The Lonely Lady
Encyclopedia
The Lonely Lady is a 1983 American film
directed by Peter Sasdy
and adapted to screen by Ellen Shepard from the novel written by Harold Robbins
. The original music score was composed by Charlie Calello
. The cast includes Pia Zadora
, Lloyd Bochner
, Bibi Besch
, Jared Martin
, and in an early film appearance, Ray Liotta
. The movie is to date the last and final adaptation of one of Robbins' best selling novels before he died in 1997.
area of California
with dreams of becoming a famous screenwriter. Shortly after winning a trophy for her creative writing, she meets the son of a famous screenwriter, Walter Thornton, at a party. She goes home with him, along with some other friends, and during a late evening pool party, one of Jerilee's friends (played by Ray Liotta
in one of his first roles) beats her, slaps her and then sexually assaults
her with a garden hose nozzle.
Walter arrives after the assault has taken place and saves her from further attacks. A friendship then love affair develops between them, and they soon marry, despite the disapproval of Jerilee's mother. The marriage begins to fall apart when she rewrites one of his scripts and is told she had improved it greatly (she actually only added the word, "Why?").
Divorce
is inevitable when Walter scorns Jerilee during an argument and accuses her of enjoying having been rape
d all those years ago. After the divorce, Jerilee has several love affairs while trying to get her own screenplay produced. She uses her sexual charms to pave the way to recognition, with revenge thrown in the end for good measure. Jerilee finally has a nervous breakdown
in a sequence where she sees the callous people of her past appear as faces on the keys of her typewriter.
The film ends with Jerilee finally successful and winning a prestigious award for her screenplay of a film called the "The Hold-outs". At the live awards telecast, she admits to her ex-husband Walter Thornton that she has never learned "the meaning of self-respect". Jerilee then refuses to accept the award, and walks out of the auditorium with her newfound dignity.
and won 6 including Worst Picture, Worst Actress, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, Worst Musical Score and Worst Original Song ("The Way You Do It"). It was nominated for a Razzie as Worst Picture of the Decade, but lost to Mommie Dearest
and again as Worst Drama of the Razzies' First 25 Years, but lost to Battlefield Earth
. Zadora won Worst New Star of the Decade for this film along with Butterfly
. She was also nominated for Worst Actress of the Century, but lost to Madonna
.
videocassette, CED Videodisc, and laserdisc
, it has never been released on DVD
. For that reason, both the videocassette and the laserdisc are somewhat collectible.
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
directed by Peter Sasdy
Peter Sasdy
Peter Sasdy is a British film and TV director.As well as numerous TV credits, notably the Nigel Kneale-scripted The Stone Tape , he directed several horror films for Hammer, including Taste the Blood of Dracula , Countess Dracula and Hands of the Ripper...
and adapted to screen by Ellen Shepard from the novel written by Harold Robbins
Harold Robbins
Harold Robbins was one of the best-selling American authors of all time. During his career, he wrote over 25 best-sellers, selling over 750 million copies in 32 languages....
. The original music score was composed by Charlie Calello
Charlie Calello
Charlie Calello is an American, singer, composer, conductor, arranger, accordionist and record producer born in Newark, New Jersey.Calello attended Newark Arts High School. and Manhattan School of Music, in New York City....
. The cast includes Pia Zadora
Pia Zadora
Pia Zadora is an American actress and singer. After working as a child actress on Broadway, in regional theater, and in the film Santa Claus Conquers the Martians , she came to national attention in 1981 when, following her starring role in the highly criticized Butterfly, she won a Golden Globe...
, Lloyd Bochner
Lloyd Bochner
Lloyd Wolfe Bochner was a Canadian actor, usually playing the role of suave, rich leading men.- Career :...
, Bibi Besch
Bibi Besch
Bibiana "Bibi" Besch was an Austrian/American actress.-Early life:Besch was born in Vienna, Austria, the daughter of theater actress Gusti Huber, who starred in German films during World War II and left Austria in the mid 1940s. Besch had a stepfather, Joseph Besch, a radio executive and former...
, Jared Martin
Jared Martin
Jared Martin is an American film and television actor.-Acting career:Born in Queens, New York to Charles E. Martin a cover artist for The New Yorker, and his wife, Florence, Jared Martin began acting at the age of ten, when his parents gave him the choice of either learning to play the piano, or...
, and in an early film appearance, Ray Liotta
Ray Liotta
[File:Ray Liotta is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in the crime-drama Goodfellas, directed by Martin Scorsese and his role as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams...
. The movie is to date the last and final adaptation of one of Robbins' best selling novels before he died in 1997.
Plot
Jerilee Randall is an innocent schoolgirl living in the San Fernando ValleySan Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
area of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with dreams of becoming a famous screenwriter. Shortly after winning a trophy for her creative writing, she meets the son of a famous screenwriter, Walter Thornton, at a party. She goes home with him, along with some other friends, and during a late evening pool party, one of Jerilee's friends (played by Ray Liotta
Ray Liotta
[File:Ray Liotta is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in the crime-drama Goodfellas, directed by Martin Scorsese and his role as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams...
in one of his first roles) beats her, slaps her and then sexually assaults
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
her with a garden hose nozzle.
Walter arrives after the assault has taken place and saves her from further attacks. A friendship then love affair develops between them, and they soon marry, despite the disapproval of Jerilee's mother. The marriage begins to fall apart when she rewrites one of his scripts and is told she had improved it greatly (she actually only added the word, "Why?").
Divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
is inevitable when Walter scorns Jerilee during an argument and accuses her of enjoying having been rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d all those years ago. After the divorce, Jerilee has several love affairs while trying to get her own screenplay produced. She uses her sexual charms to pave the way to recognition, with revenge thrown in the end for good measure. Jerilee finally has a nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
in a sequence where she sees the callous people of her past appear as faces on the keys of her typewriter.
The film ends with Jerilee finally successful and winning a prestigious award for her screenplay of a film called the "The Hold-outs". At the live awards telecast, she admits to her ex-husband Walter Thornton that she has never learned "the meaning of self-respect". Jerilee then refuses to accept the award, and walks out of the auditorium with her newfound dignity.
Cast
- Pia ZadoraPia ZadoraPia Zadora is an American actress and singer. After working as a child actress on Broadway, in regional theater, and in the film Santa Claus Conquers the Martians , she came to national attention in 1981 when, following her starring role in the highly criticized Butterfly, she won a Golden Globe...
as Jerilee Randall - Lloyd BochnerLloyd BochnerLloyd Wolfe Bochner was a Canadian actor, usually playing the role of suave, rich leading men.- Career :...
as Walter Thornton - Bibi BeschBibi BeschBibiana "Bibi" Besch was an Austrian/American actress.-Early life:Besch was born in Vienna, Austria, the daughter of theater actress Gusti Huber, who starred in German films during World War II and left Austria in the mid 1940s. Besch had a stepfather, Joseph Besch, a radio executive and former...
as Veronica Randall - Joseph CaliJoseph CaliJoseph Cali is an American actor.He is most remembered for playing Joey in the 1977 blockbuster movie Saturday Night Fever.Cali has appeared in TV and films such as 'Voices The Competition with Amy Irving...
as Vincent Dacosta - Anthony HollandAnthony Holland (actor)Anthony Holland was an American actor known best for his comic performances in theater, film and television.Mr. Holland was a member of the original Second City comedy troupe, which he joined after graduating from the University of Chicago and studying acting with Lee Strasberg, during the 1960s...
as Guy Jackson - Jared MartinJared MartinJared Martin is an American film and television actor.-Acting career:Born in Queens, New York to Charles E. Martin a cover artist for The New Yorker, and his wife, Florence, Jared Martin began acting at the age of ten, when his parents gave him the choice of either learning to play the piano, or...
as George Ballantine - Ray LiottaRay Liotta[File:Ray Liotta is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in the crime-drama Goodfellas, directed by Martin Scorsese and his role as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams...
as Joe Heron - Kerry ShaleKerry ShaleKerry Shale is a UK-based actor, writer and voice-over artist. He is married to Suzanne Shale, a former Oxford University law don, now a specialist in the field of medical ethics.-Theatre:...
as Walt Thornton, Jr. - Sandra DickinsonSandra DickinsonSandra Dickinson is an American-British actress. She trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. She has often played a dumb blonde with a high-pitched voice in the UK – notably commencing in the St...
as Nancy Day - Glory Annen ClibberyGlory Annen ClibberyGlory Annen Clibbery is a Canadian actress, who is well known for her involvement in a landmark Family Law case in London, Allan v. Clibbery.-Career:Clibbery was born in Kenora, Ontario, Canada...
as Marion
Reception
The Lonely Lady was hugely panned by critics, where the film was nominated for 11 Golden Raspberry AwardsGolden Raspberry Awards
A Golden Raspberry Award, or Razzie for short, is an award presented in recognition of the worst in movies. Founded by American copywriter and publicist John J.B. Wilson in 1981, the annual Razzie Awards ceremony in Los Angeles precedes the corresponding Academy Awards ceremony by one day...
and won 6 including Worst Picture, Worst Actress, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, Worst Musical Score and Worst Original Song ("The Way You Do It"). It was nominated for a Razzie as Worst Picture of the Decade, but lost to Mommie Dearest
Mommie Dearest (film)
Mommie Dearest is a 1981 American biographical drama film about Joan Crawford, starring Faye Dunaway. The film was directed by Frank Perry. The story was adapted for the screen by Robert Getchell, Tracy Hotchner, Frank Perry, and Frank Yablans, based on the 1978 autobiography of the same name by...
and again as Worst Drama of the Razzies' First 25 Years, but lost to Battlefield Earth
Battlefield Earth (film)
Battlefield Earth is a 2000 American science fiction film adapted from L. Ron Hubbard's novel of the same name. It was directed by Roger Christian, and stars John Travolta, Forest Whitaker, and Barry Pepper...
. Zadora won Worst New Star of the Decade for this film along with Butterfly
Butterfly (1982 film)
Butterfly is a 1982 film directed by Matt Cimber, based on the 1947 novel The Butterfly by James M. Cain. The starring cast includes Stacy Keach, Pia Zadora, Ed McMahon, and Orson Welles. The original music score was composed by Ennio Morricone...
. She was also nominated for Worst Actress of the Century, but lost to Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
.
Home media
Although the film was available in the past on VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
videocassette, CED Videodisc, and laserdisc
Laserdisc
LaserDisc was a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. Initially licensed, sold, and marketed as MCA DiscoVision in North America in 1978, the technology was previously referred to interally as Optical Videodisc System, Reflective Optical Videodisc, Laser Optical...
, it has never been released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
. For that reason, both the videocassette and the laserdisc are somewhat collectible.