/ 14 March 2001

Mae West film in development for Dolly Parton

Los angeles – A made-for-TV movie now in development at ABC would depict the life of Mae West, the original sex goddess, in a star vehicle being created for country music legend Dolly Parton, a network official said on Tuesday.

The network, a unit of Walt Disney Co., would not confirm if Parton has agreed to the project, but said the movie was being crafted with the buxom singer in mind.

The film, which is being made in conjunction with Mandalay Television, could mark an on-screen comeback of sorts for Parton, who dazzled moviegoers with her acting in the 1980s with such films as Nine to Five and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Since then, however, her acting career has largely foundered, with her appearances limited to a string of TV movies and small roles in films in which she played herself.

Mae West, a seductive and sometimes vulgar blond actress with drooping eyelids, aggressive sexuality and a talent for memorable one-liners, featured in nine movies before her death in 1980.