These Old Broads

In the late '90s, a not-yet-Elton-John-ish Carrie Fisher and Shirley MacLaine were attending a party thrown by Elizabeth Taylor when the conversation shifted to the obligatory, "It's so hard for older actresses to get good parts." Soon, Fisher whipped out a self-referential script loosely based on Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys" for Taylor, MacLaine, and her own mother, Debbie Reynolds (Lauren Bacall and Doris Day were touted as potential leads, but both passed on it). Even with several stars attached, the studios wouldn't touch it, fearing the only audience the film would find is, as Fisher joked, "a group of seniors huddled around the TV at the nursing home." Somehow or other, the project ended up at ABC as a movie-of-the-week with Joan Collins rounding out the cast.

The movie was filmed in 22 days in late 2000, and production apparently went off without a hitch -- all of the actors bragged about the movie and how much fun it was to make. Taylor, however, was wheelchair-bound by the time filming commenced, though they did their best to disguise it. Little did anyone know that it would wind up being her final movie role.

The film premiered on ABC in February 2001... and critics were absolutely merciless in their reviews, many denouncing the actresses for starring in such a campy, trashy movie, and some criticism was directed at ABC for running the movie in the "family hour."

If you like camp, the movie's a delight. There's jokes about sex, age, washed-up celebrities, the logistics of Hollywood, and inside jabs galore. All of the actresses appeared to be having a truly good time, and each role was tailored to each actress.

_____________________________________

ALTERNATE VERSIONS

_____________________________________

There are at least four different versions of the movie that have been released (the original ABC cut, the slightly shorter syndication version, the extended VHS release and the altered DVD version). The DVD is, for the first time, presented in its proper 1:77:1 aspect ratio and includes numerous additional gags. However, some of the footage from the original VHS release has been omitted.

Here's a rundown of the alternate scenes from the VHS version:

- The movie begins with an exclusive credits sequence underscored by a nearly-complete version of the song "Boy Crazy."

- While he's dropping her off, Kate leads Wesley in some breathing exercises.

- Piper's most men want "to die in the saddle" comment is extended and is followed by a reaction shot from Addie, rather than a one-liner.

- Immediately following Wesley's nightmare, there's an extra scene with the script girl stopping at each of the ladies' trailers.

- The club scene is drastically different. "Get Happy" plays out in two extended segments and the bulk of the footage of Wesley and Kate are alternate takes.

_____________________________________

MUSIC

_____________________________________