Regarding this movie I am wondering all the time I see it, what a great Boulevard-Comedy it could have been! Top stars of that time, not only Brando, Loren, Chaplin, Hedren themselves, but also the wonderful "Miss Marple" Margaret Rutherford in a supporting role, fantastic colors and photographing, stunning costumes and lifestyle of the late sixties, exotic plot and hazardous funny situations... But: It is boring! Right from the beginning you do not stop waiting for the final "kick" that starts the comedy! Things are going on, you prepare for a big laughter - but nothing happens! Of course, you could say that this IS NOT a screwball comedy and that Chaplin wanted to make a silent, romantic film, but it does not work this time. The story-line is pure comedy and there is no real tragedy or subtle romance as in some of Chaplins old silent movies. The only scene which really comes up to what Chaplin is famous for, is the "bed scene" with Hudson, the butler. When he turns his face from the rigid old-school butler to the foolish boy marrying bombshell Sophia Loren and sharing the bed-room with her, you finally know, that there is at least one point worth watching the movie. And else? Marlon Brando was sure one of the greatest actors ever, but he was no comedian, the role would have better been played by Rock Hudson or Dean Martin. Sophia Loren looks fantastic, but her only skill on this film was running away and shouting "oooohhhh". And poor Tippi Hedren: After Hitchcock made his revenge for refusing him, she - with her great talent and tough beauty - appeared against the end of this film, only for some minutes; almost finishing her much too short career. Perhaps the time of great comedies was over in 1967, but think of Loren in "Arabesque", Brando in "Bounty" and Hedren in "Marnie" to imagine, what this "lost chance" could have been...! Sorry, Mr. Chaplin.
Review of A Countess from Hong Kong
