Bethann Hardison is an African American who was a very successful NY showroom model for years in the 1960s but it wasn’t until she appeared in her first TV commercial that her mother actually saw her work, and she was totally shocked. In those early days the word ‘model’ was often a pseudonym for a hooker, and she had just assumed that her daughter was being coy! This is just one of the deliciously funny stories that are told by an amazing coterie of the first ever super-models as they look back on the days when they graced the front covers of Vogue way-back-when in photographer Timothy Greenfield-Saunders delightful new documentary.
Greenfield-Saunders interviews some 20 of these women now aged between 50 and 80 years old as he gets them all together for a new group photograph. They represent the creme of the crop of modeling and include Cheryl Tiegs, Isabella Rossellini, Christie Brinkley, Christy Turlington, Jerry Hall, Marisa Berenson, Pat Cleveland, Beverley Johnson and Carmen Dell ’Orefice. These women are not only still stunningly beautiful but without exception are intelligent, articulate, very fascinating people with a great sense of humor. But the most surprising part was the fact they were all disarmingly honest and genuinely shocked that they could have achieved the success that they had which so empowered their lives.
One of my favorites was the ultra glamorous Carmen Dell ‘Orefice, who has such a wonderful infectious energy that is still keeping her working regularly at 81 years old. The interviewer was tactfully trying to inquire if she had ever had any ‘work done’ i.e. cosmetic surgery. Ms. Dell ‘Orefice laughing simply retorted that ‘if there was a crack in the ceiling you would get it fixed without even thinking about it!’ So we took that for a yes, even though there simply is no hint of it on her beautiful face. She has the last line too when she swans off so elegantly dressed declaring she doesn’t care when her time is up, a long as she dies with high heels on.
And lest you think Ms. Hardison’s mother was the only one naive in their household, Ms. H had us in stitches when she told us that back then her mother ran with a very fashionable crowd. One day Ma came home with three very handsome well-dressed men and they all disappeared into her bedroom together. Some time later her mother left with three very spectacularly dressed women in all their finery. Young Barbara couldn’t work that one out for ages.
Unmissable.
P.S. Reprinted from my SUNDANCE 2012 Blog as the movie is being shown on HBO in the US on Monday 30th August and then after on HBO On Demand, so should be available in other countries very soon.
Review : Roger Walker-Dack
Editor in Chief : Queerguru
Member of G.A.L.E.C.A. (Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association) and NLGJA The Association of LGBT
Journalists. and The Online Film Critics Society. Ex Contributing Editor The Gay Uk &Contributor Edge Media
Former CEO and Menswear Designer of Roger Dack Ltd in the UK
one of the hardest-working journalists in the business' Michael Goff of Towleroad