Movie Star

Jean Seberg's "Mousey" Co-Star Kirk Douglas Dies at 103

Actor Kirk Douglas died on Wednesday, February 5th according to his son, actor Michael Douglas. He was 103.

“It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103,” son Michael Douglas said in a statement obtained by People magazine. “To the world, he was a legend, an actor from the Golden Age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to.”

It took several months, many years ago, of letter writing and faxing back and forth, but Jean Seberg's biographer Garry McGee was able to have a telephone conversation with Mousey director Dan Petrie, Sr. for the book biography he was working on, Jean Seberg -- Breathless. In the meantime, the movie Petrie made with Kirk Douglas and Jean Seberg (Mousey) had played on cable and McGee sent him a copy as an early thank you for his time. "I wondered who sent that," he said when we finally spoke. "I haven't seen it in years, and didn't have a copy in my collection. Thank you for doing that." 

 

Mousey is the nickname of a timid and introverted biology teacher whose wife divorces him and remarries, taking their son with her. The son of whom he is so proud, however, is not his child: Mousey had married his wife after she became pregnant by another man. The loss of his wife and beloved stepson turns the humiliated man into psychotic stalker bent on revenge.

 

In the United States, Mousey aired on ABC-TV as part of a weekly series of thrillers in 1974. Outside the U.S. it received a theatrical release under the title Cat and Mouse. "It wasn't very good," Petrie said to McGee. "We did our very best and made it as scary as it could possibly be, but I don't think the script was too solid."

 

Petrie enjoyed working with the cast. Douglas delivered as always, and Seberg acceptable. "It really wasn't a demanding role (for her). She had to show 'fear' and she could handle that quite easily. She came ready with her lines memorized and didn't put any demands on me at all," he said. Douglas, however, wished to explore the role more, and Petrie allowed him to expand upon what was written resulting in a memorable performance that they both felt was right for the work. Seberg and Douglas got along during the filming as both were professionals and understood what was expected of them.

 

Petrie directed such theatrical and television films as A Raisin in the Sun, Sybil, Eleanor and Franklin, and Resurrection. He died in 2004. Douglas made more than 90 movies from the 1940s through 2000s including Spartacus, Paths of Glory, The Bad and the Beautiful, Lonely are the Brave, Champion, and Lust for Life among other classics spreading throughout several genres and extraordinary performances.

The Hollywood Reporter noted: "Nominated three times for best actor by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — for Champion (1949), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and Lust for Life (1956) — Douglas was the recipient of an honorary Oscar in 1996. Arguably the top male star of the post-World War II era, he acted in more than 80 movies before retiring from films in 2004."

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The award-winning documentary Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg tells the true story of Hollywood and heartbreak, beginning when an unknown 17-year-old Iowa girl who beat out 18,000 actresses to play Saint Joan in Otto Preminger's 1957 film. The documentary goes behind the scenes of her rocky life in the international film spotlight, her civil rights activism that drew FBI attention, and her mysterious death in Paris in 1979 - deemed a "probable suicide." Produced by Emmy-nominated filmmakers Garry McGee (McMarr Ltd.), and Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle (Fourth Wall Films).

Visit JeanSebergMovie for updates on the documentary's news, glimpses behind-the-scenes, and FINALLY the film's release via broadcast, screenings and DVD.

If you would like to make a contribution to the Movie Star: the Secret Lives of Jean Seberg documentary project and add your name to the credits, there is still time and every bit helps! Donations of $100 or more can be tax-deductible.  Visit HOW TO CONTRIBUTE by clicking HERE.  And are we ever grateful!

 

Generous Cash Match Fundraising Campaign brings "Movie Star" Closer to Finish Line

Publicity still of Jean Seberg in her critically-acclaimed role in "Lilith".

A new fundraising campaign is underway for the final phase of distribution for the documentary feature film Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg. Donations toward the $5,000 goal support a portion of the costs of final legal fees, licensing, French translation, DVD authoring & release of the documentary. A generous pledge from a donor to match every dollar raised up to $2,500, means just $2,500 is needed to reach our goal.

