Long before bi-polar disorder had a name, women like Frances Farmer and Rosemary Clooney (and in the case of Rita Hayworth, Alzheimer's) had labels put on them that didn't reflect the mental anguish they were facing. The story of her life then is more than just "I had this song had ended this movie then had a baby", blah blah blah. Sondra Locke (chosen to play Rosemary by Rosemary herself) is perfectly cast, and in spite of being older than the character in the first part of the movie is quite believable with her youthful appearance.
Penelope Milford as sister Betty and Katherine Helmond as their mother are also good in support, but it's singer Tony Orlando as Jose Ferrer who surprises. He may not look like the Academy Award winning actor, but he captures the essence of him. Nothing about the writing of the character seems to be meant in a derogatory way, just the facts, and showing a lot of love that they had in the marriage that was doomed to fail simply because he couldn't help being who he was.
Rosie, who appears briefly at the end in concert as her self, is heard singing all the songs, and bravely allows her story you know everybody to being told honestly, showing the good, the bad and the ugly. A recreation of the movie set of "Red Garters" has a great re-do of one of her most fabulous costumes, but there's no on-set view of her most famous movie roles, "White Christmas". Jackie Cooper has a bigger success with this as director fan he did with his TV movie about young Judy Garland, "Rainbow".
One big continuity error shows the New York skyline in the 1950's and features the World trade Center which weren't started until the late '60s. Since Clooney greenlighted this project herself, you don't feel like you're snooping in on someone's life where it doesn't belong, and certainly gives a face to a treatable illness that thanks to the courage of performers like Clooney has gotten a face that eliminates stereotypes and misconceived notions.
Penelope Milford as sister Betty and Katherine Helmond as their mother are also good in support, but it's singer Tony Orlando as Jose Ferrer who surprises. He may not look like the Academy Award winning actor, but he captures the essence of him. Nothing about the writing of the character seems to be meant in a derogatory way, just the facts, and showing a lot of love that they had in the marriage that was doomed to fail simply because he couldn't help being who he was.
Rosie, who appears briefly at the end in concert as her self, is heard singing all the songs, and bravely allows her story you know everybody to being told honestly, showing the good, the bad and the ugly. A recreation of the movie set of "Red Garters" has a great re-do of one of her most fabulous costumes, but there's no on-set view of her most famous movie roles, "White Christmas". Jackie Cooper has a bigger success with this as director fan he did with his TV movie about young Judy Garland, "Rainbow".
One big continuity error shows the New York skyline in the 1950's and features the World trade Center which weren't started until the late '60s. Since Clooney greenlighted this project herself, you don't feel like you're snooping in on someone's life where it doesn't belong, and certainly gives a face to a treatable illness that thanks to the courage of performers like Clooney has gotten a face that eliminates stereotypes and misconceived notions.
