It has taken a few days for Dash and Lilly to sink in. Many Parker fans have e-mailed their opinions of the movie to the site. While this isn’t a review of the movie, which was eagerly anticipated because Bebe Neuwirth was playing Dottie, I wanted to list a couple of points:
Bebe was wasted. She had about 10 minutes of screen time.
The screenplay gave her nothing to do except play the part of the good girlfriend.
Parker was portrayed as chirping goody-goody.
It was well documented that Dash and Dottie loathed each other (read the Meade bio).
Bebe looked great as Parker. Excellent wardrobe.
Historically inaccurate Part I: Dash says Parker reviewed “three of his books in the New Yorker” in a 1930 scene. The New Yorker wasn’t launched until 1925; Parker didn’t become the Constant Reader until October 1927.
Historically inaccurate Part II: In the 1952 scene, did Dottie look 59 years old? I don’t think so.
I enjoyed watching the movie, but I can’t recommend it. I say rent The Thin Man instead, and hope that Bebe brings Parker to the screen again in a bigger role.
