80'S FOCUS .. THE CARTIER AFFAIR .. 1984 ..

CBS Presents
A HILL / MANDELKER FILMS PRODUCTION

THE CARTIER AFFAIR

Starring

JOAN COLLINS as Cartier Rand / Marilyn Halifax

DAVID HASSELHOFF as Curt Taylor

TELLY SAVALAS as Phil Drexler

ED LAUTER as Lyndon Dean

RANDI BROOKS as Shirley

JORDAN CHARNEY as Ben Foley

CHARLES NAPIER as Morgan Carroll

RITA TAGGART as Monica

Director of Photography - Hanania Baer
Art Director - Penny V Hadfield
Music by Arthur B Rubinstein                                               Teleplay by Eugenie Ross Leming & Brad Buckner                    Story Eugenie Ross Leming & Brad Buckner & Michael Devereaux
Costumes by Joan Collins / Donfield
Edited by Erwin Dumbrille
Produced by Joel Dean / Christopher Nelson
Directed by Rod Holcomb

Cartier Rand is America's number one TV star, who appears to have everything! But appearances can be deceptive! After her menopausal assistant thrashes her Beverly Hills mansion, Cartier needs a new assistant.. Curt Taylor is released from jail, but owes prison heavy Drexler a sum of money, he can't pay.. Dexler devises a plan to break into Cartier's mansion, steal her jewellry, with Curt installed in her home, as her new gay assistant! Will Curt come up with the goods or fall for the love weapons charm? Will Cartier turn Curt into her straight man? Join in the fun and the escapades involved in The Cartier Affair!

(c) 1984 .. CBS .. 96 MINS .. COLOUR ..

When 'Dynasty' was taking a break between each season, Joan continued to work making a series of TV movies. This 1984 effort co-stars David Hasselhoff, who was on hiatus from his hit series 'Knight Rider'. They both make a handsome couple in this bright and breezy comedy, which sends up Joan's soap star image. Joan plays a sex kittenish soap star who hires David as her assistant, who she thinks is gay! 

The film was produced by Hasselhoff's agent Joel Dean, David accepted the role of Curt but was terrified of working with Joan, who he believed to be like her 'Dynasty' character! David recalled.
" On our first day of shooting, the only way I could overcome my nervousness was to go on the offensive.I knocked on her dressing room door and walked in carrying a bottle of champagne and a couple of glasses. I slammed the champagne down and said to Joan.
'I hear you are a bitch! But I love your work and I resepect you and I'm terrified! She just roared- Oh I like you! Sit down and pop that cork!"



COSTUME SKECH BY DONFIELD

Joan looks as glamorous as ever as sex siren Cartier Rand and seemed to enjoy sending up her soap image, getting a chance to bring a touch of comedy to the role. The film is an enjoyable romp and deserves a viewing, it was however screened on tv in November 1984, competing with a screening of the hit Dolly Parton / Burt Reynolds comedy musical 'The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas', so rating were not as good as hoped..

However it is one of the more memorable tv movies of the 80's and is a comedy that never loses it's sparkle!
  (c) 2011  Mark McMorrow..