YMRT #24: Mia Farrow in the 1960s, Part Two: Mia and Dory /
Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts.
In our last episode. we learned about Mia Farrow’s transition from Catholic school girl to wife of Frank Sinatra, and her breakout role in Rosemary’s Baby, which cost her her first marriage. This episode, while continuing the story of Mia Farrow’s life and career in the 1960s, is a little different. We’ll trace Mia’s flight to India, her time studying transcendental meditation with the Beatles, and the production of two of her most interesting movies, Secret Ceremony and John and Mary. It was whilst shooting the latter film that Mia fell in love with Andre Previn, who was married at the time to lyricist DoryPrevin — whose story will guide the second half of this episode. A schizophrenic pill addict who was afraid to fly, DoryPrevin tried, and failed, to fly to London to stop her husband from leaving her for Mia. Instead, Dory wrote a song about it — and touched off a new career as a groundbreaking autobiographical singer-songwriter.
Show notes!
Once again, special thanks are owed to Amy Nicholson of the LA Weekly and The Canon podcast, who played Mia Farrow.
If you haven’t listened to part one of this episode, please do! All of the sources used last time were relevant this time, but this episode is heavily indebted to DoryPrevin’s two autobiographies, Midnight Baby (the super crazy, jazz poetry version of her bad childhood), and Bog-trotter (the much more lucid account of her adult life, with lyrics). Both are out of print, but if you can find them used, they’re great, particularly Bog-trotter. Also, any of Dory’s music that you can get your hands on is incredibly worthy. In addition, this episode references the following articles:
“I’m Insane,” says DoryPrevin PEOPLE, January 17, 1977
“An interview with DoryPrevin” Croydon Municipal
“DoryPrevin, Songwriter, Is Dead at 86” New York Times, February 14, 2012
See also these two radio interviews (the BBC clip is excerpted in the episode):
Discography:
Sun King by The Beatles
This Protector by The White Stripes
Blue Jay Way by The Beatles
Goodbye Charlie by Dory and Andre Previn, performed by Bobby Darin
Dear Prudence by The Beatles
Calabash by Co.fee
Quasi Motion by Kevin MacLeod
Back in the USSR by TheBeatles
Lady Jane by The Rolling Stones
Holy Thursday by David Axelrod
Cylinder One by Chris Zabriskie
Whole Lotta Love performed by Ike and Tina Turner
In Pompei by Joan of Arc
Bobby’s Dream by Ralph Burns
Theme From Valley of the Dolls by Dory and Andre Previn, performed by Dionne Warwick
For Better or Worse by Kai Engel
Benbient by Canton
Once Tomorrow (instrumental version) by Josh Woodward
Undercover Vampire Policeman by Chris Zabriskie
I am a Man Who Will Fight For Your Honor by Chris Zabriskie
Mary C Brown and the Hollywood Sign by DoryPrevin, performed by Kate Dimbleby and Naadia Sheriff
Exlibris by Kosta T
How’m I Gonna Get Myself Together by DoryPrevin
live recording of Mary C, Brown and the Hollywood Sign, performed by DoryPrevin