Shirley MacLaine Snubbing Alice Hyatt Film

25-02-2006 06:07

Shirley Maclaine Regrets Alice Snub.Film veteran SHIRLEY MacLAINE bitterly regrets turning down the lead role in ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE, after ELLEN BURSTYN went on to win an Oscar for playing ALICE HYATT.MacLaine, 71, believes she didn't research the 1974 film properly, which was directed by highly-acclaimed film-maker MARTIN SCORSESE with Burstyn in MacLaine's would-be role. She says, "An example of one of my own biggest mistakes. I regret turning down the lead role in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, which Ellen Burstyn deservedly won an Oscar for."I said to myself, 'Who is this Martin Scorsese person? Why should I see this little film about MEAN STREETS?' "It was a terrible, terrible mistake on my part. I didn't do my homework. I didn't see his movies. And it was an excellent role for me.