Raquel Welch and Paul Driftwood
Interview with Raquel Welch, Writer's Magazine, 1996
RW: Actually, my first attempt at writing was from a script. Patrick (Curtis) was my husband at the time and he had this script called 'Hannie Caulder'. It seemed cursed. Every time he'd almost get it sold, something would happen. I took the script and adapted it, I think that's the way you say it. Anyway, we published it under my first name, Jo, and reversed his name, so I was first on the book charts in the western category as Jo and Curtis Patrick.
Shannon Gibbs: But where did Winding Stairs come from?
RW: I replaced Karen Black in 'Burnt Offerings'.
SG: Was Working with Ollie (Oliver Reed) and Bette (Davis) that bad?
RW: No, it was that horrible child! (Lee H. Montgomery, who played Welch's son)
No. Actually, it was a fun shoot. Even Lee had fun when he wasn't with his tutor. He and Ollie would have tree-climbing contests and then Bette and I would beat them at it. Until Bette nearly fell and we found out the insurance wouldn't cover such an accident, then no more tree-climbing for any of us. So, of course, Lee and Ollie and the crew still did it. I had a lot of time, I was doing a horror movie and it wasn't so scary - the script, I mean, not to me. I began thinking about what would scare me.
SG: Do you think people were shocked that you came out with a horror novel?
RW: I think people expected a perfume from me or some sort of Jackie Collins-type novel. Not to talk down Jackie. I read her books-
SG: But that wasn't your thing?
RW: Evidently not.
* Writer of the Winding Stairs script and guest Interviewer.
On the other hand...
Footage of Oliver Reed on Dick Cavett's brief 1986-87 ABC talk show. Reed is visibly drunk and oversharing with Cavett and the audience
OR: Raquel Welch and Bette Davis. What a bloody nightmare. Both of them. And that snot-nosed kid--
DC: Lee Montgomery
OR: I don't--I just know he did that movie later on with that actor.
(Cavett and the audience start laughing)
DC: You know, that doesn't really narrow it down--
The audience is laughing. Oliver Reed pauses.
OR: Paul Driftwood!
DC: I think you mean Sam Westwood
OR: I don't bloody know. I just remember he wasn't a good actor.
DC: I interviewed Sam Westwood quite a bit in the 70s and found him to be quite an intelligent, interesting man.
(Oliver Reed looks bored and is grinning at the audience who nervously snicker)
OR: Can we stop talking about Sam bloody Driftwood?
DC: Moving on, Raquel has said nice things about you--
OR: Raquel Welch had her head buried in a notebook writing that God-awful book. When she wasn't doing that she was asking the director a bunch of questions about lighting.
DC: You'd worked with her before.
OR: Yeah and I would have walked off the set but I'd signed a contract and made the best out of the situation. [1]
[1] Allegedly, IOTL the two did not get on well.
RW: Actually, my first attempt at writing was from a script. Patrick (Curtis) was my husband at the time and he had this script called 'Hannie Caulder'. It seemed cursed. Every time he'd almost get it sold, something would happen. I took the script and adapted it, I think that's the way you say it. Anyway, we published it under my first name, Jo, and reversed his name, so I was first on the book charts in the western category as Jo and Curtis Patrick.
Shannon Gibbs: But where did Winding Stairs come from?
RW: I replaced Karen Black in 'Burnt Offerings'.
SG: Was Working with Ollie (Oliver Reed) and Bette (Davis) that bad?
RW: No, it was that horrible child! (Lee H. Montgomery, who played Welch's son)
No. Actually, it was a fun shoot. Even Lee had fun when he wasn't with his tutor. He and Ollie would have tree-climbing contests and then Bette and I would beat them at it. Until Bette nearly fell and we found out the insurance wouldn't cover such an accident, then no more tree-climbing for any of us. So, of course, Lee and Ollie and the crew still did it. I had a lot of time, I was doing a horror movie and it wasn't so scary - the script, I mean, not to me. I began thinking about what would scare me.
SG: Do you think people were shocked that you came out with a horror novel?
RW: I think people expected a perfume from me or some sort of Jackie Collins-type novel. Not to talk down Jackie. I read her books-
SG: But that wasn't your thing?
RW: Evidently not.
* Writer of the Winding Stairs script and guest Interviewer.
On the other hand...
Footage of Oliver Reed on Dick Cavett's brief 1986-87 ABC talk show. Reed is visibly drunk and oversharing with Cavett and the audience
OR: Raquel Welch and Bette Davis. What a bloody nightmare. Both of them. And that snot-nosed kid--
DC: Lee Montgomery
OR: I don't--I just know he did that movie later on with that actor.
(Cavett and the audience start laughing)
DC: You know, that doesn't really narrow it down--
The audience is laughing. Oliver Reed pauses.
OR: Paul Driftwood!
DC: I think you mean Sam Westwood
OR: I don't bloody know. I just remember he wasn't a good actor.
DC: I interviewed Sam Westwood quite a bit in the 70s and found him to be quite an intelligent, interesting man.
(Oliver Reed looks bored and is grinning at the audience who nervously snicker)
OR: Can we stop talking about Sam bloody Driftwood?
DC: Moving on, Raquel has said nice things about you--
OR: Raquel Welch had her head buried in a notebook writing that God-awful book. When she wasn't doing that she was asking the director a bunch of questions about lighting.
DC: You'd worked with her before.
OR: Yeah and I would have walked off the set but I'd signed a contract and made the best out of the situation. [1]
[1] Allegedly, IOTL the two did not get on well.
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