Severance
    • Paleyas Paley
    Scott Thompson Baker
    Scott Thompson Baker
    • Young Averell Harrimanas Young Averell Harriman
    Diana Agostini
    Diana Agostini
    • Hayward Housekeeperas Hayward Housekeeper
    • (as Diane Agostini)
    Dennis Basso
    • Dinner Guestas Dinner Guest
    Harry Danner
    Harry Danner
    • Dr. Atchleyas Dr. Atchley
    David Dukes
    David Dukes
    • Leland Haywardas Leland Hayward
    Eric Friedberg
    • Judgeas Judge
    Bruce Gray
    Bruce Gray
    • Fieldingas Fielding
    Mary Donnelly Haskell
    Mary Donnelly Haskell
      Adam James
      Adam James
      • Winston Spenceras Winston Spencer
      • Director
        • Waris Hussein
      • Writers
        • Christopher Ogden(book)
        • Lisa Friedman Bloch
        • Kathy Kirtland Silverman
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
      • All cast & crew

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      Storyline

      Edit
      Told mostly in flashbacks, the film tells the story of Pamela Digby Churchill Hayward Harriman, one of the greatest and probably most famous courtesans of the twentieth century. While not showing her childhood, first marriage to Winston Churchill's son, or most of her affairs, we do get to see her affair and eventual marriage to Broadway producer Leland Hayward, and then her marriage to politician Averell Harriman, with whom she had an affair while both were married to others in World War II. We also see her as ambassador to France during her last years, and her death in 1997. While some (mostly her lovers) adored her, others (mostly her son and her husbands' children) hated her. —Tommy Peter
      • averell harriman
      • ambassador
      • flashback
      • citizenship oath
      • based on book
      • 1 more
      • Plot summary
      • Add synopsis
      • Genre
        • Drama
      • Certificate
        • TV-PG
      • Parents guide
        • Add content advisory

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        There was nothing trivial about Pamela Digby Churchill Hayward Herriman. She later created President Willism Jefferson Clinton and his first official act was to appoint her as the US Ambassador to France. She died in office.
      • Connections
        Featured in The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1999)

      User reviews1

      Review
      Top review
      While Ann-Margret's portrayal is uncannily accurate, only a four hour mini-series could begin to do Pamela Harriman's story justice.
      This is a good film which could have been much better if it had been longer. The sets are sumptuous, the costumes accurate. Ann-Margret is uncanny in her portrayal of Pamela Harriman.

      Why was there no mention of her childhood, where she was fat and unloved? Why no depiction of her close friendship with Winston Churchill Sr., playing cards with him all night to raise his spirits? Why no mention of Gianni Agnelli's rejection of her? Her service as a Rothschild mistress in Paris?

      Many viewers will need more background to understand who the Whitneys are, who James Roosevelt was, why he was such a close parallel to Winston Churchill Jr., what role the "blackamoor" pin played in Pamela's relationship with Leland Hayward's daughter, and so on.

      The first half of this film will confuse even those who know her story. Stick with it. The second half shows her happy and successful marriage to Averill Harriman about as well as can be done.
      helpful•9
      1
      • Mentor-2
      • Sep 30, 1998

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • October 12, 1998 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Life of the Party
      • Filming locations
        • Los Angeles, California, USA
      • Production companies
        • ABC Pictures
        • Victor Television Productions Inc.
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 36 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Stereo
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.33 : 1

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