Perrine's date with death was delayed when she canceled her date with hair stylist Jay Sebring at the last minute. The date was August 9, 1969. It was an invitation to a gathering at Sharon Tate's home, the last gathering Tate would ever host.
The gal from Galveston got her start in entertainment as a Las Vegas showgirl at the Stardust. She later said her introduction into the legitimate theater happened when an agent saw her at a dinner party and thought she'd be right for the role of Montana Wildhack in 1972's Slaughterhouse Five. Now she's gone. So it goes.
Slaughterhouse Five wins the slashcapades, being described as a comedy/drama/military/scifi. The author of the source material, Kurt Vonnegut, said director George Roy Hill made a "flawless translation" of his novel.
Australia's Heathcote Winery must have drawn the short straw for the naming rights of their Slaughterhouse Paddock Shiraz. It's a single-vineyard (Slaughterhouse Paddock Vineyard) wine which has the boldness that only American oak can bring. It's a $60 wine.
Perrine was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for Lenny, from 1974. She played opposite Dustin Hoffman as Honey Bruce, the "Shiksa goddess" wife of troubled comedian Lenny Bruce. The part was intended for Lynda Day George, but she apparently didn't like the nudity in the script. Thankfully, that didn't bother Perrine. She was reportedly the first actress to bare her breasts on American network TV.
There is a Dom Perignon named Lenny, but that's for Lenny Kravitz, a rockstar of a different era. In Oregon's Willamette Valley, you can get a Pinot Noir from the Lenné Estate, which may be as close as we can get to Lenny, unless you know of a Riunite laced with morphine. I don't.
In 1977, Mr. Billion brought Terence Hill to American movie-goers for the first time. It was also the last screen appearance of William Redfield. Hill was a huge star in Europe at the time and this was his stateside intro.
Perrine was also featured, along with Jackie Gleason, Slim Pickens, and Chill Wills. How did Slim Pickens and Chill Wills end up in the same movie? Didn't SAG have some kind of rule against such an occurrence? Character Actor Overload? I guess not, because this was the second time for that particular Character Actor Lightning to strike. Trivia buffs know, the first was in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.
The story smacks a bit of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. Guy inherits a ton of money but has to meet a deadline in order to claim it. Gleason and Perrine stand in his way. Let the comedic action begin.
Mr. Billion flopped like Gleason doing the cannonball. Director Jonathan Kaplan considered it his career low point. Can we enjoy it today, despite all the negativity? Sure we can. Along with some bubbly.
A Champagne from the François Billion winery almost seems like low-hanging fruit for this pairing. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes are the fruit in question for Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Brut. You may have to pay $200 for it, but at least you don't have to beat the clock.
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