Having recently reread the book, I saw the second half of the movie a few nights ago on Women's Entertainment. I now would like to see the first part. Anything's better than the original movie. Veronica Hamel is a gorgeous Jennifer North and gives the character depth that Sharon Tate couldn't, or didn't, in the movie. She actually develops the character better than did Jacqueline Susann, who depicted her as a sexpot with nothing to offer except a pretty face and large breasts. Hamel's scenes with Gary Collins (who will never be confused with Gary Cooper, who has the same initials) were especially touching. Jennifer's female relationship was tastefully played and her fadeout scene was as good as one could expect from schlock such as this.
Lisa Hartman as Neely ("Neeley" in a movie billboard) O'Hara didn't work for me, but she was an improvement upon Patty Duke in the original. Susann depicted Neely brilliantly as a Judy Garland-type diva who was devious enough to have played Eve Harrington in "All About Eve." I would like to see how Hartman plays Neely in the first part of the movie. But Neely as a rock singer? Forget about it.
Catherine Hicks as Anne Welles held my attention throughout the two hours. She captured the spirit of Susann's character much better than Barbara Parkins and was much sexier, I thought, playing a professional woman than Lyon Burke's love interest. Her romantic stuff with James Coburn was handled poorly (I could picture Henry Bellamy bedding with Helen Lawson but not with Anne) and, although sympathizing a little with Lyon, I didn't care whether the two stayed together or not. As for Lyon and Neely together, it worked much better in the book than in the movie remake.
Having Anne and Neely remain friends through it all stretched the boundaries of common sense, but anyone who sits through two hours of this cinematic common candy wasn't channel-surfing for "Hamlet" in the first place.
