Velvet (film)
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Velvet | |
---|---|
Aaron Spelling Productions | |
Original release | |
Network | ABC |
Release | August 27, 1984 |
Velvet is a 1984 American
Velvet was produced by Douglas S. Cramer and Aaron Spelling, who has been described as “the most prolific producer in TV history.” [2] Spelling is known for Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000), Charmed (1998-2006) and many other television programs from the 1970s to 2000's. “[Charlie’s Angels] was created by Aaron Spelling”,[3] which is the inspiration of Velvet. Charlie’s Angels introduced a new idea of characterization for female characters with independence: “Charlie’s Angels presented women as far more tough than did shows of the past.” [3] Nevertheless, it was still tainted by the unrealistic depiction of picture perfect women that were tough, but also still had overly exaggerated stereotypical obsession with themselves: “Charlie’s Angels is a show that focuses on beautiful women who are more interested in wearing designer clothes than in solving crimes.” [3] Velvet’s screenplay aimed to further relay the idea of tough female characters in an action genre, with less emphasis on the stereotypes of self-obsessed women.[3]
Plot
A group of four female government
Cast
- Leah Ayres as Cass Dayton
- Shari Belafonte as Julie Rhodes
- Mary-Margaret Humes as Lauren "Boots" Dawes
- Sheree J. Wilson as Ellen Stockwell
- Michael Ensign as Stefan
- Polly Bergen as Mrs Vance
- Leigh McCloskey as James Barstow
- Andrea Marcovicci as Erica Mueller
- Bruce Abbott as Breed
- Anthony De Longis as Rawls
- Judson Scott as Mats Edholm
- Bo Brundin as Professor Charles Vandemeer
- David Faustino as Billy Wandemeer
- Clyde Kusatsu as Dr Edward Yashima
- William Windom as Government Official
Casting
Leah Ayres' career debuted daytime television series The Edge of Night in the early part of the 1980s. Shortly after, she was cast as one of the lead roles in Velvet, a beautiful, secret government agent tasked to camouflage herself as an aerobics instructor.
Shari Belafonte joined the cast after her 1982 debut in If You Could See What I Hear, after mostly a modelling-based career. Her success as a model assisted in her casting in Velvet, as the four female secret agents were described as "unrealistically attractive."[5]
Similarly, Mary-Margaret Humes was cast after winning beauty contest Miss Florida USA in 1975.
The casting decisions made reflected the common theme in Charlie's Angels, of very attractive female protagonists.[3]
Velvet was Sheree J. Wilson's television debut.
Production
Velvet initially premiered in English on August 27, 1984 in color for the
The original running time was 100 minutes. Much of the film was shot at the
Music
The music in the film composed by Dominic Frontiere (The Outer Limits, The Rat Patrol) erred a suggestive tone: "The music on the soundtrack…tells us that tampering with the national defense may not be nice, but sexism is unforgiveable."[according to whom?][1]
Reception
Critical response
Bok[who?] for Variety noted; "The biggest drawback of the pilot was that the physical stunts performed by the four athletic women seemed too obviously the work of stunt people." Bok continued, "[Velvet] had the usual liberal dollops of slickness and posh locations that Aaron Spelling is noted fo...the Spelling veneer always suggests a fighting chance to get at least a moderate audience reaction, but in this instance, ABC passed on Velvet."[5]
As Velvet took upon inspiration from the unique independent portrayal of women in Charlie’s Angels in the 1970’s, John Corry for The New York Times noted "Velvet is almost interesting here; it is showing us the ideal American woman."[1]
Ernest Callenbach compared screenwriter Ned Wynn's work was compared positively to his successful father[who?]: "surprisingly well written: affluence, the sixties, drugs, sex, alcoholism like his father’s, done with wry humor now well in control."[7]
Television films for ABC Network
Velvet was released as a Television film exclusively for the American Broadcasting Company in 1984. It followed the weekly anthology series of ABC Movie of the Week which ran from 1969 to 1975. It encouraged the saga of movies that were named 'made-for-television.' These films typically had significantly lower budgets than blockbuster films, however notable directors and producers often jumped aboard these projects to boost their appeal. Filmmaker Stanley Kubrick directed the film Room 237, which was named in the top 10 best television movies by Rotten Tomatoes for Screen Rant. [8]
References
- ^ a b c Corry, John (1984). "TV Review; ABC's 'Velvet', Aerobics and Spying". The New York Times: 17.
- ^ Anonymous (2017). "Aaron Spelling". Adweek. 58 (31): 34.
- ^ a b c d e Inness, Sherrie A. (1999). Tough Girls: Women Warriors and Wonder Women in Popular Culture. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 31–49.
- ^ "The Internet Movie Database". IMDb.
- ^ a b Bok (September 5, 1984). "Television Reviews: Velvet". Variety. p. 64.
- ^ NorthStar Travel Media (1984). "The Westin Bonaventure". Meetings & Conventions: 52.
- ^ Callenbach, Ernest (1991). "We Will Always Live in Beverly Hills: Growing up Crazy in Hollywood by Ned Wynn". Film Quarterly: 33.
- ^ "The 10 Best TV Movies of All Time, According To Rotten Tomatoes". Screen Rant. 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
External links
- Velvet at TCMDB
- Velvet page at Charlie's Angels Fansite
- Velvet at IMDb
- Velvet at BFI