Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story

Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story (1981)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Decent made-for-TV drama shows Dorothy Stratten (Jamie Lee Curtis) going from a small town waitress to the Playmate of the Year. Stratten, a natural beauty, begins her career thanks in large part to a con man (Bruce Weitz) that she meets. He manages to get her into the pages of Playboy and soon he becomes more and more possessive of the young woman. Feeling she owes him something, Dorothy agrees to marry him but things take a turn for the worse.

DEATH OF A CENTERFOLD certainly isn't an award-winner as it's held up by a lot of things that usually hold these types of movies back. If you're unfamiliar with the story then this here is a decent introduction to the events but there's no question that more could have been done with Stratten's story.

I think the strongest thing going for the film are some of the performances with Weitz easily stealing the picture as the controlling husband. I really thought the actor nailed every aspect of the role from the more charming moments to the ones where he slowly begins to break in regards to how much madness he can present. There are a few scenes where you pretty much see him go from hot to cool back to hot within the matter of seconds and I thought the actor pulled it off extremely well. Robert Reed also stands out in his role as a producer who takes Stratten in towards the end of her life. Mitchell Ryan is also good in his role as Hugh Hefner. As for Curtis, I thought she wasn't that strong in the lead but she manages to have a few nice moments including the final portion of the film. I thought she handled the finale quite well.

Most of the flaws are typical of this type of made-for-TV movie. There's certainly no great demand for high-art so you can't expect too much drama or well-made moments. Instead of a complete story we're pretty much given the highlights of the story and of course there are the over-dramatic moments of Stratten's aunt "fearing" for the safety of her. Another weak aspect is that the direction really just doesn't stand out or create anything that we haven't seen before. Even by 1981 the type of film showing women abused were pretty much done to death and this one here doesn't do anything fresh or original with it.

DEATH OF A CENTERFOLD pretty much set out to be the first movie on the market dealing with a subject that made a lot of headlines. This film was on television barely a year after Stratten was murdered so the producers at least got the film noticed while the headlines were still hot. With that said, there's certainly nothing awful about the film even though it falls well short of being anything special.

Jamie Lee Curtis is not only a terrible actress, but also devoid of charm and attractiveness. She was terribly miscast. She inherited none of her parent's charisma or looks, let alone talent.

This terrible TV movie is an insult to poor Dorothy. It is painful to watch.

Curtis should stick to cheap horror movies, which she has done for the most part. Now her career is reduced to be a lookalike stand in for Anderson Cooper.

Star 80 is a far superior film, though I don't think either one do Dorothy Justice. Both are basically exploiting the lady's tragic end.

Rest in peace Dorothy. You deserved so much better.

Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story tells a tragic real-life tale with seriousness and sympathy, but it's limited by its made-for-TV roots. Centered on the brief life and murder of rising Playboy model Dorothy Stratten, the film attempts to explore themes of control, fame, and vulnerability. Jamie Lee Curtis delivers a commendable performance, bringing quiet strength to the role, and the film's intentions feel sincere. Unfortunately, its impact is softened by a formulaic script and flat production.

As a dramatization, it leans heavily into the melodrama at times, occasionally sacrificing nuance in favor of tension. Some character portrayals, particularly of Paul Snider, border on caricature, even though the film clearly wants to be a cautionary story about obsession and exploitation. There are moments that land emotionally, but others feel rushed or underdeveloped, especially considering the complexity of the real people involved.

Despite its flaws, the film still resonates in moments-largely thanks to Curtis, who makes Dorothy more than just a headline. It's not a great biopic, but it's a passable one that at least tries to give its subject a voice. For viewers interested in true stories from Hollywood's darker corners, Death of a Centerfold may be worth watching, but it doesn't quite do full justice to the story it's telling.

I loved it all the way up to the tragic, horrible end! If not for the terrible-real-life ending, this movie had all the makings of a fairytale! I just LOVE the way these old TV movies were made- with lots of warmth and romanticism, right down to the sexy sax muzak. Just lovely!

There was hope up until the very last minute, that Dorothy would reconsider and just not see Paul anymore, but alas. This shows that not all fairytales have happy endings. But up until then, what a great movie with a terrific cast! Jamie Lee Curtis, while not quite right for the part, did a terrific job, and I recommend this to all fellow JLC fans. Also of note is "The Brady Bunch" dad, Robert Reed; what a treat seeing him too.

Fab film from the golden age of made-for-TV movies!

There was also a theatrically released film about Dorothy made a couple years later, called "Star 80" directed by "Cabaret"'s Bob Fosse, which would make a great double-feature with this one.

R. I. P. Dear Dorothy Stratten.

Why did they change Bogdonavitch to someone named David Palmer? This version made little sense. Star 80 is the far better film.