Tag Archives: The Sound of Music

Discrimination. But I’m Not Bitter

Not too bitter.

Well, yes. I am bitter. 

Why couldn’t they have hired ME for The Sound of Music, instead of that Julie!

I knew there was a reason I left all those photos locked away in that box and didn’t open them for decades. Too many bad memories! But then I took out that Black Sunday photo (I liked that one) and then ol’ Hatchet Jack made that nice flowers picture which reminded me of testing for The Sound of Music.

And then I found these other screen test shots with the rest of the cast.

from the "So Long" scene, with me standing on the floor.

from the “So Long” scene, with me standing on the floor.

When we tried that, they said I looked like one of the kids.

The "So Long" scene, with me standing on a box, beside Chris Plummer.

The “So Long” scene, with me standing on a box, beside Chris Plummer.

They weren’t too keen on that shot, either. They said it looked like I was standing on a box. Which I was, but still, it wasn’t nice to say that.

We then tried this shot outside, and I thought it turned out very well. The way we were staring into one another’s eyes, I think the love connection between the characters was nicely captured.

My screen test outside on the patio with the rest of the cast of The Sound of Music.

My screen test outside on the patio with the rest of the cast of The Sound of Music.

But the next day, when Chris Plummer complained that his neck was aching, after that Julie had arrived, and then she went over and started rubbing his neck, I kind of got the message that they were going do discriminated against me because I am height efficient.

What a disappointment. That film could have re-launched my career. And in a good way, too.

Still Nice and Wholesome, Just Not Seen That Way

After I wrote about my screen test for Mario Bava and his film Black Sunday back in 1960, and posted a still photo from that test, my dear friend ol’ Hatchet Jack made a beautiful piece of artwork  and shared it with the world for all to see. I was quite taken aback. That ol Hatchet Jack certainly has gotten over the severe trouncing I gave him in Roshambo.

But I am not one to gloat.

Here is the picture he made of me. And he said some nice words about me too.

A beautiful picture of me, made by my friend, ‘ol Hatchet Jack

This immediately reminded me of another film I tried out for, shortly after my famous role in that Twilight Zone  episode (the one that made me typecast for life as a cute-little-doll-that-kills) , where I would have run through a mountain meadow, laughing and singing with other children.

Now, again, I’m not one to harp on the same old issue over and over again, but they did finally give the role to someone who was taller than me (by a head or three), but I still think you can imagine my beautiful voice ringing throughout the mountain meadows just as prettily has hers, and I could have shot the kissing scenes with Captain von Trapp using some lifts or maybe standing on a little box or something. Or camera angles. I would have just had to be careful not to stand too close to Gretl (or especially Liesl) when I was giving her matronly advice. It would have worked.

Anyway, I tested for the role on a Tuesday, and that Julie girl showed up the next day, saw my screen test, and went ahead and down-right mimicked me, in style and pose and everything.

Jinxed by Julie, another screen test photo, this from  1965 (animated GIF by iamTalkyTina)

Jinxed by Julie, another screen test photo, this from 1965 (animated GIF by iamTalkyTina)

AND SHE GOT THE ROLE! Can you believe it???

I still think my beautiful red, flowing locks were much nicer than her Joan-of-Arc-I’m-a-nun-hack-job haircut.

I did enjoy hanging out in Austria that summer, though. Although when they offered me a bit part as the lonely goatherd’s love interest, I told them to shove it!  Sheesh!