Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story

Plot

This for Remembrance, the autobiography of popular singer Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002), was the source for this made-for-TV biopic. Played herein by Sondra Locke, the Kentucky-born Clooney begins her career as one-half of a musical act with her sister Betty (Penelope Milford), performing at the election rallies of her politician uncle (John Karlen). Achieving radio popularity in Cincinnati, Ohio, Rosemary goes on to enjoy nationwide fame in the 1950s with such hit recordings as "Come On A' My House", "Tenderly" and "Hey There". Though her success in movies is negligible (White Christmas notwithstanding), she makes a huge impact on television, hosting several of her own weekly series. All the while, however, Rosemary's private life is in turmoil, due in great part to a tempestuous marriage to actor-director Jose Ferrer (played by, of all people, Tony Orlando). After the assassination of her great friend Robert Kennedy in 1968, Rosemary suffers a nervous breakdown, and it is many years before she is able to make a triumphant comeback on the concert trail. Rosemary Clooney herself serves as the singing voice of Sondra Locke, and also dubs in the tunes performed by the actress playing sister Betty. Had Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story aired on CBS a decade or so after its original telecast on December 18, 1982, mention might have been made of the subsequent success of Clooney's actor son Miguel Ferrer and her TV-star nephew George Clooney; there might even have been a re-enactment of Rosemary's third marriage, capriciously staged at a White Castle restaurant in Cincinnati. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Cast

Jeb Stuart Adams - Nicky Clooney; Cheryl Anderson - Aunt Jean; Hilary Beane - Grace Raines; Walter Berry - Dr. Slocum; Rosemary Clooney; Tamar Cooper - Edith Head; Alfred Dennis - Henri; Katherine Helmond - Frances Clooney; Patti Jerome - Maid; John Karlen - Uncle George; Penelope Milford - Betty Clooney; Tony Orlando - Jose Ferrer; Eli Rill - Mitch Miller; Don Sherman - Club Manager; Sammy Shore - Comic; Carl Steven - Raphael Ferrer; Edson Stroll - Arthur Park; Joey Travolta - Dante DiPaulo; Joseph Michael Cala - Producer; Sondra Locke - Rosemary Clooney; Kevin McCarthy - Dr. Jones; Jessica Rains - Marjorie; Judith Novgrod - Script Girl; Cliff Murdock - Dr. Sherman; Wendell Wright - Man at Rally; Christopher Thomas - Bob Lewine; Robert Ridgely - Mort Weiner; Richard Quinn - Miguel Ferrer; Richard Balin - Bill Loeb; Blake Marion - Steven Smith; Michael Keenan - Dr. Hallinan; Charlotte DeRose - Charles Trotta; Guy Pastor - Tony Pastor; Mark Bruser - Bill Petering; Debi Fries - Nurse; Ruth Ann McCoy - Campaigner; Carola McGuiness - Maria Ferrer; Marcello Krakoff - Gabriel Ferrer

Credit

Nicholas Parsons - Art Director, Jean-Pierre Dorleac - Costume Designer, Jackie Cooper - Director, Thomas Fries - Editor, Charles W. Fries - Executive Producer, Frank Ortega - Composer (Music Score), Howard Schwartz - Cinematographer, Jackie Cooper - Producer, Rosemary Clooney - Singer, Katherine E. Coker - Teleplay By, Rosemary Clooney - Book Author, Raymond Strait - Book Author

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