MovieChat Forums > Coma (1978) Discussion > Farrah Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett

posted 13 years ago by shamosfisher-1
17 replies | jump to latest

I am sure this will get some reaction, but as a huge fan of the film & a fan of the late, underrated Ms. Fawcett (& being bored at work) I simply had to do this. Do not get me wrong, Ms. Bujold was phenomenal; I read that during the height of the Farrah Phenomenon - she was offered the lead role in this film but due to the CHARLIE'S ANGELS Contract Lawsuit it never happened. Aaron Spelling & ABC threatened to sue anyone who hired her. We all have opinions, but Farrah was a good actress & playing "Dr. Susan Wheeler" so would have proved this and really changed her career. Recently watching the film I could not help to imagine her in the role & it was very bittersweet to say the least. All that the public would've required of her was taming her hair, hell I am pretty sure she probably would've cut it. The action scenes, especially the chase to the freezer were very ANGEL-esque. Maybe it was just me, I detected some serious lesbian undertones, I mean SUSAN was REALLY, REALLY upset about NANCY's death. Am I alone on this one? Farrah could've done this & that really might have been controversial. I also think she would've had amazing sexual chemistry with Michael Douglas. So here in my boredom, I cannot wait to see what people say on this topic.

[–] tricksoftrade01 13 years ago

I don't know, Farrah would be just too damn distractingly beautiful for the role, even if you uglyed her up a bit, she still has that face and smile. Men would not be able to focus on the plot.

Ms. Bujold is very pretty also, but one could believe that she is a doctor, I don't think the general audience could buy Farrah in her mid 20's as one,maybe when she was in her 40's but not in her 20's.

[–] Falcon868890 (37) 5 years ago

Farrah was 30 years old when this was filmed, if anything a little older than most second years residents.

[–] shrink54 13 years ago

Its not that far-fetched. In the book, Susan was blonde and beautiful. I think they purposely toned her down with Bujold (who is very pretty in her own way)to eliminate the sexist angle the book had. Im also a huge fan of the film and I loved Farrah (my favorite film of hers? "Murder In Texas")

[–] robbytara 13 years ago

Farrah had other interests than and was a professional air head. Ask Lee!

[–] riverwalk 13 years ago

i dont think id have taken the movie seriously if farrah fawcett was in it,she was always more of a hot cover girl than an actress and if she was in something then it woukd be something brainless like charlies angels.

[–] blanche-2 12 years ago

Farrah Fawcett really stretched herself and developed into a fine actress, but I don't think at the time Coma was made she was there yet. I loved Genevieve Bujold in the film.

I don't think I've ever told anyone this, but I enjoyed Somebody Killed Her Husband with Farrah.

[–] UGLYINTHAMORNING 12 years ago

if Farrah was supposedly going to do this film... then why not put Ryan O'Neil in instead of Michael Douglas, to make it a matching set?

[–] blanche-2 12 years ago

no idea.

[–] nancy-mitrione 9 years ago

Agree with your opinion. I think Farrah grew over time with becoming a serious actress; not sure if she could have pulled this role off.

[–] Tabbycat (878) 2 years ago

Best keep that to yourself. 😺

[–] libby2130 8 years ago

at that time,yes, but she really came along and sunnk her teeth into "the burning bed" and "small sacrifices"

farrah was excellent in these 2 movies

[–] cookiela2001 11 years ago

Fawcett would have been too whispery and baby doll-like in this part. Bujold is a focused and intense actress with a spine of steel...she provides the motor for this film, and makes you take the whole thing more seriously than it really deserves.

I think Farrah Fawcett would have been paper-thin, emotionally, in this. She only became a decent actress later on.

.

[–] herbielouie1973 9 years ago

I agree 110% with you!

[–] SimplemindedSociety 11 years ago

'I am sure this will get some reaction, but as a huge fan of the film & a fan of the late, underrated Ms. Fawcett'
--------------------------
I disagree that was underrated in her later years. Yes, she found a way of lowering her voice and knew technique,but I thought she becamse overrated only because the projects she did were so prolific and viewers were impressed that she was competent. There are many competent actrsses that did not get the praise she did,including those with even more talent

[–] JaneDough42 9 years ago

I read that during the height of the Farrah Phenomenon - she was offered the lead role in this film but due to the CHARLIE'S ANGELS Contract Lawsuit it never happened.

Watching Farrah in this would have had me thinking this was just like a movie length episode of Charlie's Angels. Bujold gave the role an air of seriousness which I don't think Farrah could have conveyed convincingly.

Maybe it was just me, I detected some serious lesbian undertones, I mean SUSAN was REALLY, REALLY upset about NANCY's death. Am I alone on this one?

I think you are alone on this one. Susan had both a personal and professional reason to be upset by the death of her good friend, she was angry and confused about how such a simple medical procedure could result in a coma then death, so she went to great lengths to investigate it from every angle.

[–] That_Seventies_Guy 8 years ago

Yup very alone on this one. Nancy was her best friend - they had known each other since grade school. I'd be broken to pieces of my best friend ended up in such a way.

[–] Tabbycat (878) 3 years ago

Afraid not.

In 1978 Ms Fawcett would have been wrong for the role, which requires being absolutely convincing as a dedicated doctor — in a male-dominated workplace — and, later, investigator. Not many actresses of the day could have pulled off this demanding part, and none better than Ms.Bujold.