Call Me Madam is one of my favorite old movies, but I had no idea it was based off a real woman's life! Pearl Mesta started life in Oklahoma, and when her father struck oil, her future was well ensured. However, while the musical references her background, the main plot and character of the woman are vastly different that what really happened. In the musical, Ethel Merman portrays an absolute idiot. In The Hostess with the Mostest, a television biopic of the Pearl Mesta, Shirley Booth takes over and tells her real story.
A fast learner who relies on natural intelligence and spontaneous problem-solving, Pearl travels to New York to pursue her dream of being an opera singer. While she doesn't make it, she does fall in love with her neighbor, Robert Lowrey. As a housewife, she has other goals: to become a wonderful hostess and for her guests to be incredibly happy at her parties. Once in Washington, she hobnobs with senators, President Truman, and gossip columnists-Hedda Hopper plays one!
If you've never seen Call Me Madam, this story probably won't appeal to you. But if you have, and you're interested in what the real Pearl was like, you can give this a watch. Shirley is always a likable heroine, and believe it or not, she looks really pretty in this movie! Her gowns are very flattering, making me wonder if it was her money her guests were interested in, or her other assets.
