Shelley with Joseph Brooks in a pub still
for If Ever See You Again, 1978
Shelley's first leading lady role came in the 1978 film If Ever I See You Again. She was handpicked by producer/director/leading man Joseph Brooks to play the part of artist Jennifer Corly, his love interest in the film. Brooks told one reporter, during the audition process, "I saw scores of girls on the East Coast, the West Coast and points in between - and SHE walked in. I know that sounds overly dramatic. But when (Shelley) walked into the room, I turned to my assistant and said, 'She's got it! She's got the part.'" Shelley's side of the story, "I was amazed at how quickly Joe made up his mind. I didn't read for the part or take a screen test. I walked in and he told the other people in the room that I was the girl he was looking for."
a writeup about the film
If Ever See You Again, 1978
The film was a sort of follow up to the 1977 movie You Light Up My Life (written and directed by Joseph Brooks as well) which featured the ballad "You Light Up My Life" (written by Brooks). The movie was a mild hit; but was panned by critics. However, the song "You Light Up My Life" (as interpreted by Debbie Boone) held the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for ten consecutive weeks in 1977. It also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. The movie If Ever I See You Again was panned by the critics as well; and was a box-office flop. But like its predecessor, the song "If Ever I See You Again" (as interpreted by Roberta Flack) was more successful than the film and peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It hit #1 on Billboard magazine's Easy Listening chart and stayed there for three weeks in July of 1978.
Shelley with Joseph Brooks in a pub still
for If Ever See You Again, 1978