After two decades of research and writing, fundraising, interviewing, production and editing, film festival and other screenings of previews of the work-in-progress, producers Garry McGee and Kelly & Tammy Rundle are looking forward to finally bringing Jean Seberg's unique and compelling story to an audience eager to hear the true story about the Actress, Activist and Icon.  

Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg is the first documentary film to focus on the private side of the world-famous actress from Marshalltown, Iowa. The film examines Seberg's very public American and International film career (Breathless, Lilith, Paint Your Wagon, Airport), civil rights era activism, and her mysterious and untimely death in Paris. Movie Star features exclusive interviews with Jean's family, friends, and colleagues, as well as personal photographs, family home movie footage, and film clips.

Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg has been one of the most challenging projects we have worked on," said co-producer Tammy Rundle. "It has taken longer than  anticipated to complete, and yet that has worked in their favor."

"As a result, we secured several compelling new interviews, located more visual materials and resources to include in the film, and we have built a following of Jean Seberg fans eagerly anticipating the release of the DVD in the U.S. and internationally," said co-director Garry McGee.

"Fundraising for independent film projects is always the most challenging obsticle we face," said co-director Kelly Rundle. "As filmmakers dedicated to our subjects, the passage of time does not discourage us. It hardens our resolve. We are very pleased to be so close to crossing the finish line."

Watch the "Pitch Video" and the check out how to donate to the "Movie Star" fundraising campaign and the special perks offered, CLICK HERE!

The award-winning documentary Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg tells the true story of Hollywood and heartbreak, beginning when an unknown 17-year-old Iowa girl who beat out 18,000 actresses to play Saint Joan in Otto Preminger's 1957 film. The documentary goes behind the scenes of her rocky life in the international film spotlight, her civil rights activism that drew FBI attention, and her mysterious death in Paris in 1979 - deemed a "probable suicide." Produced by Emmy-nominated filmmakers Garry McGee (McMarr Ltd.), and Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle (Fourth Wall Films).

Visit JeanSebergMovie for updates on the documentary's news, glimpses behind-the-scenes, and FINALLY the film's release via broadcast, screenings and DVD.

It has been a long, hard road, and we have SO MANY OF YOU to thank for helping us reach the end of this project. We have learned it takes time, funding, lessons learned, and a lot of patience to get things right before releasing a documentary about Jean. We owe that to her. So much misinformation and so many myths have been perpetuated over the decades. We do not take the responsibility lightly to tell her story factually and accurately. 

If you would like to make a contribution to the Movie Star: the Secret Lives of Jean Seberg documentary project and add your name to the credits, there is still time and every bit helps! Donations of $100 or more can be tax-deductible.  Visit HOW TO CONTRIBUTE by clicking HERE.  And are we ever grateful!

Happy 81st Birthday to the Real Jean Seberg

Today, November 13th, we honor Jean Seberg on what would have been her 81st birthday.

This year has been a busy one with awareness of Jean Seberg's life, filmwork and activism in the spotlight.  2019 saw the release of two new editions of author Garry McGee's books Jean Seberg--Breathless: Her True Story and Neutralized: the FBI vs. Jean Seberg: A story of the '60s civil rights movement.  Both books, available at Amazon.com, give an in-depth and accurate counter to much of the misinformation and regurgitated mythology printed in magazines, news articles and fictional film.

The award-winning documentary Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg has been years in the making, and has confronted obstacles this year with final legal reviews. In dealing with a public figure and film actress, many clearances had to be obtained and surveyed thoroughly by an entertainment attorney. Final editing in response to the review and the never-ending challenging task of fundraising to complete the complex project and release it on DVD have been the focus in 2019. It has been a slow and tedious process.

Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg is told through Jean's words and those who knew her. Sixty two years from the day she stepped in front of Otto Preminger to audition for the part of Jeanne d'Arc in his movie Saint Joan, Jean Seberg has remained relevant.

