Mitzi Gaynor is dead to me (2024)

The last time I saw her was in 2007. She was sitting by herself in the Hamburger Hamlet on Sunset near Doheny. She was drunk and cursing the cute waiter who was doing his best to wait on her. At one point she screamed, "Don't you know who I am? I am the star of "South Pacific".

Frances Davis, the hostess, told us once that when Mitzi came in, she would have someone call the restaurant so she could be paged and sashay through the place, calling attention to herself.

She says in that CBS Morning interview that as far as her Hollywood film career went, "the camera didn't love her" but I'd disagree. I think her film stardom simply came about 10 years too late.

She could have been a major box office star during the 1940s, not unlike a combo of Betty Grable and Betty Hutton. She would have been a brilliant and perfect Annie Oakley in the film of Annie Get Your Gun.

Mitzi was the first star Bob Mackie made the "naked" dress for.

Cher made it famous but Mitzi was first.

Great old broad, I'm sorry she's gone.

No snark.

[quote]A poor man’s Marilyn Monroe.

She was never ever considered a poor man’s Marilyn Monroe.

Mitzi and genius choreographer Jack Cole proves she doesn't care in one of the most batshit insane musical numbers ever filmed. (Number begins at 2:20)

In the words of Oscar Levant: "She's EVIL, honey!"

[quote]Mitzi was the first star Bob Mackie made the "naked" dress for.

Here's the nude gown.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this number from one of her TV specials.

She sings off key, moves around rather than actually dancing....but it all works beautifully. So glamorous.

The staging, camera work and choreography here are soooo swanky. Spectacular.

R35 It was The Vaxx!

93 year olds don't just die, y'know!

Even as a 10 year old gayling I wondered what the heck she was doing with a special variety show. Probably not enough of a fan base to carry a weekly show, but with just enough talent to put a show over for her audience, chiefly comprised of people who like to watch entertainers entertain.

That said, I'm always sorry to see these people dying off. They may not have been part of the Golden Age but they often worked with them when young and the memories of them get dimmer and dimmer.

Her specials always ranked high in the ratings.

Her Academy Award performance in 1967 (R31) was responsible for her comeback and lead to her TV specials.

The RIP troll would have titled this post with the dignity Ms. Gaynor deserved.

RIP, RIP troll.

I liked her in Les Girls

RIP

I agree with a poster above; Mitzi's talents were good, but not great and she hit the "scene" in Hollywood a few years too late.

For me, she was just adorable in There's No Business Like Show Business and I love her in this scene with Donald O'Connor and Marilyn Monroe.

Oh, and I saw her perform as Reno Sweeney in 1990s tour of Anything Goes with costumes by Bob Mackie (I know, what a surprise, right?!). Oy, that evening in the theatre... honestly, she was a bit long in the tooth for Reno 30 some odd years ago.

"South Pacific" ran in London for over 4 years, finally closing in 1962.

RIP

[quote]A poor man’s Marilyn Monroe.

What a stupid remark. That wasn't her career at all. You have her confused with Mamie Van Doren.

[quote]The movie ain’t that good. Brits were starved, pretty much for any, and every, entertainment then.

And yet "South Pacific" was the top-grossing movie of 1958.

In the clips at r25 and r28 she's supposedly only 38 years old, but looks like she's 50! The hair and makeup were conservative and aging. I guess that's how it was in the late 60s.

Someone her on DL used to post about her house in the Bev Hills flats, she'd lived there for decades with her late husband. There were photos - the inside had gold gilt on the walls or something similar, very grand, tacky Old Hollywood decor.

[quote]You have her confused with Mamie Van Doren.

Mamie was the poor man's Cleo Moore.

[quote]She was a thing of the past when she started

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

[quote]She couldn't sing and she was a so-so dancer.

More evidence that you have no idea what you're talking about. Mitzi Gaynor was a fine singer, and she made at least two solo albums that have some lovely stuff on them.

[quote] An #Otwituary for Hollywood star #MitziGaynor

[quote] There are no showgirls now;

[quote] they have all been washed away

[quote] into the storm drains of Tinseltown,

[quote] set adrift on an ocean, clinging

[quote] to a raft of what might have been.

