Monday, December 7, 2009

CACTUS FLOWER (1969) and GOLDIE HAWN FUN FACTS.






Goldie Hawn, was born November 21, 1945 in Washinton D.C. to Laura Steinhoff a jewelry shop/dance school owner and Edward Rutledge Hawn, a band musician. She has one sister, Patricia. By the age of three Goldie was taking ballet and tap dance lessons, and by the time she turned ten, she was dancing in the chorus of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo production of "The Nutcracker". At 19 she was a ballet instructor. She became a film director and producer, whose career has spanned four decades. Hawn is best known for her performances in Private Benjamin, Foul Play, Wildcats, Overboard, Bird on a Wire, Death Becomes Her, The First Wives Club, and The Banger Sisters. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1969 film Cactus Flower. She is also the mother of actors Oliver Hudson and Kate Hudson. Hawn has a relationship with her long-time boyfriend, actor Kurt Russell since 1983.

Fun facts:

Her father, Edward Rutledge Hawn, is descended from Edward Rutledge, the youngest person to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Goldie Hawn, Founder of the Bright Light Foundation for Children.

I've always felt Goldie Hawn to be an underrated actress. A couple of my favorite Goldie films Butterflies are Free, Shampoo, Overboard, The First Wives Club. She is one of my favorite comediennes.


CACTUS FLOWER (1969). Comedy directed by Gene Saks. Cast: Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, and Goldie Hawn. The film is based from an earlier Broadway stage play, written by Abe Burrows, which in turn was based upon the French play Fleur de cactus. The film was the seventh highest grossing film of 1970.


Middle-aged/Bachelor and dentist Julian Winston, falsely confesses to Toni a free spirited flower child, that he is married and the father of three children. Toni heartbroken, for being stood up once again.. attempts a half hearted suicide. Her bohemian neighbor smells the gas and saves her life. Upset by Toni's attempt on her life, Julian decides it's time to marry her. Julian tells Tony that he is getting a divorce from his nonexistent wife. He quickly comes up with a plan using his spinster assistant, Stephanie Dickinson, who secretly has loved him for 10 years.

Ingrid Bergman's performance is another reason why this film works. Who knew she could let loose? One of my favorite lines in the film is when Toni says to Julian (after he becomes concerned about her wearing Hot pants to work.) " not to worry..nobody around here looks. Most of our customers are classic..".

Fun Fact:

The three kids seen behind the GTO in the GM 5th Avenue showroom during Walter Matthau and Goldie Hawn's NY walkabout are David and Jenny Matthau. See if you can spot them.

Video: Movie trailer.
Click to read more info on Goldie. :)

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