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Reviews
Howie (1962)
A Cult Classic in the Making! This should have been a Huge Hit!
All of Paul Lynde's TV show projects should be seen. This one named "Howie" from the very early 60s is hilarious and should have been a huge hit going on for years! First off,I love the fact that because it is from the very early 60s,it has a strong 50s vibe. This reveals how early it is in Paul Lynde's career. Female lead Peggy Knudson has a very 50s styled blonde do and is beautiful in that 50s kinda way and very engaging and funny!
Will (Sugarfoot) Hutchins as the braniac but eccentric son in law who ends up moving into Lynde's home with his newly wedded daughter played by Mary (Spider Baby, Dementia 13) Mitchel. A million stories could have been built around the very funny premise of the awkward relationship between Lynde and Hutchins. Also, around this time, Paul was very active in film work being featured in several big named big screened hits like Son of Flubber (62), Bye Bye Birdie (63), Under the Yum Yum Tree (63), For Those Who Think Young(64), Send Me Know Flowers (64), Beach Blanket Bing (65), The Glass Bottom Boat (66), and How Sweet it Is! (68). He worked with cinema's big hitters of that era in the 60s, Fred MacMurray, Ann Margret, Dick Van Dyke,Edie Adams, Imogene Coca, Tina Louise,Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello,
Carol Lyndley ,Doris Day, Rod Taylor, Dom Deluise, Debbie Reynolds, and James Garner to name a few. Always hilarious and brilliant in any of the screen time he has in all of them. His other TV series attempt in 1972 with The Paul Lynne Show is also very funny. Plus,his bizarre and classic Halloween special from 1976 has acquired cult status with that crazy mixed bag of celebrity guests such as Donny and Marie Osmond, Betty White, KISS, Florence Henderson,Tim Conway, Billy Barty, Roz Kelly, Billy Hayes and Margaret Hamilton. He's a genius!
The Ladies Man (1961)
What Was That?...What a Mess!
This is one of Jerry's weakest vehicles. It is all over the place and doesn't make a lot of sense or have much substance. Beautifully shot in gorgeous color with tons of beautiful women who inhabit a women's theatrical home, most notably HOPE HOLIDAY (Lil' Abner,The Apartment,Irma La Duce), 1930's and 40's Universal child singing star GLORIA JEAN who is simply lost amongst the women and given nothing to do, Blonde bombshell JOAN STALEY (1958 Playboy Playmate, Cape Fear,The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, Bells Are Ringing)...lost..., MADLYN RHUE (already a pretty established actress at this point with very few lines),DARIA MASSEY (The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima, High School Caesar) is visible ,KARYN KUPCINET (famous tragic Hollywood murder victim) is given a few lines, ANN MACRAE (Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter, Kiss Them for Me, Girls Girls Girls),...lost...JACQUELINE FONTAINE (Singer and Actress)...where was she?...lost...PATRICIA BLAIR???...lost...MARIANNE GABA???...lost...MARY LAROCHE ( Bye Bye Birdie)???...lost. There was a weird surrealistic dance number with SYLVIA LEWIS in white face and HARRY JAMES playing the trumpet that was completely out of left field and totally unnecessary. My favorite character actress KATHLEEN FREEMAN shines as always. Opera singer HELEN TRAUBEL does her best with this shallow script playing the houses head mistress. GEORGE RAFT,MARTY INGLES,DOODLES WEAVER and BUDDY LESTER (his bit being the funniest) show up in cameos to fill in time. However the three story set for the theatrical home was built on a sound stage and was pretty amazing. DIANA DORS was intended to be Jerry's love interest in this film but had just finished the film On the Double with (I guess) rival comedian Danny Kaye so I assumed she was being punished by Jerry and was replaced by mousey Broadway actress PAT STANLEY who is the physical opposite of the British Blonde Bombshell. DIANA would have been interesting to see in this but would have been wasted. This was Jerry's baby. He wrote it along with MEL BROOKS and directed it himself. It starts off with promise and you can see Mel's influence in places but it just wanders off and goes everywhere just like this review. I really wanted to like it and paid for it's rental on YouTube but was left unsatisfied and kind of dumb struck. I am glad others enjoyed it but when it comes to favorite Jerry Lewis films I will stay with The Nutty Professor,Rock a Bye Baby, The Disorderly Orderly and Who's Minding the Store?
Marked Woman (1937)
Bette Davis, Isabel Jewell and Mayo Methot shine.
An excellent 1930s Warner Brothers potboiler excelling in what this studio did best at that time, gritty,hard hitting crime dramas. Bette Davis always said she didn't like her face but is beautiful here as the tough girl with the heart of gold. She is completely engaging and steals the picture. Another surprise performance is Isabel Jewell as another "club hostess" who starts out corrupt and in it for herself but makes a drastic turn for redemption after she coaxes Bette's innocent little sister (Jane Bryan) to join her for a party at head gangster's ( Eduardo Ciannelli) place. There Bryan loses her life at Ciannelli's hands. Jewell's regret and sorrow over this is well played and heartbreaking. Mayo Methot plays the hostess who is verging on being over the hill but Bette steps in saving her job when Ciannelli wants her fired. Methot married Humphrey Bogart who plays the law on the case. Her hard appearance and tough exterior are countered by her good heart. Another noteworthy co-star is Lola Lane (one of the famous Lane sisters) in an uncharacteristically tough role as one of the hostesses. The entire cast steps up to the plate offering solid and fascination entertainment. A worthy and curious gem. Check it out!