“Whatever Happened to Christopher Jones? (Part 2)” delves deeper into the mysterious disappearance of the enigmatic actor.
Jones, known for his roles in “Wild in the Streets” and “Ryan’s Daughter,” vanished from the spotlight, leaving fans and industry insiders puzzled.
Part 2 explores new leads and interviews with acquaintances, shedding light on Jones’ tumultuous life and the factors that contributed to his retreat from fame.
The documentary offers a captivating exploration of a forgotten Hollywood figure.
Whatever Happened to Christopher Jones? (Part 2)
In the conclusion of Peter Winkler’s two-part investigation into the captivating yet tumultuous career of Christopher Jones:
William J. Immerman, associate producer of “Wild in the Streets,” was initially impressed by Jones’ performance in “The Legend of Jesse James.”
However, he had heard rumors about Jones’ problematic behavior.
After consulting with Stuart Cohen, one of Jones’ managers, Immerman felt reassured that proper supervision would be provided during filming; despite Jones missing a script read-through, principal photography wrapped smoothly in just 20 days.
Larry Bishop, a newcomer to the film, described Jones as friendly and supportive, even offering acting advice.
Variety’s “Murf” praised Jones in his favorable review of “Wild in the Streets,” noting his potential for stardom.
New York Times reviewer Renata Adler hailed the film as the best American film of the year, applauding its bold and insightful exploration of generational issues.
Jones’ subsequent film, “Three in the Attic” (1968), differed significantly from “Wild in the Streets.”
Portraying Paxton Quigley, a womanizing college student, Jones navigates a complex web of affairs with three co-eds.
The film takes a dark turn as the women retaliate by confining Quigley in an attic and attempting to exhaust him with relentless sexual advances.
Eventually, Quigley’s predicament is discovered, leading to a dramatic resolution involving the school’s headmistress and one of the co-eds.
Renata Adler praised the performances of Mr. Jones and Miss Mimieux in “Three in the Attic” for their diligence and charm.
However, she critiqued the film’s content, describing it as a mishmash of outdated themes and concepts.
It is compared unfavorably to films like “The Touchables” and “Joanna,” citing its depiction of the generation gap, hippiedom, college life, and philosophical influences as tired and uninspired.
Adapted from John Le Carre’s novel, “The Looking Glass War” (1969) featured a prestigious cast including Sir Ralph Richardson and a young Anthony Hopkins.
Jones portrayed a Polish émigré recruited by British intelligence to infiltrate East Germany and gather intelligence on Soviet nuclear missiles.
During filming in London, Jones engaged in a tumultuous affair with Pamela Courson, the girlfriend of Jim Morrison, which ended abruptly when she discovered Jones’ correspondence with Susan Strasberg.
Subsequently, Jones became involved with his co-star, Pia Degermark, and briefly dallied with Susan George, who played his on-screen girlfriend.
Following “The Looking Glass War,” Jones starred in “A Brief Season” (1969), filmed in Italy.
Portraying an American stockbroker in Rome, Johnny, Jones’ character, embarks on a risky venture to finance his romance with Luisa (played by Degermark). The ill-fated investment leads to tragedy, culminating in a shocking act of violence by Luisa.
Exhausted from his previous project, Jones initially hesitated to take on “A Brief Season.” However, producer Dino De Laurentiis convinced him with a substantial financial offer, including a nearly million-dollar salary and a luxury Ferrari.
A harrowing incident during a drive in the Ferrari, where Jones narrowly avoided a fatal accident, reinforced his belief in divine intervention and the precarious nature of life.
In a 2007 interview with Britain’s Daily Mail, Jones disclosed his affair with Sharon Tate during the filming of Twelve Plus One (1970) in Rome in March 1969. At the time, Tate, pregnant and separated from her husband Roman Polanski, could not join him due to visa issues.
“Sharon arrived in Rome with my manager, and we all planned to dine together that night,” Jones recalled. Later, while sitting on Tate’s hotel room couch, she introduced him to opium.
Despite her reputed aversion to drugs, Tate sought out the substance, eventually inviting Jones onto her bed.
Following their encounter, Jones decided to retire upstairs, expressing concern over Polanski’s potential return.
Worried about the consequences, he left Tate’s room despite her request for him to stay.