[quote]r60 = Mamie was the poor man's Cleo Moore.

Cleo was unable to come off as a tough cookie. You knew deep down that she was a good girl.

It’s true that her “Georgy Girl” number at the Oscars gave her career a big boost at the time, but she was absolutely terrible. A poor singer, passable dancer, full of stamina, I’ll give her that.

Yes, she was born too late, yes she completely lacked sex appeal (despite a lovely body), but Hollywood was still trying with Ann-Margret in similar roles a decade later. A-M had all the sex appeal Gaynor lacked, but A-M could act as well as conquer Vegas and TV musical specials at her peak.

Mitzi was a mediocrity, who made up in warmth, eagerness and energy what she lacked in talent. Adios, Mitzi.

[quote]Are there any Mitzi's left?

The Mitzi Newhouse Theeatre at Lincoln Center.

[quote]I wish Frances Nuyen could comment but she can't.

There was more than one France Nuyen?

[quote]She made a big deal about saying how she had to keep Jack Bean away from Marilyn when making There's No Business.

Maybe he wanted to do Marilyn's hair.

Someone on All That Chat claims that Mitzi told a story about the original Nellie Forbush Mary Martin visiting her on the film set of South Pacific and being extremely bitchy and denigrating to Mitzi in front of composer Richard Rodgers. The ATC poster was challenged to cite a source and unable but swears he heard her tell the story numerous times in interviews.

Bonus points to any DLer who can find a link.

They fucked Mitzi? Or the Beatles? Anyway I'm sure they all had a great time those many years ago.

I had the great good fortune of seeing a TODD AO print of South Pacific on an 80 foot curved screen years ago. I was kind of dreading it as on tv it just lies there like a beached whale. It was actually enjoyable in the wide screen process and 6 track stereo. I was happily surprised. Had I been around when it played first run I would have seen it multiple times. I'm a size queen when it comes to movies.

Her specials were a big deal and delivered the ratings.

This scene is pretty fabulous. Few remember these guys today, but I recognize every one of them:

Cleavon Little was 🔥🍆

💋

[quote]He made her a very wealthy woman.

So they actually had a *green* marriage.

[quote]Mitzi's performance in "South Pacific" is a perfectly competent acting and singing job, comparable to a talented high schooler.

Oh c'mon. She was better than that.

More on par with a talented Miss America contestant.

But she wasn't dumb and knew her limits. TV was just right for her.

R111, I had no idea who she was.

I couldn't figure out WHY she was being given her own prime time special -- who was this Mitzi and why was she zinging into Spring?

R113 Gaynor's first movie musical was in 1950. Was starring in them by 1951.

That's before Debbie Reynolds, Shirley MacLaine, Shirley Jones.

Although she was working by the late 1940s, Monroe's career really didn't gain traction until around 1950.

The Music Man, Unsinkable Molly Brown, Bye Bye Birdie, Irma la Douce, Let's Make Love, What a Way to Go!, Something's Got to Give etc....would Mitzi Gaynor have been chosen over any of the stars who got those roles?

I don't think so.

[quote] Are there any Mitzi's left?

Are you forgetting my beloved Lhasa Apso?

[quote]Are you 14 years old?

No. But all I kept thinking as more guys kept kissing her was "how unsanitary." (And then a Dawson joke.) Ted Knight was the only one who kissed her hand. Smart man.

Michael Feinstein tribute on Facebook.

There will never be a soul as kind, sweet and shining as Mitzi. She was as brilliant as she was talented and had the most vivacious sense of humor and fundamental humanity that colored everything she touched. Her ageless talent speaks for itself. As a friend no one was more faithful or true. Lord, I’ll miss her. God speed beautiful Mitzi.

[quote]The feed is terrible

Story of my life.

[quote]Michael Feinstein tribute on Facebook.

I bet he uses the same eulogy when his bestie goes, just swaps out the names.

Charles Busch has a tribute on Facebook too.

