[Dixielandjazz] Piper Laurie and Lee Wiley

Bill Haesler bhaesler at bigpond.net.au
Thu Jan 29 15:43:06 PST 2009


Dear friends,
The other night we watched an obscure 1957 Paul Newman film "Until  
They Sail" which included actress Piper Laurie.
Which reminded me of TV film shown in Australia in the 60s.
I tried to track down, without success, many years ago. Then forgot  
about it.
Now, prompted, and with the miracle that is the internet, I have  
finally located it.
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre. "Something About Lee  
Wiley" (1963)
"A story about the corrosive power of money, with Piper Laurie as a  
jazz chanteuse blinded (literally and metaphorically) in a horse- 
riding accident who finds herself approached by a wealthy  
industrialist (Claude Rains, in one of his final performances) who  
wishes to buy her as a trophy bride for his playboy son."
Starring Piper Laurie, Claude Rains, Steven Hill, music by Benny  
Carter and directed by Sydney Pollack.
Original Air Date: 11 October 1963 (Season 1, Episode 2).
A Lee Wiley entry at <jazz.com> includes the following:
"In the 1960s, Wiley seems to have retired from the public eye, with  
the exception of a television movie called Something About Lee Wiley ,  
which aired on the Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater show. This  
dramatization of her life was directed by a young Sydney Pollack, with  
actress Piper Laurie playing Wiley. Its soundtrack of Wiley’s hits  
piqued the public's interest and eventually helped bring her back to  
performing in the early 1970s."

Does anyone remember it?
More importantly, does anyone have a copy?
For research purposes, of course and for which I am happy to pay.
I did locate a 'rare video' source which had it on DVD for US$14.95,  
but they seem to have gone out of business.
Very kind regards,
Bill.

  
  


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