Most of you know of my love for horror and that The Shining (1980) is my favorite of the genre.
But the first thing I saw Shelley Duvall in was actually *not* The Shining.
It was Mother Goose Rock ’n’ Rhyme (1990)
It aired on the Disney channel and I was obsessed with it. I watched it whenever it was on. It was great. How could it not be? The ensemble cast of actors and musicians was incredible. It was goofy and super fun and just the kind of thing you loved to watch over and over as a kid.
Shelley Duvall played the role of Little Bo Peep, who goes searching Rhymeland for a missing Mother Goose (Jean Stapleton) with Mother’s relatively unknown son Gordon, played by Dan Gilroy. It would only be years and years later (post COVID even!) that I’d find out Duvall and Gilroy were in a relationship and had been since 1989. He was her partner until her death.
I can’t think of a single thing I’ve seen her in where she doesn’t shine:
Brewster McCloud (1980)
Nashville (1975)
3 Women (1977)
McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971)
… even Popeye (1980) – which is simultaneously a good and bad film – is quite special because of her amazing performance as Olive Oyl.
The press treated her terribly back in 2016 (and seriously, fuck “Dr.” Phil forever) but hopefully that whole thing will become a mere footnote when people talk about her legacy.
By all accounts she was a kind person and a joy to be around.
Her beauty and style in the 70s and 80s was inimitable. Seventy-five is a good run but it’s still sad we lost her.
Goodbye, Shelley. 🩷
—emily duchaine
Flommist Emily Duchaine lives in the Pacific Northwest. She likes to drink mead, learn about sharks, and listen to the Talking Heads. She pretends to be a professional businesswoman most days. Copyright © 2024 Emily Duchaine.
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