Privilege - a brief foray into the film world
On July 12, 1966 it was announced (during a press conference held at the Savoy) that Jean Shrimpton would star with Paul Jones (formerly of Manfred Mann) in Universal Studio’s technicolor production of Privilege. Shrimpton was paid 5,000 pounds sterling to take on the role of Vanessa Ritchie, a painter, in the Peter Watkins-directed film. Privilege was set to be filmed in Birmingham (including the Grand Hotel, City Hall, Birmingham City football ground and Pinfold Street) and London’s Pinewood Studios.
It was variously billed as a “satirical drama” or a “comedy drama.” Privilege was scripted as if it were a documentary film and is set in the near-future of 1970. The film is narrated by the main character’s manager and tells the tale of Steven Shorter, a popular singer. Shorter is manipulated and used by the government in an effort to get the masses to conform, and by the church in order to keep them interested in religion. When he realizes he has been used, he breaks away, but at the cost of his career. The film seemingly predicts the future - where people without talent are made into stars on the basis of their image alone. It looks at how the public are manipulated into embracing an image rather than talent. At the same time, it exposes the seamy underside of the pop world, where managers and the like are more interested in the percentage they earn than in the person they are representing.
Shrimpton had already been featured in an Granada/ITV Documentary called The Face on the Cover, which was an episode of their World In Action program. It was directed by Dick Fontaine and aired in May 1964. In terms of acting parts, prior to landing the role in Privilege, Shrimpton had always been offered roles where she would have played a model or what she termed “glamour walk-on parts.” At various times she had been mentioned as up for parts in Diabolik, Casino Royale, The Taming of the Shrew, The V.I.P’s and The Buttercup Chain. She chose to act in Privilege, because in her words, “This part is ideal, because I can feel for the character without working too hard.” Filming began on August 3, 1966 at Black Park, which is close to Pinewood Studios.
The film premiered on April 4, 1967 at London’s Warner Theatre/Leicester Square. It was advertised as: “The raw, shocking movie of a pop singer who makes it big!” “He entertained them...captivated them...betrayed them...He had the power of Privilege!” “Worshipped...hated...he was the ultimate entertainer!” “Behind the screams and the headlines are the puppet-makers! They pull the strings of the most unique and controversial entertainer of our time!” “Behind the screams and headlines are the manipulators...the puppet-masters who pull the strings and make the pop scene work. This is the story of ‘Steve’ - pop singer extraordinary who dared to say ‘I won’t conform.’”
There was quite a bit of hype and publicity surrounding the opening. A novel was written from the screenplay, a full-length soundtrack album was released, and there was even a contest held to win 12 of Jean Shrimpton’s dresses from the film (although according to my count, she wore nothing close to 12 dresses in the course of the movie).
Generally, Shrimpton’s performance was not given high marks, with most critics lamenting the fact that her voice projection was so weak that it was difficult to understand what she was saying. In subsequent years it was mentioned periodically that she was up for a role in a film, but other than appearing as herself in Double Pisces/Scorpio Rising, she never appeared in another movie. She did appear on many American talk shows of the era, including The Mike Douglas Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and The Dick Cavett Show. She also made a memorable, although brief, appearance on What’s My Line.
