Diana Dors, the British Marilyn, talks "Coronation Street"

Beaconboof · 30/03/14 - 02:09

Interesting stuff here. I believe Diana Dors would have been Peggy Mitchell instead of Bar Windsor, had she lived. Diana was the female Danny Dyer, never taken seriously by the elitist acting establishment, but a fantastic performer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvkxZKIjSrI

Beaconboof · 30/03/14 - 02:11

It's a picture of Diana pulling a pint in the Rovers.
http://howardbarlow.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/blog-corstreet2.jpg?w=590&h=412

sorrento · 30/03/14 - 08:11

Beaconboof wrote: »

It's a picture of Diana pulling a pint in the Rovers.
http://howardbarlow.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/blog-corstreet2.jpg?w=590&h=412

She could have played Bet's older sister they looked so much alike..........

[Deleted User] · 30/03/14 - 08:24

I agree that Diana Dors was never taken seriously by the establishment, but that may have been down to Diana herself.

In 1972 (I think) she was in a film called "The Amazing Mr Blunden." She played against type as an old bag of a woman, horrible mother and drunk. Lots of people say it was some of her best work in a long time.
I was at the BFI last month for the screening of the film followed by a Q+A session with a few of the stars. Actress Madeline Smith who played her daughter in the film spoke about Diana. She said that Diana had no confidence and kept wanting to quit the film as she thought she couldn't do it, nobody would take her seriously as an actress and so forth. She knew that her looks and lets face it her bust got her a lot of work in her early career.

Diana spent most of the 70's through to her death doing TV quiz and game shows as well as chat shows. She was one of the early pioneers of being known for being known. Not because she was a singer or an actress etc. She would just turn up and be Diana Dors, personality.

Playing Peggy Mitchell transformed Barbara Windsor's career from being the same thing. There hadn't been a Carry On film in years, she was mostly famous for being Barbara Windsor, guests on so many shows. Had Diana got a chance to be on Corrie in a role like an Elsie Tanner, it could have changed her career and people's perception of her as an actress.

VoodooChic · 30/03/14 - 09:05

I'd have loved Diana to walk the cobbles - Bet's older sister as sorrento said

lewiep93 · 30/03/14 - 09:13

Diana Dors is one of my heroines. She was such a good actress and also seemed to be a thoroughly nice person. She would've fit right into EastEnders in the early days. Maybe she could've played one of Lou Beale's daughters? Or even Angie Watts' mother? Oh what could've been.

That Corrie picture is fab!

davelovesleeds · 30/03/14 - 10:33

Beaconboof wrote: »

It's a picture of Diana pulling a pint in the Rovers.
http://howardbarlow.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/blog-corstreet2.jpg?w=590&h=412

Sad to think that only four people in that photo (Bet, Hilda, Mavis and Susie) are still alive.

scone · 30/03/14 - 11:03

sorrento wrote: »

She could have played Bet's older sister they looked so much alike..........

WHAT??????? How? Because they were both blonde?

Beaconboof · 30/03/14 - 11:11

I would much sooner compare Diana to Pat Phoenix, than Julie Goodyear.

LM · 30/03/14 - 11:17

I would hardly say a British Marilyn
Perhaps more along the lines of a british Jayne Mansfield

radcliffe95 · 30/03/14 - 11:20

....and yet another one.....sighs yet again.

jsmith99 · 30/03/14 - 11:33

My impression, as with a few other female stars who got parts primarily on their looks, is that DD was far more intelligent than she let on. Jane Russell was another such, as, I'm convinced, was Marilyn Monroe. Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr held several patents for electronic devices.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedy_Lamarr

However, anyone who doubts Diana Dors' capability as an actress should try to see, or get a copy of, the 1956 film 'Yield to the Night'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yield_to_the_Night

Her performance in that was absolutely brilliant, and anyone else would have been nominated for an Oscar. Though the US title. "Blonde Sinner", wouldn't have helped with that.

Beaconboof · 30/03/14 - 11:46

radcliffe95 wrote: »

....and yet another one.....sighs yet again.

EXCUSE me?!

Beaconboof · 30/03/14 - 11:48

jsmith99 wrote: »

My impression, as with a few other female stars who got parts primarily on their looks, is that DD was far more intelligent than she let on. Jane Russell was another such, as, I'm convinced, was Marilyn Monroe. Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr held several patents for electronic devices.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedy_Lamarr

However, anyone who doubts Diana Dors' capability as an actress should try to see, or get a copy of, the 1956 film 'Yield to the Night'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yield_to_the_Night

Her performance in that was absolutely brilliant, and anyone else would have been nominated for an Oscar. Though the US title. "Blonde Sinner", wouldn't have helped with that.

Thanks for this. Completely agree.

Here's a clip of the opening titles of The Diana Dors Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqJciAgL_jc

Beaconboof · 30/03/14 - 11:49

little-monster wrote: »

I would hardly say a British Marilyn
Perhaps more along the lines of a british Jayne Mansfield

Diana was touted as a rival even to Monroe herself;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8TMBVrZPHE

bornfree · 30/03/14 - 12:14

Just found a full length film on you tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyJJ8cws8wo
Some of the comments are amazing. She looks good too.

Beaconboof · 30/03/14 - 12:47

bornfree wrote: »

Just found a full length film on you tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyJJ8cws8wo
Some of the comments are amazing. She looks good too.

Fabulous find. Thank you!

Irma Bunt · 30/03/14 - 13:58

Beaconboof wrote: »

I would much sooner compare Diana to Pat Phoenix, than Julie Goodyear.

Quite. At least Pat and Diana could act.

Irma Bunt · 30/03/14 - 14:00

cunningham1471 wrote: »

I agree that Diana Dors was never taken seriously by the establishment, but that may have been down to Diana herself.

In 1972 (I think) she was in a film called "The Amazing Mr Blunden." She played against type as an old bag of a woman, horrible mother and drunk. Lots of people say it was some of her best work in a long time.
I was at the BFI last month for the screening of the film followed by a Q+A session with a few of the stars. Actress Madeline Smith who played her daughter in the film spoke about Diana. She said that Diana had no confidence and kept wanting to quit the film as she thought she couldn't do it, nobody would take her seriously as an actress and so forth. She knew that her looks and lets face it her bust got her a lot of work in her early career.

Diana spent most of the 70's through to her death doing TV quiz and game shows as well as chat shows. She was one of the early pioneers of being known for being known. Not because she was a singer or an actress etc. She would just turn up and be Diana Dors, personality.

Playing Peggy Mitchell transformed Barbara Windsor's career from being the same thing. There hadn't been a Carry On film in years, she was mostly famous for being Barbara Windsor, guests on so many shows. Had Diana got a chance to be on Corrie in a role like an Elsie Tanner, it could have changed her career and people's perception of her as an actress.

It was a great film. And she was great in it. I downloaded it recently from iTunes and it was a treat to see that performance again.

Hey there!

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Diana Dors, the British Marilyn, talks "Coronation Street"

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