Warren's first movie, "Splendor in the Grass" with co-star
Natalie Wood,
was filmed from April 1960 - August 1960. During the filming, Natalie was
in a troubled first marriage to
Robert Wagner and Warren was engaged
to Joan Collins.
The movie went into post-production during which time Warren was cast
by Tennessee Williams in person (after a lot of persuasion by Warren
himself
) for the part of Italian gigolo Paulo Di Leo, in his second big
movie "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone" opposite big name
Vivien Leigh.
With Joan Collins, who also had to film in Europe, Warren moved to England
where much of "Mrs. Stone" would be shot. Filmed in late 1960/early 1961,
the movie was the second last movie of
Vivien Leigh.
She, at 47/48 years old, played the 50-ish widowed actress Karen Stone
(at the time that 50 was quite a lot older than it is these days) who falls prey
to the Contessa (Lotte Lenya) and one of her prettiest boys, gigolo
Paulo (Warren, then 24).
Although badly criticized in many reviews for his "awful" Italian accent, it must
be said that Tennessee Williams,
Vivien Leigh and some important critics were
very pleased with Warren's work.
Personally I was pleasantly surprised when I finally got to see and hear
this much criticized part of him. I've heard much worse attempts at
foreign accents, such as Kevin Kline ("French" in "French Kiss"),
Johnny Depp ("Spanish" in "Don Juan de Marco"),
Billy Zane ("Spanish"
in "Claim") etc.
Warren is exceptionally beautiful in this movie and so looks right for the
part of the sleezy, spoiled, lazy gigolo Paulo. The character is about as
far removed from his real personality as possible. As Paulo, Warren is a
lazy user, who smokes and drinks. Quiet Beatty in real life was and is
much more "wholesome" as far as such vices go, not being a smoker or
drinker. You can clearly see the movie is a product of its time, as
everybody constantly lights up a cigarette or is already smoking one!
Vivien Leigh is still beautiful, be it slightly older looking than she
was at that time. Thick layers of make-up cannot hide that fact.
I was especially amazed to see how much Vivien resembled Warren's
sister
Shirley MacLaine in some scenes!
You can clearly see the differences in the acting between the older
and younger generation in this movie. Lotte Lenya and
Vivien Leigh
both have a rather static, very stage-like way of acting, while Warren
is clearly of the looser, Method acting style. All in all, it is interesting to
view, but very, very slow for today's standards.
I think this is one of Tennessee Williams' plays that does not really
translate well to the screen. At least, not in this version by first time
director José Quintero, who up until then had only been an assistant
director. Warren knew from the get-go that the movie would not be
as good as it potentially could be, because of this.
Just having had his debut part directed by the legendary Elia Kazan,
his second movie was quite a letdown in the directorial department.
Vivien only had six more years to live after making this movie, in which
she filmed only one more time. At the time of filming, she'd just divorced
from Laurence Olivier after a 20 year marriage. Her health, both physical
and mental, starting to fail, she was quite fragile and somewhat demanding
toward Warren.
His fiancee, Joan Collins, visited the set and got the impression that
Vivien Leigh was really infatuated with Warren, despite the fact that
she was twice his age. Vivien, who had leading-man approval for this
movie, had personally insisted Warren be chosen, even if Tennessee
Willams would disagree.
She wasn't shy to admit in interviews she was smitten by the much
younger Warren. This is an actual quote from her>
"He is simply beautiful and perfect for the part. I'm drawn to his eyes, his long
eye-lashes and his mouth is very sensual.
I can see how easy it would be to fall for such physical splendor."
After shooting for the movie finished, Warren stayed on in Europe to
vacation in Rome without Joan who'd more or less ended their relationship
after Vivien's attentions for Warren on the set of Mrs. Stone became a bit
too much for her.
In Rome, Warren had a brief fling with Susan Strassberg. Then he had to
return home, to Los Angeles. But first he and Joan reconciled. Not as
lovers, but as friends. They continued living together until each had
found a new home.
Then he had to start promotion on "Splendor in the Grass" with
Natalie Wood,
now separated from
Robert Wagner.
During his promotional tour with Natalie, the two young and freshly single stars fell in love......
"Splendor" was released in the fall of 1961 and his debut was very well received.
Reviews for "Mrs. Stone", released in December of 1961, were much less
favorable, partly due to the movie's content.
The very puritanical critics mostly fell over the fact that the story was about
(a) male whore(s) with a female pimp (Lotte Lenya). Yep, times sure have changed.
Warren was shocked by the reviews and after his only other project of 1961,
"All Fall Down" (his third movie), he went into a deep hiatus and self analysis
period that lasted 3 years, contemplating his future in the movie business.
![Warren Beatty [Actor]](http://www.gossiprocks.com/forum/iconimages/hot-guys/warren-beatty-actor.gif)
Re: Warren Beatty [Actor]
Still, I prefer guys around that height over shorties (5'10" and below).
Warren, at about age 45, discussing director George Stevens.
