Notes From D. R.

Hey, why doesn’t somebody make a movie about the fascinating life of Dolores Hart?

The former actress’ life would make for a compelling film. In the late-1950s and early-1960s, Hart was a rising star in Hollywood, playing Elvis Presley’s love interest in two films and delivering a memorable performance in 1960’s Where the Boys Are.

As her popularity increased, her dissatisfaction with Hollywood also continued to grow. By the mid-1960s, she felt a profound sense of spiritual emptiness, an emotional ache too powerful to ignore. Feeling a deep religious calling, she abruptly ended her film career in 1963 to become a Benedictine nun.

Hart’s journey from Hollywood to holiness is a captivating story; it would be an ideal role for either Renee Zellweger or Reese Witherspoon. In this post-Passion era, it’s unlikely that the film would be a box-office failure. Not only would a Hart biopic make a great family film, it would also stem the tide of criticism Hollywood receives for not creating enough good roles for women. Talk about laying two birds to rest with one stone!

If they can make a movie about ’50s pinup-star-turned-born-again-Christian Bettie Page, why not a biopic about Hart? If it’s well-written, well-acted, and well-directed, it would be the sort of movie a lot of folks have been praying for.

UPDATE: An April 2006 AP profile of Hart.