Sandra Bernhard under a trellis of dolls, looking mischievousalr

Dallas Doll

Jenni Olson in Conversation with Maria San Filippo
Screening on Film
Directed by Ann Turner.
With Sandra Bernhard, Victoria Longley, Frank Gallacher.
US, 1994, 35mm, color, 105 min.
Print source: HFA

This rarely seen 1994 Australian comedic drama stars the inimitable Sandra Bernhard as a charismatic bisexual golf pro who tries to seduce an entire suburban family—à la Pasolini’s Teorema. The only member of the family to resist her charms is the teenage daughter played by Australian actress Rose Byrne (Instant Family; Juliet, Naked) in her terrific film debut. Writer-director Ann Turner tosses in subplots about UFOs and Japanese golf course developers as the film becomes increasingly wacky. Dallas Doll was the closing night film for the 1995 Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival and had an extremely brief, limited US theatrical release to very mixed reviews before its complete disappearance (it was never released on home video). Sandra Bernhard instantly disowned the film, and it has remained virtually unseen other than in a handful of special screenings. According to the original Variety review, Dallas Doll had production troubles, which may in part have been responsible for its unevenness. Even in its pan, Variety accurately noted “its blend of sensuality and sardonic humor” and praised Bernhard as “sleek and quite sexy.” 

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