Friday, March 31, 2023

1st Leading Lady Role

a pic of Shelley from the 1978 film feature
If Ever I See You Again

In 1978, Shelley got her first leading lady role opposite screenwriter, director, producer, and composer Joe Brooks in the film If Ever I See You Again. Shelley was cast in the role of Jennifer Corly, the main protagonist's love interest. 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."

Shelley in a Japanese movie flyer
(Japanese chirashi) for the feature film
If Ever I See You Again

The film wasn't a box office success ("A bomb!" Shelley would later admit), but its theme song, as interpreted by Roberta Flack, went to the top of the charts and has since been considered one of the great classic love songs from the era. The film was screened around the world including the UK, West Germany, Spain, Norway and Japan. In Japan, when a movie was being screened, movie flyers could be obtained at the theater it was being screened in. They were called chirashi and they contained pics and details about the movie. Pictures of Shelley appeared on the flyers for this film.

pics of Shelley from the 1978 film feature
If Ever I See You Again