As the day breaks on March 29, 1977, Faye Dunaway is poolside at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Surrounded by the day’s newspapers announcing her Best Actress Oscar for Network, the photo screams “Is That All There Is?” It’s this iconic only-in-Hollywood moment that introduces HBO’s documentary, Faye.
To tell her story, documentary filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau (Five Came Back) sits Faye Dunaway on the couch going through old family photo albums with her adopted son, Liam. Just as filming begins, she says, “I’m not happy with anything here. I need a glass of water, not a bottle,” confronting her “difficult” and “diva” reputation with a twinkle in her eye. Bette Davis minces no words when asked by Johnny Carson who was the worst person to work with. She says everyone in Hollywood would agree that it was Faye Dunaway. Her behavior may seem more complicated after Dunaway shares her history of alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and intense need to work. Nevertheless, she doesn’t use her struggles as an excuse and takes full responsibilities for her actions.
The film chronicles her upbringing in the south and military life as the daughter of an Army officer. Good friend Sharon Stone, co-star Mickey Rourke (Barfly), author Mark Harris (Five Came Back), and more offer their recollections and insights into the life of Faye Dunaway. Faye doesn’t spend too much time on the men in her life, but she discusses relationships with photographers Jerry Schatzberg and Terry O’Neill (who took the iconic photo) and affair with Marcello Mastroianni. She had a passion for theater and many television roles, but it’s the cinema where Dunaway’s legend will live on.
Bouzereau gives equal attention to her Academy Award nominations and ridiculed portrayal of a Golden Age actress. Bonnie and Clyde was a pivotal film helping to usher in a new provocative Hollywood. The killing of the murderous duo is still shocking today. Her berets launched a fashion craze. Inspired by the water wars of Southern California, 1974’s Chinatown brought Dunaway a second Best Actress nomination. Co-star Jack Nicholson affectionately dubbed her ‘Dread” (she drove him and Director Roman Polanski crazy by constantly having to apply Blistex). The newsroom satire of Network still hits home today. Dunaway got panned for her over-the-top performance as Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest. Roger Ebert has this to say about it, “one of the most depressing films in a long time…a pointless record of neurotic child abuse.”
Faye is candid depiction of a compelling actress. You’ll want to watch her movies again. That face…made for the camera with a stare both alluring and guarded. She pushed the boundaries for women in film playing complex, challenging characters. She wasn’t the vulnerable female. Her reputation as difficult to work with may be unfair, but she admits to some truth in it. Now at 83, you’ll see that her self-reflection still comes with a little attitude.
(Faye clocks in at a tight 1:30 and is streaming on Max while HBO is still running repeat showings.)
D² Rating ◼◼◼◩☐
Trivia: Faye Dunaway was married to which rock star from 1974-1979?
Trivia: In 1968, Faye Dunaway starred with Steve McQueen in which crime caper that was remade in 1999 with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo?
Answers: Peter Wolf (J. Geils Band) and The Thomas Crown Affair