Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story

Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story is a 1981 American made-for-television biographical drama film, optioned by Larry Wilcox and his company Wilcox Productions. Wilcox signed the paperwork at midnight and beat out Hugh Hefner and MGM. Later, Wilcox developed the story and pitched it to MGM where he had a production development deal and subsequently to NBC. MGM and Wilcox then hired the director Gabrielle Beaumont.[1] It is a dramatization of the life and the murder of Playboy Playmate of the Year Dorothy Stratten, played by Jamie Lee Curtis.[1] The movie aired on November 1, 1981.[2] Two years later, the same story was developed by director Bob Fosse in his movie Star 80, starring Mariel Hemingway and Eric Roberts.

Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story
Jamie Lee Curtis as Dorothy Stratten
Genre
  • Biography
  • Drama
Written byDonald E. Stewart
Directed byGabrielle Beaumont
StarringJamie Lee Curtis
Bruce Weitz
Robert Reed
Theme music composerRoger Webb
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerLarry Wilcox
ProducersPaul Pompian
Tim King
CinematographyEmil Oster
EditorMorton Tubor
Running time100 minutes
Production companiesWilcox Productions
MGM Television
DistributorNBC
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution
Release
Original networkNBC
Picture formatColor (Metrocolor)
Audio formatMono
Original releaseNovember 1, 1981 (1981-11-01)

Plot

The film depicts the life and times of model, actress, and 1980 Playboy Playmate of the year Dorothy Stratten, who was killed at age 20 in a murder-suicide committed by her estranged husband Paul Snider.

Cast

Production

The TV production was optioned and owned by Larry Wilcox of CHiPs fame, and he negotiated a deal with MGM and NBC for the story to become a movie of the week. At the family's insistence, the names and relationships of her mother and sister were altered.[2]

Reception

The New York Times critic John J. O'Connor praised the movie, writing: "the movie works remarkably well in building a dramatic momentum. Jamie Lee Curtis's Dorothy is a thoroughly understandable, if not sympathetic figure. And Bruce Weitz is extraordinary".[3] People magazine also praised the film, writing: "Jamie Lee Curtis is just right as Stratten, and Bruce Weitz is a standout as her ex".[4] Movie critic Leonard Maltin described the film as "exploitative".[1]

Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story finished 27th in the Neilsen ratings. When the film was broadcast a second time on NBC in July 1983, it fared better by finishing fourth in the ratings.[2][5]

Release

The movie was first issued on VHS on September 1, 1998. It later was released on January 25, 2010 on DVD.

References
  1. Maltin, Leonard (1997). Leonard Maltin's 1998 Movie and Video Guide. Signet Books. p. 322. ISBN 0-451-19288-5.
  2. Peter Bogdanovich (1984). The killing of the unicorn: Dorothy Stratten (1960-1980). W. Morrow. p. 169. ISBN 0-688-01611-1.
  3. John J. O'Connor (October 30, 1981). "TV WEEKEND; TERROR IN FICTION AND FACT". New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  4. People November 2, 1981 Vol. 16 No. 18 page 6 "Picks & Pans Tube"
  5. (3 August 1983). NBC squeezed into the No. 1 spot for network..., UPI (Nielsen ratings for July 1983 airing)
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