Annie was very excited about this movie - partly because it was obscure and she hadn’t seen it in a long long time - and it just happened to be playing this week on Turner Classic Movies - and because I had never even heard of it.
In many ways it is hard to explain the movie. Let’s start by saying that the movie is based off a book. The book was partially fantasy and partially based on the writer’s experience visiting Hollywood from England. (Though it appears for legal reasons that the author disavowed any connection to the real world in the writing).
The movie has an odd feeling from the start. You just have to give in and ride along. It has a dry and sarcastic wit. To be honest a combination of odd over blown characters and the black and white astetic I was strongly reminded of Dr Strangelove (Which was actually released the year before).
If you replaced Peter Sellers with Jonathan Winters and instead of talking about the bomb - it’s all about love and the funeral business (Watch out Six Feet Under).
Frankly even if you don’t like the film itself as a whole - there are a number of funny parts to keep you in - plus you can do a heck of a lot of celebrity spotting - from Milton Burle , Marlon Brando, Liberace, Tab Hunter, Sir John Gielgud, James Coburn just to name a few. (My peronsal favorite was Paul Williams III - who played Little Enus in Smokey and the Bandit. This was his first movie).
Knowing that the movie is based on a book will prepare you for the ending. I would say more but just remember that things have a way of working themselves out.
Bottom Line: If you want a dark satire with a mix of stars, and a funny look at America in the 60s - this is really good movie. Something holds it back from greatness but that shouldn’t stop you from seeing it.
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