Garry McGee wrote: "From fashion to the manipulation of the news media, she has been either in the forefront or a sidenote, but nonetheless a name that resonates. That is something no one could have predicted. So much has been said, written, reported, and unfortunately fictionalized about Jean Seberg. Her story was filled with unbelievable peaks, and devastating lows. She was not a person who forced herself into the limelight to take away from others who were shining. She believed film directors were the boss, and she gave them the performance they wanted rather than, many times, trusting her own instincts. Her activism was low-key, and she did not use her involvement in such to further her career or public standing. She was a caring, intelligent person. We need more people like the true Jean Seberg. She is sorely missed by many. It's important for those who never had the opportunity to know her to understand what is truth and what is fiction. Hopefully, in 2020 we will finally have the opportunity to release the true story with Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg."

If you would like to make a year-end contribution to the documentary project and add your name to the credits, there is still time!  Every bit helps!  Donations of $100 or more can be tax-deductible.  Visit HOW TO CONTRIBUTE by clicking HERE.  And are we ever grateful!

Swingin' 60s Fundraiser Celebrates Jean Seberg Nov. 9 at Orpheum

Saturday, November 9th the Orpheum Theater Center in Marshalltown, Iowa will swing 60s style with a benefit celebration featuring music by Country Girl, and Amy & Adams, silent auction, and so much more!

Attendees are encouraged to dress in their best 60s fashions for the fundraising event--proceeds benefit the Jean Seberg Endowment and future Jean Seberg festivals.

The 'party' takes place in the Orpheum's Black Box 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Tickets are $25/pp and available at the Orpheum box office.  The Orpheum Theater Center is located at 220 E. Main Street, Marshalltown, Iowa.  Email Nancy.Adams@iowavalley.edu for more information.

Of the 37 movies she made during her film career, Jean Seberg had 20 films released in the 1960s:

À bout de souffle (Breathless) (French-1960)
Director: Jean-Luc Godard  

Let No Man Write My Epitaph (1960)
Director: Philip Leacock 

La récréation (Playtime / Love Play) (French-1961)
Director: François Moreuil

Les grandes personnes (Time Out for Love) (French-1961)
Director: Jean Valère

L'amant de cinq jours (The Five Day Lover) (French-1961)
Director: Philippe de Broca

Congo Vivo (French/Italian-1962)
Director: Giuseppe Bennatti

In the French Style (1963)
Director: Robert Parrish

Le grand escroc (The Big Swindler) (French/short-1964)
Director: Jean-Luc Godard

Lilith (1964)
Director: Robert Rossen

Échappement libre (Backfire) (French-1964)
Director: Jean Becker

Moment to Moment (1965)
Director: Mervyn LeRoy

Un milliard dans un billard (Diamonds are Brittle) (French-1965)
Director: Nicolas Gessner

A Fine Madness (1966)  
Director: Irvin Kershner

La ligne de démarcation (The Line of Demarcation) French-1966)
Director:  Claude Chabrol

Estouffade à la Caraïbe (Revolt in the Caribbean / The Looters) (French-1967)
Director: Jacques Besnard

La route de Corinthe (Who's Got the Black Box? / The Road to Corinth) (French-1967)
Director: Claude Chabrol

The Girls (British-1968)
Director: John Crome

Les Oiseaux vont mourir au Pérou (Birds in Peru) (French-1968)
Director: Romain Gary

Pendulum (1969)
Director: George Schaefer

Paint Your Wagon (1969)
Director: Joshua Logan

The award-winning documentary Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg tells the true story of Hollywood and heartbreak, beginning when an unknown 17-year-old Iowa girl who beat out 18,000 actresses to play Saint Joan in Otto Preminger's 1957 film. The documentary goes behind the scenes of her rocky life in the international film spotlight, her civil rights activism that drew FBI attention, and her mysterious death in Paris in 1979 - deemed a "probable suicide." Produced by Emmy-nominated filmmakers Garry McGee (McMarr Ltd.), and Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle (Fourth Wall Films).