In 2014, I was asked to participate in the twentieth anniversary of Turner Classic Movies in LA. One of the events was a tribute to host Robert Osborne. Afterwards, there was a party in his honor at a restaurant. It was filled with Robert’s dearest friends and I was introduced to the likes of Diane Baker, Robert Wagner and Jill St John. After a bit, I felt awkward, not being of that world, and I drifted towards the bar. I was about to leave, when the designer Bob Mackie arrived with Mitzi Gaynor on his arm. I knew Bob Mackie. He had actually once designed a costume for me, and I was delighted to have an opportunity to meet Mitzi. She was feeling out of sorts that evening. It’s possible that she might have hurt her foot or maybe her hip was bothering her. She wasn’t giving out with the personality. Bob introduced me by saying that I was a famous playwright. Distracted, she gave me little more than a wince of a professional smile. Then Bob Mackie added, “And Charles is also one of the most beautiful drag stars in the New York Theatre.”

Well, suddenly, Mitzi perked up, her heavily false eyelashed eyes widened, “Really?” I took out my phone and showed her some photos of me en travesti in my various stage roles. Well, suddenly, Mitzi was like a little girl on Christmas morning. “Playwright” feh, “Drag?” Wow. Each photo I showed her elicited a wildly enthusiastic response. She had a long history of being supportive of drag performers. She viewed herself as something of an old drag queen. For years, she used to have a tag sale on her front lawn in Beverly Hills where she’d sell her old Vegas gowns. Drag queens from all over would flock to pick up a used Mackie original.

Standing there at the bar, I got the full Mitzi treatment. She was rapt when I told her about my movie “Die Mommie Die.” She was absolutely adorable, exclaiming, “I love you. You’re my kind of gal. Take down my address. Please, please, send me a copy of your movie.” As soon as I returned home to NY, I mailed her a DVD copy. I hope she watched and enjoyed it. Whether she did or didn’t, meeting Mitzi Gaynor was a true pleasure. What a fabulous, glamorous thread she was in the fabric of American show biz.

Great story r142! Love these Old Hollywood stories. There aren't many of the Old Guard left.

My neighbors also named their dog Mitzi, although this was in the late 80s so I'm uncertain it had anything to do with Gaynor.

She may have had varying degrees of success doing contemporary material on those fabulous specials, but I always admired how her team arranged them for her to suit her voice. And she puts them right there beside Great American Songbook type old school standards. She covers all kinds of 70s pop hits that other singers of her era would never do.

Here, she just walks out to the mark and sings the damn song. Who does that now?

I remember my parents always being excited for her specials in the 70s.

I wonder whatever happened to all those cute chorus boys from that “Let Go” number…

I told this story before on DL - but....

When Mitzi was in Indy doing her show at Starlight Musicals she stayed at a big downtown hotel. A friend who worked there part time noticed that the hotel wasn't providing fresh flowers for her. He also worked part time at a florist shop. Everyday he made sure there were fresh flowers in her suite.

As she left the hotel,, Mitzi told the clerk thanks for the flowers that she appreciated them. The clerk told her the hotel had nothing to do with them. Mitzi asked around - or probably her husband Jack did - and found out who was responsible for the flowers. About six weeks later, my friend received a check and a thank you note from Mitzi. He still doesn't know how she found out who gave her the flowers.

[quote]It was a somewhat sad, bittersweet song, and was not meant to be upbeat.

Tough, r165, Mitzi didn't do *sad*.

[quote]I hope Joshua Logan is rotting in hell for putting those bizarre color filters in South Pacific. They prevented that film from becoming a total film classic and Gaynor from being better remembered.

It was the top-grossing movie of 1958 and made the most money of any Rodgers and Hammerstein film adaptation, until "The Sound of Music" came along seven years later.

Producer Buddy Adler assured Joshua Logan that the color filters could be removed if they didn't work.....and so after watching some of the scenes - Logan wanted to get rid of them. Adler then said it wasn't possible.....

In the A/E biography of Mitzi Gaynor some her screen tests were shown - and her performances was much better and more natural. But she said that Logan insisted on giving her line readings and demanded she do the role as he told her. We're not seeing Mitzi as Nellie - we're seeing Logan as Nellie.

Mitzi is more winning in these tests than in the film. However, she is still only competent. Enthusiastic, perhaps, a pleasant but non-distinguished voice. Nothing goes "wow" or makes someone say, "Good grief, that woman is talented."

