RIPJean Simmons

[EricMontreal22]

Not a huge name in soaps, but she was in the primetime Dark Shadows. Another huge talent lost (I remember her most from the movie version of Guys and Dolls, and her role in the London cast and CD of Sondheim's A Little Night Music)

[Chris B]

I remember her from Dark Shadows and that great film where she played a preacher. What was it? Elmer Gantry? I believe Shirley Jones was in it as well and Burt Lancaster. So sad to hear she's passed away as well!

RIP to Jean Simmons

[Ann_SS]

I remember her from Dark Shadows and other roles.

RIP, Jean.

[EricMontreal22]

She was also in Spartacus--I forgot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLooMzB_lgc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfpTKNwWrgE

[alphanguy74]

What a great actress. Believe it or not, THIS was my first exposure to her, playing the iconic character Helen Lawson (this is the mini-series opening credits, the title song is WONDERFUL):

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[EricMontreal22]

I adore Dionne (though more her 60sBacharach era) and had never heard of this show, or song! Thanks!

In another thread we were talking about the classy Grande Dames of 80s prime time soaps--Jean woulda been ideal.

DarkShadows bit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc7OTI3nRjY

[alphanguy74]

Eric, it was a two part (4 hours), made for TV mini-series that aired in 1981. A really good remake, IMO... Lisa Hartman as Neely O'hara, and Jean as Helen Lawson were great together.

[Paul Raven]

Jean Simmons had other soap connections-

She also appeared in the short lived primetime soap Angel Falls with Kim Cattrall,James Brolin and Peggy Lipton as well as the primetime soap pilot of Midas Valley with Robert Stack.Also a TV movie Golden Gate that I think was a pilot for a soap about a publishing company.Jean's co stars included Richard Kiley.John Saxon and Melanie Griffith.

On the movie side I loved her in the 1947 film Uncle Silas.

[DRW50]

Jean was a huge fan of the original Dark Shadows. She watched with her daughter, I believe. So to see her playing Liz was a nice treat. I wish she'd had more to do, but she brought real grace and class, and in that way was a worthy successor to Joan Bennett.

She was also great in The Actress, with Spencer Tracy.

[MarkH]

OMG, off thread but those credits/cast were AMAZING. PURE 1970s television cheese!

That was so ornate, it MUST have been intended as a possible pilot, right?

I only saw Susann's ex-husband as Executive Producer, but I'm shocked Aaron Spelling wasn't behind this? That just seemed like a total Aaron Spelling deal.

And Lisa Hartman! I will love Ciji till my dying day!

Back to the thread: Simmons was pretty remarkable. Am I wrong, or was she also in Upstairs Downstairs?

[DaytimeFan]

I don't think she was in Upstairs Downstairs, though her North and South co-star, B&B's Lesley Anne Down, most certainly was. Sad for Lesley Anne, she was very good friends with Jean Simmons.

I wasn't super familiar with Simmons' work, but I loved her in The Thorn Birds as the pathetic Fiona Cleary.

[alphanguy74]

Mark, as far I know... it wasn't intended to be a pilot, just another gloriously trashy mini series that we all love so much. If I remember right, they did this remake of Valley Of The Dolls, because of the raging success of "Scruples" the year before which starred Linday Wagner and Barry Bostwick.

[EricMontreal22]

Aww Carol Lawrence the original West Side Story, Maria

How do you get guest star status for a miniseries?? LOL

[MoTheGreat]

I love Guys & Dolls.

[Cat]

I loved Jean Simmons as Estella in Great Expectations:

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She was only 14 and already very beautiful. Later in life she played Miss Haversham in another adaption of GE.

She also had a small role in my favorite film, Black Narcissus (1940s trailer attached):

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She was married to Stewart Granger, the hammiest actor of the 50s (and that's saying something). Apparently, he was making Bowhani Junction with Ava Gardner in 1956 and Simmons was in Guys and Dolls with Frank Sinatra at the same time. Simmons and Sinatra started an affair and Gardner, incensed, tried to start a revenge affair with Granger. Granger claims he refused her advances. Snort.