Visit JeanSebergMovie for updates on the documentary's news, glimpses behind-the-scenes, and FINALLY the film's release via broadcast, screenings and DVD.

It has been a long, hard road, and we have SO MANY OF YOU to thank for helping us reach the end of this project. We have learned it takes time, funding, lessons learned, and a lot of patience to get things right before releasing a documentary about Jean. We owe that to her. So much misinformation and so many myths have been perpetuated over the decades. We do not take the responsibility lightly to tell her story factually and accurately. 

If you would like to make a contribution to the Movie Star: the Secret Lives of Jean Seberg documentary project and add your name to the credits, there is still time and every bit helps! Donations of $100 or more can be tax-deductible.  Visit HOW TO CONTRIBUTE by clicking HERE.  And are we ever grateful!

Jean Seberg Remembered on the 40th Anniversary of her Death

The French in particular were moved by Seberg's death, and preempted regular television programming with a showing of Bonjour Tristesse to honor the beloved actress from Marshalltown, Iowa.

It was 40 years ago today that Jean Seberg died.  She was last seen alive on August 30, 1979.  The 40-year-old international actress was discovered in her white Renault automobile several days later, parked not far from her Paris apartment.

So much has been written, talked, debated, dismissed, praised, and recorded about her in these past four decades. We are part of that group to tell her true story with our documentary feature film Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg--which arguably is experiencing the longest gestation period of any project on her. But, we will prevail and have the project completed, hopefully later this year.

Other projects have come and gone, most consumed with a raised eyebrow. Not because of her story, but the alteration of facts, the inclusion of fiction passed as fact, or complete fabrications, which the undiscerning audience will accept as "truth". It is a huge disservice to not only Jean Seberg's memory, but to history itself.

I recall one such instance in which a news reporter interviewed me concerning Jean and the documentary. I warned him not to rely on previous Seberg newspaper clippings in their file or the internet, as there were inaccuracies.  If there was a question, I told him to telephone or email me. When the article came out, it was filled with errors passed as facts. And the cycle continues on and on.

Unfortunately he wasn't the only one.

But thankfully, there are a handful of media products available that tell Jean Seberg's story truthfully--or as factual as possible--with no ulterior motives in either the author's, the interviewees', or the filmmaker's telling.  Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg is one of them.

Until the documentary's release, we continue to support and accept the "real" Jean Seberg. 

Written by Garry McGee
Author of "Jean Seberg: Breathless, Her True Story"
"Neutralized: The FBI vs. Jean Seberg: A story of the 60s civil rights movement"
Co-Producer/Director/Writer Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg

Jean Seberg's grave in Cimetière du Montparnasse, Paris, France. Courtesy/Copyright 2019 Michel Ambruster.

Movie Star is a story of Hollywood and heartbreak, beginning when an unknown 17-year-old Iowa girl who beat out 18,000 actresses to play Saint Joan in Otto Preminger's 1957 film. The documentary goes behind the scenes of her rocky life in the international film spotlight, her civil rights activism that drew FBI attention, and her mysterious death in Paris in 1979 - deemed a "probable suicide."

Keep up on all of the Jean Seberg news and the December release of the award-winning documentary Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg by Garry McGee (McMarr Ltd.) and Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle (Fourth Wall Films) on DVD at JeanSebergMovie.com.

Jean Seberg's "Lilith" Co-star Peter Fonda Dies

Peter Fonda and Jean Seberg in Lilith.

By Garry McGee
Emmy-nominated filmmaker & author

Peter Fonda, who became a counterculture icon when he co-wrote, produced and starred in the seminal 1969 road movie Easy Rider, then three decades later received an Oscar-nomination in Ulee’s Gold, died on August 16 from lung cancer. He was 79.

Peter was considered part of Hollywood "royalty", with his father being the legendary Academy Award-winning actor Henry Fonda, his sister the Oscar-winning actor Jane Fonda, and his daughter Bridget Fonda, the 'it girl' of 80s and 90s movies and television.

