MovieChat Forums > A Kiss Before Dying (1956) Discussion > Mary Astor looks awful! The reason? - SP...

Mary Astor looks awful! The reason? - SPOILERS maybe

posted 15 years ago by donofthedial
10 replies | jump to latest

That hair style and make-up. Atrocious! And later in the film, her son takes her to task for the blouse she is wearing.

Without having to sit through this film again, I think the reason for her declasse look is b/c she and her family are supposed to be from the poorer part of town and with little money or breeding. So she wears a shoddy hair-do and wears a thrift store blouse to a fancy party.

I guess...b/c there is no other reason that she should look so ragged.

[–] moviebuf-11 13 years ago

I was thinking, too, that Mary Astor was almost unrecognizable. That awful short, bright red hair didn't suit her at all. I guess they wanted to have her depart from the slick sophisticated look she was identified with in the '30s and '40s.

Speaking of awful hairdos, how about poor Joanne Woodward? I found her character to be endearing and adorable, but she looked like she was wearing a Harpo Marx wig!

[–] donofthedial 13 years ago

i just think that they wanted Astor to look the part.

I usually do not notice hair-dos on women, so I do not remember the JW do.

Sorry!

[–] auc476 11 years ago

Years of alcohol abuse can also make you look rough and haggard.

[–] xerses13 10 years ago

auc476: Nothing wrong with Astor, She was a senior by then. What is the excuse for Joanne Woodward. That was the most unflatering hair-style they could have put on here. Only thing worse if She had been in braids or shaved her head.

[–] princesstinymeat 10 years ago

Lol! I thought Joanne looked great!

[–] clunybrown2017 (18) 5 years ago

Just watched it again today and thought she (Mary) looked good. The part doesn't call for a glamour girl, but for a single mother in her 50s who is supporting herself and her son and probably hasn't had the easiest life. Mary Astor was 50 when this movie was made (born 1906). I remember thinking that she had a great figure at that age, very slender.

[–] cmbrower 10 years ago

I found JW's character to be a whiney, pathetic, desperate young woman...very unbecoming! I almost wanna kill her! JK.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] DracTarashV 9 years ago

Joanne's unflattering hairstyle in the film definitely made her look even less recognizable and attractive herself. I guess it worked for the character, but I remember I couldn't believe it was her as Dory.

Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!

[–] savanna-2 8 years ago

I think the producers needs JW to look as unsophisticated as possible to contrast with her older sisters character.

Who put the acid in my Spam?