Mrs. Parker: The Making of a Jazz Age Drama
The creation of Mrs. Parker was driven by director Alan Rudolph's lifelong fascination with the Algonquin Round Table—the legendary gathering of writers and wits at the Algonquin Hotel. Rudolph viewed the group and its cultural ripple effect as one of the fifty most significant events of the 20th century. Following his work on The Moderns, which explored 1920s Paris, Rudolph sought to create a fact-based drama centered on the iconic writer Dorothy Parker.
To bring this vision to life, Rudolph collaborated with novelist and former journalist Randy Sue Coburn. While the two had worked together on previous scripts, Coburn noted that she wrote the majority of the screenplay independently before Rudolph added his contributions during the production phase.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Key Facts
- Director: Alan Rudolph.
- Lead Actress: Jennifer Jason Leigh as Dorothy Parker.
- Producer: Robert Altman.
- Filming Location: Montreal, Canada (chosen for its New York-style facades).
- Production Duration: A 40-day principal photography shoot.
- Distribution: Fine Line Features (domestic) and Miramax (foreign).
The Struggle for Financing
Securing funding for Mrs. Parker proved difficult. The original screenplay focused on the platonic relationship between Parker and Robert Benchley, a premise that failed to attract financial backers. Even with the involvement of renowned filmmaker Robert Altman as a producer, interest remained low. Rudolph struggled to find investors for what he described as a "period biography of a literate woman."
Ultimately, the film was made possible through Robert Altman's influence. He persuaded Fine Line Features and Miramax to partner on the project. Altman admitted to using aggressive tactics to ensure the film's production, including investing his own money and leveraging other projects as collateral.
Casting and Character Preparation
The casting of Jennifer Jason Leigh was a pivotal moment for the production. After being introduced to Leigh by Altman at a Fourth of July party in 1992, Rudolph was struck by her physical resemblance to Dorothy Parker and her deep knowledge of the Jazz Age (the cultural and social era of the 1920s). Leigh's commitment to the role was so strong that she agreed to work for a tenth of her usual salary.
To embody Parker, Leigh immersed herself in extensive research. She spent a week staying at the Algonquin Hotel, read Parker's entire body of work, and repeatedly listened to the only two existing audio recordings of the writer to master her distinctive voice. Leigh noted a shared sensibility with Parker, specifically a recurring sense of sadness and depression.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Production and Filming Challenges
Principal photography took place in Montreal, where the old city's architecture served as a stand-in for period New York City. Interestingly, full financing was not secured until four weeks into the shoot. The cast, following Leigh's example, accepted significantly reduced salaries.
Rudolph encouraged the actors to write their own dialogue, leading to a chaotic start to filming. Actor Campbell Scott recalled that the cast simply "threw out" what they knew about their characters. Jennifer Beals later explained that while much of the dialogue was improvised to match the real-life figures, many characters were not central to the plot. Consequently, several actors saw their substantial improvised scenes edited down significantly in the final cut.
Life at "Camp Rudolph"
During the 40-day shoot, the cast resided in a run-down hotel they nicknamed "Camp Rudolph," where all-night poker games were common. Jennifer Jason Leigh chose to abstain from these social activities, preferring to remain in character both on and off camera to maintain her connection to the role.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Screenwriters | Randy Sue Coburn and Alan Rudolph |
| Lead Role | Jennifer Jason Leigh |
| Filming Location | Montreal, Canada |
| Shoot Duration | 40 Days |
| Distributors | Fine Line Features & Miramax |
Final Edits
The original version of the film featured a scene depicting the origin of the Round Table at a post-World War One party hosted by Alexander Woollcott. However, this scene was ultimately removed because the writers felt it did not represent the "real heart" of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the movie filmed in Montreal?
Montreal was chosen because the building facades in its old city closely resembled the architecture of New York City during the period in which the film is set.
How did Jennifer Jason Leigh prepare for the role of Dorothy Parker?
Leigh stayed at the Algonquin Hotel for a week, read Parker's entire body of work, and studied existing audio recordings of Parker to perfect her voice and mannerisms.
How did Robert Altman help get the film made?
Altman used his industry influence to bring Fine Line Features and Miramax together and invested his own money into the project to ensure it moved forward.
What was the nature of the dialogue during filming?
Director Alan Rudolph allowed the actors to improvise and write their own dialogue. While this added authenticity to the characters, it resulted in some roles being heavily edited down in the final version of the film.
What was "Camp Rudolph"?
"Camp Rudolph" was the nickname given to the run-down hotel where the cast and crew stayed during the 40-day production period.