“…Candy was born James Slattery, but you wouldn’t know it from her pictures.”
Andy Warhol’s circus of characters from the 1960s have provided an endless supply of stories filling magazines, books and films. One of the most notable figures from the period, Candy Darling, is now the subject of Beautiful Darling, a work-in-progress documentary screened at the CineVegas Film Festival.
Candy’s story is one of triumph and tragedy, which makes it the perfect subject for a doc by first-time feature director James Rasin. Candy was born James Slattery, but you wouldn’t know it from her pictures. Candy was a stunning blonde bombshell on the level of a Marilyn Monroe or a Kim Novak — a movie star. She or, uh, he inspired not only Warhol, who cast her in several of his art movies, but also playwright Tennessee Williams who penned a stageplay especially for her. Candy lived her dreams of becoming a star, but as soon as she reached this height, she fell just as fast. Her sad tale to be loved for who she was is told through present day interviews, archival footage and Candy’s own words from her journals.