In one of his early films, Fonda played a supporting role in Robert Rossen's last work, Lilith, co-starring Warren Beatty, and Jean Seberg in the title role. The film also starred Kim Hunter and Gene Hackman.

During a break in filming in the summer of 1963, Fonda met with his father and sister in New York. The topic of Jean Seberg came up, including her successful film career abroad (by this time Jean was one of France's top actresses). Jane Fonda became fascinated, and shortly after, she moved to France in search of success.

Peter Fonda was quite fond of Jean, but not so much Warren Beatty. In a physical scene involving Seberg and Beatty, Jean was to slap her co-star, but Beatty kept resisting by grabbing Jean's arm, causing bruising.

"It was really hurting her," Fonda said. He allegedly threatened Beatty that if he continued, he'd "beat the shit out of him." Shortly after, Columbia Pictures sent a representative to the east coast set and informed Fonda if he even touched Beatty, "they'd sue my ass", Fonda noted.

To get his point across to Beatty, Fonda showed up shortly afterwards with several friends who had their black belts in karate and positioned themselves on the sidelines on the set. When Lilith wrapped production, a party was held. Beatty left the production and did not attend the party, as he felt Fonda and his group were going to retaliate. They ended up trashing Beatty's dressing room trailer instead.

Although Jean never worked with Peter Fonda or Warren Beatty again, she remained friendly with them, and encouraged Beatty to make his own films.

While Lilith was not a commercial success, critics unanimously praised Jean's performance, and several noted Fonda's sensitive, complicated portrayal of a resident who falls in love with and becomes tangled in the web of deceit orchestrated by Lilith.

"Movie Star is a tale of Hollywood and heartbreak, beginning when an unknown 17-year-old Iowa girl beat out 18,000 actresses to play Saint Joan in Otto Preminger's 1957 film. The documentary goes behind the scenes of her rocky life in the international film spotlight, her civil rights activism that drew FBI attention, and her mysterious death in Paris in 1979 - deemed a "probable suicide." That leaves room for doubt," said Kelly Rundle.  "And you will have to see the film to understand why."

Keep up on all of the Jean Seberg news on the award-winning documentary Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg by Garry McGee (McMarr Ltd.) and Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle (Fourth Wall Films) at JeanSebergMovie.com.

Fundraiser Set for Jean Seberg Festival of the Arts Nov. 9

Screen Legend Doris Day Passes Away at 97 - Paths Crossed with Jean Seberg

Actress and singer Doris Day--best known for the sex comedies she starred in with Rock Hudson and Cary Grant--died May 13, 2019 at her home in Carmel Valley, California at the age of 97.

Jean Seberg had stood in for Doris doing a promotional tour on the east coast of Day's 1959 film It Happened to Jane.  Jean was signed to Columbia, the studio that released the film, and Day fell ill unable to make the trip.  Doris wrote Jean a letter of gratitude for stepping in for her.

Doris Day and Jack Lemmon in "It Happened to Jane".

Later in the year, Jean made Breathless (À bout de souffle), which changed the course of her life and career--and film in general.  The same year, Doris made Pillow Talk which brought back sophisticated adult comedies, the beginning of her five year reign as the top box office movie performer, and her sole Academy Award® nomination.

Jean Seberg in Jean-Luc Godard's "Breathless".

Globe Magazine once published an entire issue devoted to the life and career of Doris Day, with one of the photos of "Doris" in the piece really film star Jean Seberg. The photograph of Jean on the beach wearing a large hat was taken while she was filming Moment to Moment in 1965.

International film actress Jean Seberg was misidentified in this photograph by "Globe Magazine" as actress/singer Doris Day.  (Getty Images/Silver Screen Collection)

Author Garry McGee (Doris Day: Sentimental Journey, Jean Seberg: Breathless) was surprised to see Seberg misidentified as Doris Day while leafing through the magazine.

