A few observations and questions after my recent rewatching of this film....
The young Elizabeth/Tippy was a very facial actress, depending on her eyes and mouth to convey shock, sadness, glee, etc. more so than the actual lines, her phonetic stressing, other body language, etc. For those of us who are unfamiliar with your lesser-seen (read 'neglected') later work for film and television, Could you tell us, Elizabeth, did this tendency towards 'facial acting' follow you into your later teens and twenties? Are you a 'facially expressive' person in real life?
Al Lewis was hilarious as usual--he probably was even in his coffin a few years ago! What was he like to work with?
(To be updated)
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whitedogandharriet
17 years ago
I wasn't an actress at all for Henry Orient. They hired someone who was that girl and went from there. I was extremely shy always but had alot of courage and desire to please. I was asthetically sophisticated and socially innocent, an advantage for them and I disadvantage for me. So I mugged, did what ever I could. I wasn't going to out smart them, impress them. All I could do was be myself and hang on.
I also had an extreme sense of seriousness. I believed in the process, had a deep reverence for movies and art in general. Loved all things theatrical intended to uplift us. Even if only to divert us.
The lens felt like the eye of God to me. ACTION freaked me out. Frankly making the movie was crazy for me, so many things were unfamiliar, and so rough. But they kept encouraging me, complimenting me, so I felt good about myself and could just do it. But I never thought I was any good. So go ahead and get down and say it, I stunk. But the role was impossible to fill but I got pretty close.
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17 years ago
[deleted]
R-W-Watkins
17 years ago
Yes, I must say, Elizabeth certainly knows how to come down hard on herself. If only some of the young (alleged) actresses around today could step back and (re)evaluate themselves so honestly, we wouldn't have such absolute drivel popping up in the theatres and on home video! I'm afraid the majority of young 'actors' and recording 'artists' today get signed based solely on their legs and the size of their arse; and the dumber and more uncultured they are, the better--makes it easier for producers and record companies to boss them around and seduce them.
By the way, about a year ago, I won this signed promotional still on ebay for 50 or 60 bucks. It's probably a fake, but I don't really care--it's a great photo of Elizabeth in her 'Tippy' days, and I'm thinking about getting a little 8" X 10" frame for it and hanging it somewhere. Any road, Do you remember signing any photos like this one, Elizabeth...? Were you known for smudging your 'W's as a young lady...?
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w257/jannyrcobs/img096.jpg
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whitedogandharriet
17 years ago
the writing isn't mine on that photograph, I never made ps like that so can't claim responsibility for the smudge, but don't remember smudging that much.
Glad you liked my self criticism. There are alot of reasons for my bad performance, unfortunately that same self criticism is one of them.
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