The Users (film)
Encyclopedia
The Users is a 1978
television film directed by Joseph Hardy
. The film, whose executive producer was Aaron Spelling
, is based on a Joyce Haber novel released in the same year. The film focuses on the insiders of the Hollywood film industry.
) is a prostitute
with class who is hired by film producer
Adam Baker (Hamilton
) to seduce Randy Brent (Curtis
), an actor who is working in Phoenix
on his latest film The Last Man. Since the death of his wife, who committed suicide by overdose seven years ago, Randy has retired from the screen and he is now seen as a has-been. The Last Man is his first venture since the tragedy, but he has trouble shooting the love scenes. Elena successfully seduces him and he soon falls in love with her. It does not take long before she moves in with him in his mansion in Hollywood
.
In Hollywood, she is immediately welcomed by all the insiders, including Randy's celebrity daughter Marina (Phillips
) and wealthy socialite Grace St. George (Fontaine
). Elena and Marina become close friends and Marina tells her about her disastrous love life, which exists mainly out of movie producers, who use her for their own gain. The only man she trusts is a man married to a powerful woman. Elena later learns from her masseur Harvey Parkes (Baseleon) that the married man is Adam, whose intimidating wife Nancy (Nye
) is aware of the affair.
It soon becomes clear to Elena that everyone in Hollywood is using each other for their own career. She spontaneously marries Randy in Las Vegas
and turns to Grace for help to become a Hollywood insider as well, visiting the right parties and wearing the right clothes. Meanwhile, Randy's film is nearing its release. Marty Lesky (Feinstein) is determined on releasing it as a made-for-tv movie, claiming it is too bad for a theatrical release. Elena and Marina try to prevent Randy from fading from the screen again and try to get him his next movie role before the film comes out.
Elena seduces Warren Ambrose (Buttons), a powerful studio owner whose newest project Rogue's Gallery promises to be a huge success. They film makers are reluctant to hire Randy, claiming Robert Redford
or Paul Newman
are more suited for the role. Warren suggests Elena to talk to Reade Jamieson (Forsythe
), the wealthy executive producer. They immediately feel attracted to each other and Reade tells her the man who is casting the roles is Henry Waller (McGavin
), the screen writer. She returns home and catches Randy with Andrew Lyons (Warner), a screen writer who wants to cast Randy in his newest project.
Elena, furious to find out this way about her husband's sexuality, leaves him. However, when she finds out that he tried to commit suicide later that evening, she takes him back. Meanwhile, Marina finds out Adam is just like any other man, when Nancy reveals that he only slept with her so she would play the female lead in Rogue's Gallery. With the help from Grace, Elena throws Henry a party, but he refuses to come, explaining he will not consider casting Randy. She visits him in his hotel and is successful in seducing home. She spends the night with him, thereby ensuring Randy the lead role. She returns home the next day and splits with Randy after giving him the news. In the end, Rogue's Gallery is a contender for the 51st Academy Awards
. Randy and Marina are both very famous again and Elena and Reade are happily married.
1978 in film
The year 1978 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 1 - Bob Dylan's film Renaldo and Clara, a documentary of the "Rolling Thunder Revue" tour premieres in Los Angeles, California....
television film directed by Joseph Hardy
Joseph Hardy (director)
Joseph Hardy is an American Tony Award-winning stage director, film director, television producer, and occasional performer....
. The film, whose executive producer was Aaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling was an American film and television producer. As of 2009, Spelling's eponymous production company Spelling Television holds the record as the most prolific television writer, with 218 producer and executive producer credits...
, is based on a Joyce Haber novel released in the same year. The film focuses on the insiders of the Hollywood film industry.
Plot
Elena Scheider (SmithJaclyn Smith
Jacquelyn Ellen "Jaclyn" Smith is an American actress and businesswoman. She is best-known for the role of Kelly Garrett in the television series Charlie's Angels, and was the only original female lead to remain with the series for its complete run...
