These Old Broads

I had been looking forward to this film ever since I first heard about Carrie Fisher's script. Unfortunately, the TV movie didn't live up to my expectations. It was great to see these legendary ladies working together, but the results were not as I had hoped. I don't know if it was the script or the directing, but most of the jokes fell flat. I know that Carrie Fisher had as hard a time getting the film made as the characters had in getting their reunion special aired. Studios wouldn't put up the money because they didn't think that it would be worth it. If the film was given the right director it could have been as witty and wicked as the 1939 classic "The Women" (Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell, Joan Fontaine, Mary Boland).

I believe that the Joan Collins role was originally intended for Lauren Bacall. When Bacall passed the role was offered to Julie Andrews, who also turned it down. I think that Tony Curtis was supposed to play the gangster lover and June Allyson was supposed to play the mother of the Joan Collins character. I can't help to wonder if all of these bail-outs had anything to do with the poor quality that was ultimately produced?

It wasn't all bad, though. There were some really funny moments. I enjoyed the camp factor of Debbie and Joan's performance in the gay club. These bigger-than-life legendary stars are practically drag queens, anyway. The gay subplot was pointless, however, without having been developed properly. Carrie Fisher did toss in some great zingers and one-liners.

I'd definitely watch this movie again some day, but I'll always be haunted by the thoughts of "what might have been"...

When you have stars of this caliber, who needs a real plot? They do terrific send ups of themselves and the result is a funny, funny film. The fact that Reynolds and Taylor got together on screen makes the experience even more memorable.

Don't go in expecting Shakespeare ... but sit back and enjoy the inside jokes and the incredible talent of four of the living legends of Hollywood.

And whatever you do, ignore the snide comments of the adolescent male critics who panned this as a "geriatric" outing. These guys can't stand the idea of having older women who aren't ashamed of their bodies -- they'd prefer them all to go hide away so the young nubile and witless wonders can fill the screen.

The "Old Broads" were playing themselves of course (or at least their public image) and a fabulous sendup it is. I thought it all hilarious and cheers to the ladies for their sense of humor. Maybe Liz was rather much with her obviously phony Brooklyn accent but it fit in with the camp sensibility.

I can't imagine why anyone finds the scene in the gay bar objectionable since it's no more "real" than the rest of the movie and fits in with the plot IMHO.

It's not Shakespeare but who cares?

January 20, 2017: In view of the events surrounding the recent day-apart deaths of Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds, I think it's time to put out a deluxe DVD reissue of this TV movie.

This is definitely the best made-for-TV movie that I have ever seen! Four of Hollywood's greatest stars, Shirley MacLaine, Debbie Reynolds, Joan Collins, and Elizabeth Taylor team up for this absolutely hilarious comedy. MacLaine, Reynolds, and Collins play three former movie stars who appeared together in a '60's musical entitled "Boy Crazy", and team up once again for a reunion special. They're all terrific, but it's Elizabeth Taylor's delightful performance as an eccentric Hollywood agent that is sure to stay with you long after the movie is over.

I hope they make a sequel! It would be such a great joy to see these four equally gifted ladies together again.

I stumbled upon the 2001 movie "These Old Broads" by random chance in 2022, and seeing that the movie had such an impressive cast list, of course I had to sit down and watch it. And honestly, then I hadn't even ever heard about this movie from writers Carrie Fisher and Elaine Pope prior to watching it.

And I will say that "These Old Broads", from director Matthew Diamond, was actually a rather enjoyable movie. Its storyline was pretty straight forward and somewhat on the upbeat side. So yeah, "These Old Broads" was a rather uplifting and positive movie that will put you in a good mood.

It should be said that the cast ensemble in "These Old Broads" was amazing. The fact that they had these impressive talents from yester year together was just downright impressive. I mean, with the likes of Shirley MacLaine, Debbie Reynolds, Joan Collins and Elizabeth Taylor then you really have an ensemble of the greatest of movie divas ever to grace the screen. And the movie also had the likes of Jonathan Silverman, Nestor Carbonell, Peter Graves and Pat Crawford Brown on the cast list. So there is a lot of talents here. And it was fun to see Carrie Fisher show up, even if just for a mere ten seconds or so.

I was genuinely entertained by "These Old Broads" and I found it to be a nice surprise of a movie. If you haven't already seen "These Old Broads", then you certainly should do so if you get the chance.

My rating of "These Old Broads" lands on a six out of ten stars.