The Doors -
A Film By Oliver Stone
An Oliver Stone film seems to always be a magnet for controversy or, at the least, varying opinion - and "The Doors" was no different. Stone's look at the life of the classic rock band either is regarded as a wonderfully done look at the band and 60's music or a dark, inaccurate look at a singer whose career ends in a haze of drugs. One thing that both sides seem to agree on is the performance of Val Kilmer, whose stunning performance does an almost unbelievable job of capturing the personality of the charismatic singer.
The Cast:
Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison
Meg Ryan as Pamela Courson:
Now, here is a comparison:
On the left, the real Jim and Pam......On the Right, Val and Meg!!!!!
KEVIN DILLON as John Densmore
KYLE MacLACHLAN as Ray Manzarek
FRANK WHALEY as Robby Krieger
MICHAEL WINCOTT as Paul Rothchild:
KATHLEEN QUINLAN as Patricia Kennealy:
BILLY IDOL as Cat
Some Featured Articles on the movie:
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There is a lot of controversy over this film. There was extensive collaboration with all that is still alive, and agreed to help Oliver Stone. Yet, even some people who had their input, was very surprised in the final outcome of the film.
Patricia Kennealy served as a consultant on the movie and even appeared briefly as the high priestess who performed the handfasting ceremony. It was only when she saw the finished version of the movie that her opinion of Stone changed drastically.
"Jim Morrison, the man I love, the man I married, is nowhere in that film. What you see is a grotesque, sodden, buffoonish caricature, who could never have written the immortal songs he is supposedly being immortalized for. But the worst sin Oliver Stone committed is that you don't care that Jim Morrison is dead at the end of the film."
There was also a lot of liberties take with the script, for example:
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Jim met Pam Courson at the London Fog while they were the resident band...not on the beach.
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Jim did not quit UCLA film school (Oliver Stone did!)
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The famous shirtless pictures were taken by Joel Brodsky during a 'Strange Days' photo shoot....not by Gloria Stavers
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Patricia Kennealy was not in the shower room at New Haven, she had not met Jim yet at that stage.
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The Doors stopped the car company from using 'Light My Fire', there never was an ad out.
The most surprising thing is that all these changes were made while painstaking attention was given to the smallest detail. Millions were spent recreating the Whisky a GoGo, Patricia's apartment, the Sunset Strip and sections of San Francisco.
According to Ray Manzarek, Bill Graham, after seeing the film, rang him up and apologised for how bad it turned out.
Many Doors fans were incensed by the movie because it did not show the "real" facts of Morrison's life. Friends of Morrison were dismayed and even angered at the omission of the sober, intelligent, witty, gentle, and innocent side of the man. Those who didn't like The Doors or Morrison found their prejudices reinforced. It was a no-win situation but Stone took the risk and made a film that came from his heart. Stone reflects, "Maybe I did fail with The Doors, but if I did, it's just between Jim and me. I know I tried my best to do something that could live up to him. And I think he would've loved it. But, ultimately, it's just between him and me."
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On the left, Jim and Pam.... (Val and Meg)
On the right, Jim and Patricia... (Val and Kathleen) |
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