) is a prostitute
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
with class who is hired by film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
Adam Baker (Hamilton
George Hamilton (actor)
George Stevens Hamilton is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Hamilton was the youngest son of bandleader George "Spike" Hamilton and his first wife, Ann Stevens . He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and lived in Blytheville, Arkansas...
) to seduce Randy Brent (Curtis
Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama...
), an actor who is working in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
on his latest film The Last Man. Since the death of his wife, who committed suicide by overdose seven years ago, Randy has retired from the screen and he is now seen as a has-been. The Last Man is his first venture since the tragedy, but he has trouble shooting the love scenes. Elena successfully seduces him and he soon falls in love with her. It does not take long before she moves in with him in his mansion in Hollywood
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
.
In Hollywood, she is immediately welcomed by all the insiders, including Randy's celebrity daughter Marina (Phillips
Michelle Phillips
Michelle Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the 1960s group The Mamas & the Papas, and is the last surviving original member of the group.-Early life:...
) and wealthy socialite Grace St. George (Fontaine
Joan Fontaine
Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland , known professionally as Joan Fontaine, is a British American actress. She and her elder sister Olivia de Havilland are two of the last surviving leading ladies from Hollywood of the 1930s....
). Elena and Marina become close friends and Marina tells her about her disastrous love life, which exists mainly out of movie producers, who use her for their own gain. The only man she trusts is a man married to a powerful woman. Elena later learns from her masseur Harvey Parkes (Baseleon) that the married man is Adam, whose intimidating wife Nancy (Nye
Carrie Nye
-Early life:Nye was born Caroline Nye McGeoy in Greenwood, Mississippi; her father was a vice president of a local bank. She attended Stephens College and then went on to the Yale School of Drama.-Career:...
) is aware of the affair.
It soon becomes clear to Elena that everyone in Hollywood is using each other for their own career. She spontaneously marries Randy in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and turns to Grace for help to become a Hollywood insider as well, visiting the right parties and wearing the right clothes. Meanwhile, Randy's film is nearing its release. Marty Lesky (Feinstein) is determined on releasing it as a made-for-tv movie, claiming it is too bad for a theatrical release. Elena and Marina try to prevent Randy from fading from the screen again and try to get him his next movie role before the film comes out.
Elena seduces Warren Ambrose (Buttons), a powerful studio owner whose newest project Rogue's Gallery promises to be a huge success. They film makers are reluctant to hire Randy, claiming Robert Redford
Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
or Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
are more suited for the role. Warren suggests Elena to talk to Reade Jamieson (Forsythe
John Forsythe
John Forsythe was an American stage, television and film actor. Forsythe starred in three television series, spanning four decades and three genres: as single playboy father Bentley Gregg in the sitcom Bachelor Father ; as the unseen millionaire Charles Townsend on the crime drama Charlie's...
), the wealthy executive producer. They immediately feel attracted to each other and Reade tells her the man who is casting the roles is Henry Waller (McGavin
Darren McGavin
Darren McGavin was an American actor best known for playing the title role in the television horror series Kolchak: The Night Stalker and his portrayal in the film A Christmas Story of the grumpy father given to bursts of profanity that he never realizes his son overhears...
), the screen writer. She returns home and catches Randy with Andrew Lyons (Warner), a screen writer who wants to cast Randy in his newest project.
Elena, furious to find out this way about her husband's sexuality, leaves him. However, when she finds out that he tried to commit suicide later that evening, she takes him back. Meanwhile, Marina finds out Adam is just like any other man, when Nancy reveals that he only slept with her so she would play the female lead in Rogue's Gallery. With the help from Grace, Elena throws Henry a party, but he refuses to come, explaining he will not consider casting Randy. She visits him in his hotel and is successful in seducing home. She spends the night with him, thereby ensuring Randy the lead role. She returns home the next day and splits with Randy after giving him the news. In the end, Rogue's Gallery is a contender for the 51st Academy Awards
51st Academy Awards
The 51st Academy Awards were presented April 9, 1979 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. The ceremonies were presided over by Johnny Carson....
