MovieChat Forums > Klute (1971) Discussion > Question- Madam character-not listed?

Question- Madam character-not listed?

posted 17 years ago by Catdubh
18 replies | jump to latest

Ok, I love every last damn scene in this movie. Each and every character is worth the very mention of the movie "Klute", alone. Really, even if the scene was just a short 30 seconds, each character and actor deserved the entire 30 seconds or more, as they all were unforgettable.
Well, my question has to do with the first scene when Bree and Klute first set out to try to find Arlyn. Bree first visits a dark, pretty, "madam" who is not your "Call-Girl" type madam but she appears to run a "first rate" brothel. The scene starts out where she’s on the phone confirming "Mr. Clean's" appointment, and ends the phone conversation with "I said Monday 8:00pm, baby, now, don't be naughty". She was the madam who fired Arlyn for being "zonked out" all the time because she could not have that kind of girl around for her “crème da la crème " clients. She then tells Klute and Bree that Arlyn maybe working for "Mama Reese". Ok, "Mama Reese" is listed as "Mama Rose", in the credits played by the late, WONDERFUL actress, Shirley Stoler.

My question:Who is the first madam (character's name) and who is the actress who plays her? She does not appear to even be listed in the credits unless I have missed something, altogether. She's FANTASTIC!

What, can't you be serious, just for once in your life?

[–] gnolti 17 years ago

"Honi soit qui mal y pense."

This is not a psychotic episode. This is a cleansing moment of clarity.

[–] Catdubh 17 years ago

do you know the character's or actress' name?

Ah, Jane White.

What, can't you be serious, just for once in your life?

[–] gnolti 17 years ago

Non.

This is not a psychotic episode. This is a cleansing moment of clarity.

[–] L0GAN5 17 years ago

P*** off then you pseudo intellectual!

[–] Catdubh 17 years ago

P*** off then you pseudo intellectual!

What was the purpose of this nasty post? Perhaps we can stay on point and I can get an answer to my question & post.

What, can't you be serious, just for once in your life?

[–] gnolti 17 years ago

That was an in-joke between Logan and me. (Welcome to the Klute board, Logan.) Though I'll admit, it did come out of left field.

Bizarre that the madame isn't listed in the cast credits. They've got everybody in there down to the dope fiends.

This is not a psychotic episode. This is a cleansing moment of clarity.

[–] L0GAN5 17 years ago

I've been on the Klute board for months gnolti - in fact if you go back far enough you'll find we even had a discussion on here.

In answer to the question, the madam is listed in the cast as "Janie Dale" and is played by Jane White.

There is a mention of this role in an article about Jane White here: http://asteria.fivecolleges.edu/findaids/sophiasmith/mnsss188_bioghist.html

Also, you can ascertain the character's name from the script too by matching up the dialogue: http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Klute.html

[–] Catdubh 17 years ago

Thank you, Logan.

BTW, IMO, Gnolti is not the pseudo intellectual, on this thread. That title could easily be won by, YOU!

I am so damned sick and tired of running into "pseudo intellectuals", like you on IMDB who find joy and pleasure in creating threads and posting messages solely to undermine others, and stroke a keyboard nut at the mere site of reading your own words.

Obviously, IMDB is far beneath you.

What, can't you be serious, just for once in your life?

[–] L0GAN5 17 years ago

Maube you should head over to the Don't Look Now board - there are lots of meanies picking on gnolti there.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] edward-miller-1 17 years ago

I believe that the madame was Mrs. Vasek, played by Antonia Rey. She makes a vivid impression in her only scene.

"If ah irritate you, jes think how ah irritate mahself."

[–] fiftyfootqueenie 17 years ago

No, no, nooo - you're all wrong. She's called Trina and is played by Rita Gam. She's the same one who Bree calls at the start of the film ('Hey Trina? Bree. You got a commuter for me?')

[–] L0GAN5 17 years ago

Actually, I'm right, and you're wrong.

If you follow the script link I provided you can match the script to the scene:

INT. JANIE DALE'S PENTHOUSE

It is a very small penthouse. KLUTE & BREE stand in
the small living room waiting for JANIE DALE. There
are two very casually dressed prostitutes sitting
around the living room. One sits at an upright
piano playing of all things STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT.
Another one sits on a couch talking to a Wall
Street Broker who is spending his lunch hour. KLUTE
finds himself staring down into a pile of
pornography magazines on the coffee table. BREE is
amused at his discomfort.
JANIE DALE, the madame, who has been on the phone
in the back, puts the receiver down and crosses to
the girl on the couch. JANIE looks and talks a bit
like Lauren Bacall.

JANIE DALE
(to girl on couch)
It's old Mr. Clean from Cleveland.
He wants to know when he can fly in
and clean up the apartment and see
you. I told him I have all the
cleaning equipment and that he can
come anytime, but it's up to you.

GIRL on couch rises.

GIRL
You know he wants us to be
dominant.

JANIE DALE
Tell him that he'd better have his
ass in here by one o'clock on
Monday afternoon or you won't let
him clean the bathroom floor, and
tell him the price has gone up
twenty bucks -- Old Dutcn
Cleanser's not as cheap as it used
to be.

She shrugs and turns to KLUTE & BREE.

JANIE DALE (CONT'D)
You wanted to know about Arlyn,
honey? I had to let her go dear.
Arlyn stopped being reliable.
(explains to Klute)
I deal with a high type client,
business people, you understand? I
can't send them someone that's all
the time half zonked out.

KLUTE
Do you know where she went?

JANIE DALE
Try Momma Reese.

If you check the credits you will see that the this charcater is played by Jane White.

[–] fiftyfootqueenie 17 years ago

*pulls face like surly teenager*

OK then - you're correct. I reckon my mistake went thus: that Jane White looks a lot like Rita Gam... who, on second thoughts must be the girl in the nightclub that Bree talks to when she's looking for Arlyn ('Little bitch sold my mink!').

What is it that White says to Bree and Klute in Italian (or is it Spanish)in the roof terrace scene?

[–] kathryn49 17 years ago

fiftyfootqueenie:
i googled the phrase that the madam says on the rooftop. It's an old french phrase that means "Shame upon him who thinks evil of it." It's the motto of the Order of the Garter, some fancy old British thing. The saying makes sense though.

"I never dreamed that any mere physical experience could be so stimulating!" -The African Queen

[–] edward-miller-1 17 years ago

I love that entire rooftop scene.

[–] Catdubh 10 years ago

Thanks for reminding me of the name of the Madam, "Momma Reese".
I was wrong, she is listed. Played by Shirley Stoler. BTW, her IMDB Profile description is completely inappropriate and just, well, incorrect.

Her homely, pudding face was Laughtonesque in style, incapable of warmth much less a smile. It was held up by an immense frame that was both intimidating and foreboding at the same time. In return, it allowed her to play a couple of the most loathsome and terrifying women ever presented on the 70s screen.

This description doesn't fit her physical appearance, in the least. Not a beauty but homely?

Jack's not dead! Jack would never die without telling me, first!

[–] Catdubh 10 years ago