Meredith Baxter-Birney, Annette O'Toole and Shelly Hack (yes, she did something other than "Charlie's Angels") star in this excellent staging of Jack Heifner's off-Broadway hit play. I particularly liked O'Toole's take on Kathy, the smart one. Her role isn't as flashy as Hack's (the whore) or Baxter-Birney's (dumb and later, drunk), but she nevertheless stole the show, despite excellent turns by the other two actresses (particularly Hack, from whom I was expecting nothing).
16 Reviews
would like to get a copy of this movie
med120324 July 2006
Throughly enjoyed this made for cable movie. Thought all three players were wonderful. Shelley Hack's performance blew me away - did not think she could act - pleasantly surprised. She did shock value very well. Annette O'Toole was fantastic as the animated and then understated Joanne. She stole the show. Meredith Baxter did and excellent job as the sad lush living out the junior league fantasy life. Would love to have a copy of Vanities -- have searched numerous data bases as well as out of print auctions and have not been able to find one. Have also emailed HBO and they ignore my request. Does anyone have a copy to copy? thanks
DVD or VHS Copy?
jeandwv14 September 2006
I remember this so well from my childhood. It was when we first got HBO! This was back when HBO was great and had all sorts of interesting "fillers" in between their movies. I remember that all three of the actresses were terrific. I have always been a fan of Shelley Hack and was so thrilled to see her in such a great role. And Anette O'Toole, well, enough said! I've noticed a lot of inquiries about VHS or DVD, but don't see any responses. Does anyone have a copy? I would love to purchase one if you do. Please e-mail me at jeandwv@yahoo.com. I would very much love to see this again. That's pretty much all I had to say, but apparently I'm required to keep typing in order to meet the minimum lines required in order to post!!!
Great stage act!
abbienormal7431 August 2002
This was a terrific performance starring Annette O' Toole, Shelly Hack, and Meredith Baxter Birney. I remember seeing it on HBO in the early 1980s. I am looking for a copy of this show! I haven't seen it in a very long time, and would LOVE to see it again!
I loved it!
obiegirl25 February 2006
I loved this play---Every once in a while I will see something that reminds me of this play. Especially when I am talking about decorating for a wedding or baby shower--and I think of the phrase...chicken wire. I really liked Annette O'Toole's character the best. I was quite young when I first saw this play on HBO, but I remember wanting to grow up to be a cheerleader like Annette's character. I loved everything about this play. I would love to have a copy of this play. I agree that a remake so to speak would be great. I also agree that Reese Witherspoon would be a great fit for Annette's role. Maybe Katie Holmes for Meredith's part, Lindsey Lohan for Shelly's role. I would love to see it on stage too.
the most enjoyable comedy/play i've ever seen & i can;t find it anywhere
silvrladee33318 August 2002
this play was 1st aired on HBO...i had it on video and my sister says i went over it and i said she went over it. nonetheless i can't locate this wonderful piece of my 80's history. if anyone knows where i can get my hands on a copy ....you would be making many girls happy happy! i've tried for 15 yrs......to even see it done by other actresses. which i did last night at a COMMUNITY theater. it was good. but nothing like the HBO special w/ meredith, annette and shelley. since we all went through a horrible year w/ sept 11th....there would be nothing that would make me laugh more that another chance to see VANITIES !
I'm looking for a copy as well.
med120312 December 2002
One of the best ensemble pieces I've seen. Chantilly Lace is another. I have been looking for a copies of Vanities for years. I have even contacted HBO but no luck. After seeing this I finally believed Shelly Hack as an actress and not a blonde bubble head. Annette O'Toole was awesome and Meredith Baxter Birney was great. Very good piece of work.
Excellent!
calwriter112 August 2000
A wonderful ensemble piece about three women that take them from High School to College and then to a later reunion. Each character has a unique voice and life path, none of which ties up easily in the end. Shows the evolution of friendship and how nothing quite turns out the way we think it will as teen-agers.
still looking
dsummershill8 December 2006
I have also been trying to get a copy of this movie for years & years ! I also tried to call and write HBO a few years ago and received no response ! Anyone whom has any luck on obtaining information , please update , I will upon any new information I may acquire in the future post it ! I also loved this HBO special and watched it every time it was replayed back in the day ! I thought it was really a moving comedy, it happens , sadly but true ! What ever happened to these awesome actresses ? I love so many of the old movies , they don't make them like they used to ! Do they ? Two of my favorite on stage plays made into movies are Neil Simons, Barefoot in the park & The odd couple !