She is very likable and determined and was throughout her career. However, there is a reason why she never made Quigley's annual poll of the top 25 box-office stars or why her recording career was non prolific. Most of her Fox films were modest successes at best and she had nothing to do with the success of "There's No Business Like Show Business". nor of "South Pacific". Michener's book was a huge hit and the film, coming 13 years after the end of WW II, appealed to a lot of veterans of that conflict who normally didn't care for musicals. They could have cast Vera Ellen as Nellie and it would have done the same business.

Mitzi's television specials were lushy, lavish, beautifully costumed extravaganzas in which you could overlook the average singing and capable movements. The choreography was designed to make Mitzi appear to be doing more than she was and the end result was great fun. Likewise, her nightclub ventures. Her film career was nothing special, but she worked very, very hard to keep her career going and for that deserves a measure of credit.

R176 Agreed.

However I think one can understand why she was cast and what Logan was going for. Gaynor comes across as very young, innocent and virginal and that plays off of the older and wiser Emile. It creates a tension.

Following that formula, Doris Day would have been too mature. Maybe Shirley Jones could have done the role but she was womanly. See her in The Music Man. Debbie Reynolds? I don't think so.

I really can't think of anyone else who would have been right at the time.

(r178) You are right. Debbie would have been a disaster, playing to the third balcony and by this time, Jones and Richard Rodgers were no longer involved. She was married to Jack Cassidy, and they'd started spouse swapping and Rodgers had moved on to someone else.

Doris Day, while a bit mature at 35, in 1957 when the film was being made, might have still been able to pull it off. However, some were concerned about it becoming a "Doris Day musical". However, in 1957, she easily proved that she could work as part of a team in "The Pajama Game". It didn't become a "Doris Day musical" and Day worked seamlessly with the rest of the cast in bringing a stage musical faithfully to the screen. Logan, however, would have hated working with her. She had too much confidence as a singer and actress and would not have groveled at his feet. He preferred someone who would hang on his every word in how to interpret the character since he wanted to be Nellie Forbush and prancing around in an oversized sailor suit.

[quote]She was married to Jack Cassidy, and they'd started spouse swapping

Wait, what??

[quote]Debbie would have been fine - nothing more

I didn't say she would have been more than fine, r183. But she certainly wouldn't have been a "disaster".

I second r185: Doris would have been absolute perfection.

Can't resist mentioning this:

"Ethel, that scene has had more performances than 'South Pacific'!"

[quote]I really can't think of anyone else who would have been right at the time.

Helen Lawson was an obvious and overlooked choice.

I disagree about Doris. She was a bit too mature as evidenced by her strong no nonsense portrayal in TPG. Nothing virginal or inexperienced about her. And I know it's acting but her in her 30s experienced demeanor would have come through. And Marty would have wanted above the title billing and Rodgers would have been fuck that shit this ain't no Doris Day movie.

If you don't have the bluray of Pajama Game get it, it is fabulous. The restoration is wonderful and it is a joy of a film.

If Gloria Grahame had done it she would have ended up in bed with Emile's son. Doesn't seem like age mattered to her. I love her. But she was a mess.

I also think Mitzi is terrific in the film. So filled with joy, happiness and freshness at the beginning of the film you see her maturing during the course of the movie. And when she realizes Emile's children are biracial her confusion and upsetness are very sudden and very real. It's a great moment. I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair(the entire number was filmed but they cut two minutes of a three hour movie to save time? Very stupid) and I'm In Love with a Wonderful Guy are terrific. And she's virginally sexy as hell.

In terms of the colors I wish they could be removed as well. Logan said they could be removed but it would take time. Hammerstein said there was no time as sold out previews, probably charity events, had already been set up. Heaven's Gate had a brown wash over the entire film which probably was one of the reasons it was such a flop. A four hour movie that looks like that would be a monumental bore. They were able to remove it and in comparison the film looks very beautiful. I'd love to see the movie in a theater rather than on the Criterion release.

[quote]Debbie would have been fine, R180. She wasn't "playing to the third balcony" at that point. Look at Catered Affair.

Debbie Reynolds was a weaker singer than Mitzi Gaynor.