Jones then traveled to Dingle, Ireland, for his role in David Lean’s Ryan’s Daughter (1970), the most prestigious project of his career.
Portraying Major Randolph Doryan, a traumatized World War I veteran, Jones found the experience challenging. Inclement weather and Lean’s perfectionism prolonged filming, leading to the actor and director clashes.
Jones suffered a nervous breakdown upon learning of Tate’s tragic murder, affecting his performance and prompting concerns from co-star Sarah Miles.
Reflecting on Jones’ troubled demeanor during filming, Miles described him as an enigma with deep inner turmoil.
Following the shoot, Jones was reportedly hospitalized for his mental health struggles.
Jones and Miles lacked chemistry while filming Ryan’s Daughter, causing issues during their intimate scenes.
Jones even angered director Lean by refusing to touch Miles’ breast in a pivotal scene, claiming a sudden religious awakening.
Lean’s frustration led to a confrontation, resulting in Jones being banished from the set.
Jones skipped the premiere of Ryan’s Daughter in 1970, later expressing dissatisfaction with the film’s production.
Director Frank Corsaro recalled Jones’ disappointment with the project, describing it as a “catastrophic situation” for him due to perceived mistreatment from Lean.
Shortly after the release of Wild in the Streets, Jones abruptly retired from acting and retreated from public life.
He cited exhaustion from multiple love affairs and a near-fatal car accident in Ireland as contributing factors to his decision.
Jones’ disillusionment with acting deepened after the deaths of Sharon Tate and Jim Morrison, with whom he identified.
He characterized his experiences working with directors Lean and Castellani as unpleasant and humiliating, leading to his disdain for the profession.
In interviews, Jones offered conflicting explanations for his departure from acting.
He attributed his financial woes to mismanagement by his managers and recounted being trapped in a cult-like group in Virginia.
Perkins disputed claims of Jones’ managers being malicious, suggesting his breakdown led to paranoia and distrust.
She recounted an incident where Jones allegedly threatened his agent with a gun, further illustrating his deteriorating mental state.
Following his retirement, Jones lived a lavish lifestyle, depleting his substantial earnings.
He relied on financial support from his partners, Carrie Abernathy and later Paula McKenna, with whom he had tumultuous relationships marred by abuse and legal disputes.
Quentin Tarantino extended an offer to Jones for the role of Zed in Pulp Fiction (1994). However, Jones initially ignored Tarantino’s calls, unfamiliar with the director.
When presented with the script later, he declined the opportunity, disinterested in acting or the part. His girlfriend at the time dissuaded him from accepting the role, deeming it objectionable.
Jones reluctantly accepted a cameo in Trigger Happy (also known as Mad Dog Time [1996]) out of financial necessity at the urging of his friend Larry Bishop.
Despite his reservations, Jones delivered a compelling performance as Nicholas Falco, showcasing his enduring charisma.
Jones candidly discussed his career and personal opinions in a revealing interview with Pamela Des Barres for Movieline magazine in 1996.
He expressed disdain for comparisons to James Dean and criticized his films as “crap,” admitting to never thoroughly reading the scripts. Jones also questioned his acting abilities, admitting to inconsistency.
Jones faced a life-threatening medical crisis in November 1997, experiencing hemorrhagic shock from a perforated ulcer.
He attributed the health scare to years of stress, exacerbated by the end of his long-term relationship with Paula McKenna.
Despite reports suggesting a suicide attempt, Jones clarified that he never intended to harm himself.
He recounted the ordeal of injecting nutrients into his stomach and occasionally indulging in alcohol against medical advice.
Jones resided in Seal Beach, California, alongside Paula McKenna during his final years. 2009, he briefly taught an acting class at a nearby private school.
Diagnosed with gallbladder cancer in December 2013, he passed away on January 31, 2014, at the Los Alamitos Medical Center in California.
In a 1996 conversation with Pamela Des Barres, Jones expressed dissatisfaction with his life, likening himself to Dorian Gray, haunted by his past fame.
In a 2000 interview with the Chicago Tribune, Jones reflected on his life, “I am content. Everyone has regrets, but I prefer not to dwell on them. I lived life on my terms—within my own sphere.”
Speaking to Harvey Chartrand, Jones emphasized his lack of bitterness towards life’s outcomes, attributing events to fate.
He desired his epitaph to convey the sentiment: “Some things are better left unsaid.”
