There’s nobody quite like Joan Rivers. She began her career in show business during the 1950s, paying her dues on the comedy circuits of the ’60s until she landed a breakthrough appearance on The Tonight Show. From there, Rivers went on to host a couple of her own talk shows, appear on popular TV sitcoms, record Grammy-nominated comedy albums, write best-selling books, establish a line of jewelry, and work on some film roles to boot. Despite her now divisive yet ubiquitous presence at high profile industry red carpet events, she is an entertainer through and through who has managed to remain successful despite personal tragedies and a few career missteps. This year, Rivers became the subject of a poignant documenatry, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (Certified Fresh at 91%), which chronicles a year in the life of the veteran comedian and reflects on her lengthy career in Hollywood. She was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to provide us with her Five Favorite Films, and they are anything but ordinary. Read on for the full list.
This is by far the best documentary I’ve ever seen about a sensitive, beautiful and sexual artiste! It delves deeply into the age-old mystery of why, for some reason, everyone who meets her, hates her. They are so wrong! Go see Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work for yourself, and send me a present.
Two words: Joan Collins. There’s nothing sexier than a young Joan Collins being dragged by giant ants into an underground cave to toil as their slave. I’ve never able to ask her about her performance because I’m in awe. When I meet her I start, but I get as far as “Empire of the…” and then I’m simply in awe.
I love musicals, and so one that features the Village People AND Bruce Jenner is my kind of movie. Bruce didn’t do much else, but where can you go from there? It’s like the guy who wrote the Bible, where are you going to go? Margaret Mitchell had the good taste to get hit by a car. She knew she could never top Gone with the Wind.
I love an evil child murderess with perfect, bleached blond hair. It just appeals to me.
This is the only movie I ever directed and I’m proud to say that it finally got its first good review after 34 years! Otherwise, it wouldn’t have made this list.
