Monday, November 28, 2011

Battle of the Blondes: Julie Christie VS Diana Dors.


Julie Christie and Diana Dors, were both pop icons, from the "swinging London" era of the 1960s.

Julie Christie (born 14 April 1941), first major film role was in, The Fast Lady(1962). She first gained notice as Liz, the friend and would-be lover of, Billy Liar (1963).

Close friends with actress Goldie Hawn. The two women were introduced Warren Beatty in the late 1960s. Julie, also was best friends with actress Sharon Tate.

It was 1965 when Christie became known internationally in the film, Darling. Christie, next performed in the film, Doctor Zhivago (1965) and as Daisy Battles in, Young Cassidy. In 1966, the 25-year-old Christie was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role when she played a double role in, Fahrenheit 451 and won the Academy Award for Best Actress and BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Darling Later, she played Thomas Hardy's heroine Bathsheba Everdene in, Far from the Madding Crowd (1967) and the lead character, Petulia Danner in the film, Petulia (1968).

In the 1970s, Christie starred in smaller films such as, McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971), where her role as a 'madam' gained her a second Best Actress Oscar nomination, The Go-Between, Don't Look Now (1973), Shampoo (1975), Nashville, Demon Seed (1977), and Heaven Can Wait (1978). She moved to Hollywood and between 1967 and 1974 she had a on and off again relationship with Warren Beatty, who described her as "the most beautiful and at the same time the most nervous person I had ever known."


Doctor Zhivago(1965). Is a 20th century novel by Boris Pasternak, first published in 1957.


Billy Liar (1963). A film based on the novel by Keith Waterhouse. It was directed by John Schlesinger and stars Tom Courtenay as Billy and Julie Christie, played one of his three girlfriends. Mona Washbourne plays Mrs. Fisher and Wilfred Pickles played Mr. Fisher.






Diana Dors (23 October 1931 – 4 May 1984) was considered the English version of the blonde bombshells of Hollywood. She was trained at The Royal Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. She performed in her first film at the age of 15.

Following the success of British noir film, The Last Page(1952), producer Robert L. Lippert offered her a one-picture deal on one condition: that she divorce Dennis Hamilton Gittins, Dors refused. She landed a second Hollywood offer from Burt Lancaster for a lead role in, His Majesty O'Keefe(1954), but this time Hamilton turned down the part before she knew about it. She is best known by her fans for her performances in the films: Yield to the Night, The Amazing Mr. Blunden, The Unholy Wife and Timon of Athens.


An Alligator Named Daisy(1955). British comedy film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Donald Sinden, Jeannie Carson, James Robertson Justice, Diana Dors, Roland Culver and Stanley Holloway.




The Unholy Wife (1957). A color film noir drama film produced and directed by John Farrow at RKO Radio Pictures and released by Universal Pictures as RKO was in its final stages of closing down. The screenplay was written by William Durkee and Jonathan Latimer.

7 comments:

  1. Great bios, as usual, Dawn! For me, it's Julie Christie all the way! Diana Dors is just too earthy for me...

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  2. I have not yet seen any of Diana Dors movies. So.. I have no opinion on her films. I'm however looking forward to tonights "Battle of the Blondes".

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  3. Julie Christie for me too although I do have a soft spot for Diana Dors.
    My Dad actually remembers the time his school was one of the locations for a Diana Dors movie. Called It's A Grand Life it was filmed on location in Manchester, England in 1952/53.
    I've enjoyed your posts in this "Battle Of The Blondes" series Dawn, it's a shame it'll soon be over.

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  4. Paul, That really is neat that your Dad had the wonderful experience, of his school being one of the locations for a Diana Dors movie.

    Thank you. I hope there was a couple of "new to you" actress and or movie in the, "Battle Of The Blondes" series. Now, we need to have the other hair color's represented.

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  5. I think Julie Christie is the better actress of the two. Diana never did any thing for me except maybe want to change the channel. I think she only had two things going for her (think about it). Can't say she was much an actress either.

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  6. Tom, My favorite of the two actress is, Julie Christie.

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  7. Thanks enjoy your blog, rare pictures. Of the acclaimed actress
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    your informative. Blog show more
    rare pictures. Thank you.

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