Details

Release year: 1963

Storyline

Lila Green is an insecure and aging showgirl for Madame Olga's stage shows. When her boyfriend, Rick, runs off with the show's money, Madame Olga and Ronny let Lila go. Lila goes to stay with her old neighbors, Helen Bard and her teenage son, Kenny. Lila decides to go out and get a regular job and try and live a normal life. All seems well, until Lila and Kenny stop fighting their attraction for one another.

Top credits

Directors

Franklin J. Schaffner

Writers

Cast

Joanne Woodward — Lila Green
Richard Beymer — Kenny Baird
Claire Trevor — Helen Baird
Carol Lynley — Miriam Caswell

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Awards

0 wins & 1 nomination

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Did you know

• The role of Lila, washed-up showgirl of the title, was originally intended for Marilyn Monroe, who was replaced by Joanne Woodward upon Marilyn's death. The ironic opening sequence (undoubtedly rewritten after Miss Monroe's death) has the bleached blonde title character, upon her arrival in Hollywood, being mistaken for Jayne Mansfield by a tourist.

• The original New York production under a different title was "A Loss of Roses" by William Inge which opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theater in New York on November 28, 1959 and ran for 25 performances. It starred Betty Field, Carol Haney, and Warren Beatty.

• In 1961, Natalie Wood was announced for this film (then called Celebration), as a re-teaming with her West Side Story co-star Richard Beymer. Presumably, she would played a beefed up version of supporting role that eventually went to Carol Lynley.