[quote]Debbie Reynolds was a weaker singer than Mitzi Gaynor.

I didn't say she wasn't, r194.

I wish Maclaine had done Haney's role in Pajama Game on film. I know Haney was beloved on stage but it would have been better to have a the much prettier delightful Shirley in the movie. Also Donen said Warner was doing the movie on the cheap so Day did not get a co-star who could have matched her film charisma(yes I like Raitt but she should have had a male movie musical co-star) and the film was done in mono when many movie musicals at the time were filmed with stereo soundtracks.

Still very wonderful. Reta Shaw and Eddie Foy Jr really hit it out of the park doing a Fosse soft shoe.

[quote] but it would have been better to have a the much prettier delightful Shirley in the movie.

Gladys is a character role. I prefer Haney. Shirley would have taken attention away from Doris.

(R214) You are so right. "Silk Stockings" which I think is vastly superior to "Les Girls" also proved to be a financial disappointment despite good reviews. According to MGM records, "Silk Stockings" earned $1,740,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $1,060,000 in other markets, resulting in a loss of $1,399,000.

Gene Kelly musicals like "It's Always Fair Weather" which lost over 1.6 million and "Invitation to the Dance" which lost more than 2.5 million, indicated that musicals were falling on hard times.

Even "Funny Face" failed to break even: On initial release, Funny Face was a box office disappointment and failed to break even.

With the exception of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals and lower budgeted musicals with Elvis or Pat Boone, musicals were really struggling.

Even after "Gigi" scored a smash, MGM musicals like "Bells are Ringing" lost over 1.7 million.

It is interesting to ponder what might have happened with Mitzi's film career had she found herself at MGM in 1950 instead of Fox. Fox really did not serve her well and, in fact, dropped her from contract with four years remaining on the contract.

At MGM, she would probably have been given better opportunities and quality productions with better people.

Many of the films that Doris Day was making during the early 50's were not really that much better, with a few notable exceptions, than what Mitzi was churning out at Fox. However, the big difference was that Day connected with the public in a certain way and long before her "Pillow Talk" days, was a big box-office attraction for Warners despite the sometimes-maudlin quality of the films she was given. In addition, her recording career with Columbia produced a number of hits in spite of Mitch Miller's efforts to give her some very inferior gimmick tunes.

Sometimes a performer connects in a remarkable way with the filmgoer and that never really happened with Gaynor. Her films, post "South Pacific" were nothing special, either as films or at the box-office and by 1963 her film career was over.

I think that at MGM, her cinema legacy would be more varied, interesting and enduring.

Were all of those early Warners musicals that Day did considered B movies at the time? I love the modest but engaging qualities of On Moonlight Bay and its sequel By the Light of the Silvery Moon but don't really know the others that often co-starred DL fave Gene Nelson. Worth looking into?

Interesting that there was nary a clip of Les Girls in any of the That's Entertainment films. That's why I assumed it wasn't produced by MGM. I wonder if Gene Kelly hated it?

Gene Kelly had only positive things to say about Mitzi, as did nearly all of her male dancing partners on film.

She's very frank about the career in this clip and how she came across in her movies. The interviewer keeps butting in.

[quote]If Mary Martin could play Nellie Forbush, Doris Day could as well.

Martin played Nellie on stage. Big difference.

George Abbott was Mr. Broadway and when he made the film of his huge hit stage show Damn Yankees, I doubt he felt he needed ANY movie star in the cast. He might have simply wanted Stephen Douglass who originated the role of Joe Hardy on Broadway or realizing that Douglass might look too old on film, another Broadway guy who could belt out those songs and dance with Gwen. Maybe someone like Larry Kert who had just created the role of Tony in West Side Story.

But in the end, I think Tab Hunter was perfect and is one of the best things about the film of Damn Yankees.

[quote] Martin played Nellie on stage. Big difference.

Alright then, if Glenn Close could play Nellie Forbush, so could Doris Day.

Further to R241

The same thing had happened just one week earlier, 9 February, on the Sullivan show. Davy Jones, as the Artful Dodger, performed with the Original London Cast of OLIVER!, but nobody remembers it, because it was the debut of the Beatles.