Another TV movie about prostitutes? The network avoided every cheap shot--which in itself is notable and maybe even regrettable. But Bergen is full of surprises. In her palm is an array of colorfully wrapped bubble gum. She is also the wife of French film director Louis Malle and, of particular importance to her at the moment, she is a mother.
Daughter Chloe Malle just turned 2. Other things are boring. To get herself in the mood to act again, Bergen needed a worthwhile project. Three years ago, Barrows hit the headlines when the New York vice squad arrested her. She challenged the double standard of women being prosecuted for being in a call-girl service while the male clients were not. Her mother was taken out of the Social Register.
She simply applied her marketing skills to the business. She gave health benefits and encouraged the girls, many of whom were law and medical students, to do their homework. Before shooting started, Bergen met Barrows, who has a tiny role in the film as a woman to whom the madam is introduced. She makes money now just talking about it, Barrows says by phone from New York, just before setting off for speaking engagements in Kansas City, Omaha and Peoria, Ill.
There was a great deal of squabbling and efforts made by me, Candice, the director Lou Antonio and Mr. Robert Halmi the producer to make the movie a little more fun, a little more real.
In her view, prostitution is not the social evil that many people think. Why not let them do it in an atmosphere where they can retain their dingity, their safety and their health? But she understands why the network chose not to be true to the spirit of the book. People had to be punished. There had to be retribution. She also gave sexual and hygiene instructions, which got fairly bawdy. Our script is fairly sober and strait laced.
