Another was the Roger Ebert-pennedBeyond the Valley of the Dolls, which was also critically derided upon its release.
But if the onscreen hijinks were wild, the production was a circus.
Vidal liked Giler’s version, but that mutual good feeling didn’t last for long.
Raquel Welch in a publicity still for ‘Myra Breckenridge’.Everett Collection
It definitely did not do the latter.
Welch reportedly spent much of the production in her dressing room, crying.
Each day she showed up to the studio surrounded by young, muscular men.
Raquel Welch and Roger Herren in ‘Myra Breckenridge’.Everett Collection
West, perhaps threatened by the sex symbol du jour Welch, was reliably unfriendly to her younger costar.
The two women never shared a single frame of the film, despite appearing in the same scenes.
Sarne reportedly spent up to seven hours at a time justthinking, while holding up production.
Raquel Welch (left) an Farrah Fawcett in ‘Myra Breckenridge’.Everett Collection
He once spent eight hours photographing a cake.
Inevitably, Zanuck shut down production, forcing Sarne to crib together whatever he had.
The final product was, unsurprisingly, universally loathed.Timesaidit was “about as funny as a child molester.”
Mae West (left) and Raquel Welch in a publicity still for ‘Myra Breckenridge’.Everett Collection
Vidal outright disowned it.Myra Breckinridge, made on a budget of $5 million, grossed $4.5 million.
Sarne’s name became anathema in Hollywood.
Loretta Young also successfully sued to have her scenes removed.
(l-r) John Huston, Raquel Welch, director Michael Sarne, Mae West, and Rex Reed.Everett Collection
And make it the funny, erudite movie it really should be."