ONE OF THE BEST PLAYS I'VE SEEN
cte9188828 January 2004
I remember watching Vanities Evey time it aired on HBO in 1981. The songs were catchy and many lessons were taught, though if my mother would have seen it she may have dropped her teeth on the floor at that time!She was very old fasioned and I was 13 or 14 years old. The impact and memories are dim at this time, and I really Really wish I had a copy of this fantastic play. Annette O'Toole, Meridith Baxter and Shelly Hack were wonderful, (I think Annette was my favorite though) since her character, Joanne, is the one I recall most and was the name that helped me find it listed on here.
Anyway...IF you have a chance to see Vanities..I Highly recommend it!! I Want A Copy Desperatly!!
Anyway...IF you have a chance to see Vanities..I Highly recommend it!! I Want A Copy Desperatly!!
A lost treasure
captdoherty30 May 2003
I saw this production when i was in eighth grade and loved it. I've seen it it several times since then as a high school play, but i really think it would be a great big screen feature for three up and coming female stars- (reese witherspoon perhaps? )great dialogue and situations
I'm looking for a copy, too!
blanding22 October 2003
I've been trying to locate this play on video since the early 80's, to no avail. Every once in a while, I write HBO and inquire about it, but they've never even bothered to answer. Since nearly everything HBO has ever done under their own production banner is available on video, I can't imagine why this great piece is not.
I'm keeping a list of these posts, so that if I ever hear anything, I can share it with you. Hope you all will do the same.
SOMEONE on earth must have recorded that thing at some point......!
I'm keeping a list of these posts, so that if I ever hear anything, I can share it with you. Hope you all will do the same.
SOMEONE on earth must have recorded that thing at some point......!
Just finished watching!
lindaoz6412 July 2004
I just finished watching the tape I made of this HBO show in 1981. It was as good if not better than when I originally saw it. Each of the characters is so incredible as are the performances by the three ladies. I have tried to explain to people about this show, but no ones knows of it. I am so pleased to find others on this site that have seen it and want to see it again. I hope that HBO will someday release it so that my copy will be better. My tape truly shows wear and tear of how many times I have viewed it. I am going to try and get it copied over to DVD but I don't know how well it will turn out because of the shape that it is in. Keep your fingers crossed! Mine are!
Help me find this piece of television history!
carri_ogrodnik5 October 2002
I have been trying for years to dig up this piece of television history. I was only 8 years old in '81, but remember loving it so much. It's one of my first memories of cable and HBO. I would love to get my hands on a copy of it. If anyone knows where I could find it, please post!
"Vanities" now made into a musical
connema25 June 2006
David Kirshenbaum has now composed the music and lyrics to Jack Heifner's "Vanities". It follows the life of three girls very closely to the play with great music of the era. The staging is just the three girls Mary, Joanne and Kathy at the gym practicing their cheer leading during that faithful day in Novemeber 1963. It follows thru to the Vietnam years when the three are in college and ends on a luxurious penthouse terrace in New York eleven years later. The three singers are all New York trained and each have a unique voice when singing '60s, '70s style songs. The musical had its world premiere last night at Mountain View, California and hopefully Mr. Kirshenbaum will take it to off Broadway.
I found Vanities (I think )
ccolby121 December 2014
I finally found a website that offers HBO'so Vanities. I loved it too and have been looking for years. I think that I might finally be successful in this. ( The rules say I must write 1st lines so I am rambling.) I was just talking to my sister and daughter about this last night. If I write the website as you would cut and paste, it is a misspelled word and not accepted so I will try to spell it out or just use your search engine for the Film Collectors Society of America. I bought this as a Christmas gift for me. Enjoy. I hope it works! Well I am still two lines hort. I doubt I will post again. There seems to be too much involved but I enjoyed reading your thoughts.
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