If you would like to make a contribution to the documentary project and add your name to the credits, there is still time!  Every bit helps!  Donations of $100 or more can be tax-deductible.  Visit HOW TO CONTRIBUTE by clicking HERE.  And are we ever grateful!

Notre Dame Fire Stirs Memories of Jean Seberg, Saint Joan, Love of France

"Jean Seberg at Notre Dame circa 1967. It has been several years since I've been in Paris, but I have never forgotten the kindness of the French people to me, the beauty of the country, and the amazing historical preservation that was on-going in Paris during my visits while researching Seberg's life. It was easy to see why she was, as she said, "Paris-struck". Like many things there, Notre Dame was amazing and I'm so fortunate to have visited and experienced it during my visits. The fire is a huge loss in so many unspeakable ways..."

~Garry McGee, producer/director/writer Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg

State of Joan of Arc in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris France.

Jean Seberg as Joan of Arc in SAINT JOAN (1957).

"So much history. So much sorrow. We stand with the rest of the world in silence and shock over the tragic fire that is raging inside the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. The Cathedral was built from 1163 to 1250 and the statue and monument of Saint Jeanne d'Arc is located inside the Cathedral. Jean Seberg starred as Joan of Arc in Otto Preminger's SAINT JOAN (1957)."

~Kelly Rundle (proder/director/writer: Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg) & Tammy Rundle (producer/writer)

APNews Photo of Notre Dame Catheral in flames. Copyright AP News.

Fire ravages soaring Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris left aghast

PARIS (AP) — A fire swept across the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral while the soaring Paris landmark was under renovations Monday, collapsing its spire and threatening one of the world’s greatest architectural treasures as locals and tourists watched aghast from the streets.

The French president pledged to rebuild a cathedral that he called “a part of us” and appealed for help to do so. The 12th-century church is home to relics, stained glass and other incalculable works of art and is a leading tourist attraction, immortalized by Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

The Paris prosecutor’s office said it was treating the fire as an accident, ruling out arson and possible terror-related motives, at least for now. French media quoted the Paris fire brigade as saying the fire was “potentially linked” to a 6 million euro ($6.8 million) renovation project on the spire and its 500 tons of wood and 250 tons of lead.

Despite the dramatic image of the flaming cathedral, no one was killed. One firefighter was injured, among some 400 who battled the flames for hours before finally extinguishing them. Firefighters continued working through the night to cool the building and secure the monument, as residual sparks sprinkled down from the gaping hole where the spire used to be.

Read the rest of the AP Story HERE.

 

McGee's "Jean Seberg: Breathless--Her True Story" Book Released Feb. 13

Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg co-producer/director/writer Garry McGee's newly released second edition biography "Jean Seberg: Breathless--Her True Story" is now available at Amazon.com.

Jean Seberg (1938-1979) was an American and French actress, and a champion of compassion, equality and kindness. She was from a "small town" in Iowa and became the darling of Paris. She alternated between European art films ("The Five-Day Lover", "Dead of Summer") and big Hollywood movies ("Paint Your Wagon", "Airport"), on the way helping Jean-Luc Godard to shape contemporary cinema ("Breathless"). Seberg moved between the worlds of show business and politics, from private and state dinners with leaders to clandestine activities supporting groups and individuals on both sides of the Atlantic. For one whose hope was a better life for those less fortunate, she found herself ultimately destroyed by one powerful institution (the FBI) manipulating another (the news media). "Jean Seberg -- Breathless" tells the story of this unique icon of the French New Wave. Featuring more than thirty photographs and selections from Seberg's private letters and poems, Garry McGee traces Seberg's personal, professional and artistic life through exclusive interviews with several people who knew the woman, some who have never spoken publicly until now. Rich in detail, "Jean Seberg -- Breathless" is the definitive portrait of an international icon whose story has never been told fully or justly until now.

Make a contribution to the documentary project and add your name to the credits!  Every bit helps!  Donations of $100 or more can be tax-deductible.  Visit HOW TO CONTRIBUTE by clicking HERE.  And are we ever grateful!