. Randy and Marina are both very famous again and Elena and Reade are happily married.
Cast
- Jaclyn SmithJaclyn SmithJacquelyn Ellen "Jaclyn" Smith is an American actress and businesswoman. She is best-known for the role of Kelly Garrett in the television series Charlie's Angels, and was the only original female lead to remain with the series for its complete run...
as Elena Scheider, a prostitute who dreams of a glamorous life in Hollywood. - Tony CurtisTony CurtisTony Curtis was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama...
as Randall 'Randy' Brent, an actor who was once very famous, but is now a has-been. - John ForsytheJohn ForsytheJohn Forsythe was an American stage, television and film actor. Forsythe starred in three television series, spanning four decades and three genres: as single playboy father Bentley Gregg in the sitcom Bachelor Father ; as the unseen millionaire Charles Townsend on the crime drama Charlie's...
as Reade Jamieson, a powerful business magnateBusiness magnateA business magnate, sometimes referred to as a capitalist, czar, mogul, tycoon, baron, oligarch, or industrialist, is an informal term used to refer to an entrepreneur who has reached prominence and derived a notable amount of wealth from a particular industry .-Etymology:The word magnate itself...
who is the executive producer of Rogue's Gallery. - Michelle PhillipsMichelle PhillipsMichelle Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the 1960s group The Mamas & the Papas, and is the last surviving original member of the group.-Early life:...
as Marina Brent, Randy's daughter who is an actress as well. - George HamiltonGeorge Hamilton (actor)George Stevens Hamilton is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Hamilton was the youngest son of bandleader George "Spike" Hamilton and his first wife, Ann Stevens . He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and lived in Blytheville, Arkansas...
as Adam Baker, a film producer who has an affair with Marina. - Joan FontaineJoan FontaineJoan de Beauvoir de Havilland , known professionally as Joan Fontaine, is a British American actress. She and her elder sister Olivia de Havilland are two of the last surviving leading ladies from Hollywood of the 1930s....
as Grace St. George, a wealthy socialite who knows all the gossip in Hollywood. - Darren McGavinDarren McGavinDarren McGavin was an American actor best known for playing the title role in the television horror series Kolchak: The Night Stalker and his portrayal in the film A Christmas Story of the grumpy father given to bursts of profanity that he never realizes his son overhears...
as Henry Waller, the writer of the novel Rogue's Gallery and its screenplay. - Red Buttons as Warren Ambrose, the owner of a film studio who uses his position to seduce women.
- Alan Feinstein as Marty Lesky, a press agentPress agentA press agent, or flack, is a professional publicist who acts on behalf of his or her client on all matters involving public relations. Press agents are typically employed by public personalities and organizations such as performers and businesses...
and lawyerLawyerA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who is known as an infamous womanizer. - Carrie NyeCarrie Nye-Early life:Nye was born Caroline Nye McGeoy in Greenwood, Mississippi; her father was a vice president of a local bank. She attended Stephens College and then went on to the Yale School of Drama.-Career:...
as Nancy Baker, Adam's wealthy and intimidating wife, who is aware of his affair with Marina. - Michael Baseleon as Harvey Parkes, the Brent's masseur who knows all the latest gossip.
- John PleshetteJohn PleshetteJohn Pleshette is an American actor, perhaps best known for being an original cast member of the long-running primetime television drama Knots Landing playing Richard Avery...
as Kip Nathan, the director of The Last Man. - Joanne Linville as Elena's Mother, who is under the care of Elena since her health worsened.
- Douglas Warner as Andrew Lyons, a gayHomosexualityHomosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
screenwriter who has affairs with several powerful Hollywood men. - Judy LandersJudy LandersJudy Landers is an American film and television actress.-Early years:Landers was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was raised in Rockland County, New York. She is the daughter of Ruth Landers, and is the younger sister of fellow actress Audrey Landers...
as Merry Redfield, an aspiring actress.