Designer Double-Dip: Greensleeves

This is the 800th post here at Poseidon's Underworld. Typically, we'd attempt something special for the occasion, but these days it's everything I can do to post AT ALL! So at least we're doing something that has become a bit of a feature here over the years; the reuse of movie costumes. In our recycling age, it's nice to know that things didn't always just rot on a rack somewhere and were in fact often repurposed (and also often went undetected.) The project in question is a 1972 TV-movie called Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole. This was intended to lead to further installments for its legendary star, but fate stepped in and prevented that.

Miss Susan Hayward, an Oscar-winner and a highly popular star of the 1950s and '60s, starred in the Aaron Spelling-Leonard Goldberg production. Hayward had worked on what would be her final feature film (The Revengers, 1972) and had earlier in the year stepped into another telefilm (Heat of Anger) for an ailing Barbara Stanwyck. Thus, 1972 was quite the busy year for someone who'd been off-screen entirely since her delicious portrayal of Helen Lawson in Valley of the Dolls (1967.)

This was a total showcase for Hayward, allowing her to stretch some acting muscles that had been in dry dock for five years. She played a research physician who goes back into practicing medicine after the untimely death of her husband. Although she was clearly the star of the project, she was surrounded on all sides by other skilled performers; chiefly Darren McGavin as her cranky employer. Also on hand were Maidie Norman, Beverly Garland, Dane Clark and others.

Hayward's typical vividly red hair/wig was wisely softened to an understated golden hue for this which helped bring out her still lovely face without the distraction of a heavy and obviously dyed deeper color.

Costumer for this project was none other than Nolan Miller, who would soar to fame a decade later when Spelling-Goldberg retained him for their splashy prime-time soap Dynasty. Miller had a knack for selecting clothing that flattered and complemented female stars of a certain age. He'd dressed most of the golden age gals of Hollywood who were still appearing in public and before the cameras, including the aforementioned Stanwyck.

As an aside, my favorite supporting performance in this movie came from Jeannette Nolan. Nolan played any and every type of female persona imaginable over the course of her long, busy career and she could really turn on the ham when she chose to. But here she is simply stunning in an affecting, understated portrayal that nearly got me crying!

If Ross Hunter isn't producing your projects, the next best thing for those who still wish to be presented appealingly is Aaron Spelling. Hayward never delved into the hag horror genre the way so many of her contemporaries did. (Valley of the Dolls wasn't Shakespeare, but she wasn't hitting anyone with a shovel or serving up dead rats at least! LOL) Looking at her here at 54, it's hard to believe this was her final role and that she'd be felled by brain cancer a scant less than three years later. But anyway... onto the reason for the post!

At the end of the movie, Hayward wears a beige trench coat for a lengthy amount of time. Under it is a dress we barely get to see in its entirety. It's a sort of army green knit with three-quarter sleeves and a belted waist. A shimmering gold necklace has been paired with it to give it some kick. Where had I seen this before....??

Seen from the back here, just as it was in the inset of the photo above, the mystery is solved. No, it wasn't a prior costume of Miss Hayward's.

The Donfeld creation was worn by Luciana Paluzzi in 1961's Return to Peyton Place. It is seen in a not-too-lengthy scene in which Paluzzi tries to defend herself against some devious accusations from her conniving (and utterly delicious) mother-in-law from hell, Mary Astor.

The three inches shorter and far less buxom Hayward is fairly swimming in the thing, even though a certain amount of tailoring was necessary. (A short collar was fashioned from material drawn in to improve the fit.) But those shoulder pads and three-quarter sleeves (now sans the gloves that Paluzzi was wearing) are the giveaway.

Bond Girl Paluzzi had boobs for days when she was placed in the dress.

(I can NEVER be sated in my thirst for Mary Astor in this movie. She's STAGGERING throughout the entire thing!)

She was given a gold accented necklace, too, but of a different sort than Hayward.

Paluzzi in a promotional shot for the movie.

Hayward passed away FAR too prematurely. Even though it was never meant to be so, Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole was a lovely send-off to her remarkable career with its loving camera and lighting and its gutsy, yet sentimental, tone. Why it cannot be out on DVD in a more cleaned up version is another one of those confounding mysteries. Perhaps it has something to do with the original song (sung by Dusty Springfield) that is featured prominently a couple of times. A rather fuzzy version can be seen here, though it's actually clearer than the one I viewed when I made these screencaps.