Fifty years after the murder of actress Sharon Tate, “Hollywood Babylon” releases a docudrama focusing on the final days and the final horrors of her life.  Starring co-producer Hilary Duff, the film mythologizes Tate, theorizing how she supposedly had a premonition of the “Helter Skelter” murders of August 1969.  The ghoulish proceedings of the Manson clan have been documented before in “Helter Skelter” (1976, 2004) and “The Manson Family” (2003.)  If this movie was meant to be about Mrs. Sharon Tate Polanski, why not show more of her life prior to her grisly end?

Her six films span from 1966 to 1969…

Probably her best performance was as Odile de Carey in “Eye of the Devil” (1966.)  Sharon nails down her British accent perfectly, has an air of forbidden mystery and works well with her costars (David Niven, Deborah Kerr, David Hemmings and Donald Pleasence.)  The original title “13” forecasts some of the bad luck that would befall it.  The original star, Kim Novak, was forced to quit after a horse-riding accident.  (She had already filmed three-quarters of her performance.)  MGM, prior to release, cut down its length, causing gaps in the storyline.  The film did not receive good reviews and wasn’t a financial success.

“Don’t Make Waves” (1967) stars Tony Curtis and Claudia Cardinale.  Sharon appears as “Malibu” seen mostly in a bikini.  Afterward, regarding the publicity, Sharon refers to herself as “sexy little me.”  Her new image:  a free-spirited sex-symbol.

“The Fearless Vampire Killers or Pardon Me, But Your Teeth are in My Neck” aka “Dance of the Vampires” (1967.)  Sharon meets director Roman Polanski, beginning an affair, ending in marriage.  FVK has garnered a loyal following throughout the years, especially for the original director’s cut (known as the “European Version”.)  Producer Martin Ransohoff  (also Sharon’s agent) would re-edit and re-dub the film to Polanski’s rage who swore never to work with him again.

“Valley of the Dolls” (1967.)  Based on Jacqueline Susann’s runaway bestseller, what could go wrong?  Plenty.  VOTD still remains on many worst film lists of all time.  The author didn’t like it either; saying she downed some Seconals after seeing it.  First of all, casting Patty Duke as “a great singer” doesn’t work because she can’t sing.  Her performance as Neely O’Hara is off-kilter.  (Duke blamed director Mark Robson, who antagonized both her and Tate.)  What remains is a sweet, sad performance by Sharon as Jennifer North, a doomed starlet.  Barbra Parkins also stars as the classy Anne Welles (partially based on Susann herself.)

“The Wrecking Crew” (1968.)  Last of the Dean Martin-Matt Helm spy series.  Sharon costars as Freya Carlson, Matt’s klutzy assistant.  She received good reviews for her comedic skills.

The 13 Chairs aka 12 + 1 (1969.) Odd European comedy with Vittorio Gassmann. Odd because it isn’t particularly funny.  Sharon was pregnant during filming, which the director tried to hide.  Few people have seen this.  Orson Welles has a small role.

Shortly before her death, Sharon gave Roman a copy of “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” in hopes of casting her.  The 1979 Polanski film is dedicated to her memory.

Most people know that on 8-9-69, the “Manson Family” (Charles”Tex” Watson, Susan Atkins and Patricia Krenwinkel) would ruthlessly butcher Sharon Tate and her unborn child, Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, Abigail Folger and Steve Parent.  The official motive was that Charles Manson wanted to set off a race war where the white establishment would be defeated by black militants.  In turn, Manson and his family, would rise up from out of the desert and take control of his new kingdom.

The more likely modus operandi:  Charles Manson wanted to be a rock star.  The closest he came was writing a song for the Beach Boys.  (“Cease to Exist” re-titled “Never Learn Not to Love”.)

Manson met record producer Terry Melcher, who listened to his music, pretended to like it, gave him a false promise of some sort of record deal, then never spoke to him again.

The house Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski lived in was formerly Melcher’s.  Manson went looking for him there and was rudely turned away.  Tate and Manson briefly exchanged looks.  Later, Sharon commented, asking, “Who was that creepy guy?”

The murders were more of a message, not only to Melcher, but to the Hollywood establishment.  “This is what you get for ignoring me.”

“The Haunting of Sharon Tate” has limited showings only in New York City.

Text © 2019 – EricReports