Based on the Jacqueline Susann’s 1973 bestseller, the movie “Once is Not Enough” introduces us to January Wayne (waif-like Deborah Raffin, the embodiment of that seventies look), the sheltered daughter of once‑legendary Hollywood producer Mike Wayne (Kirk Douglas). After a long recovery from a motorcycle accident, January returns to New York to discover that her father—now financially ruined—has married the fabulously wealthy and domineering Deirdre Milford Granger (Alexis Smith) to secure his career and lifestyle. Dierdre, having survived numerous husbands, is involved in a lesbian affair with Karla (Melina Mercouri, who should have known better) and has very definite plans for her new stepdaughter!
The third and final Susann blockbuster to be given the big expensive Hollywood treatment, Once is Not Enough benefits from a strong performance by Smith – her first appearance on screen in sixteen years – and an impressive one by Brenda Vaccaro as a high-powered magazine editor – Vaccaro received an Oscar nomination for her performance. Ironically, because the movie has a tiny modicum of taste, it has never developed the Midnight cult following that made the infinitely more dreadful Valley of the Dolls immortal.
Streaming on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.
Valley of the Dolls: A Queer Film Legacy – TheBrownees
https://thebrownees.net/85-queer-films-made-under-the-hays-code-1934-1968/
https://thebrownees.net/85-queer-films-from-the-new-hollywood-1968-1980/
https://thebrownees.net/the-great-cinematographers-of-hollywoods-golden-age/
