Norman Jewison is a top director with many credits. This is one of his least known films. Carl Reiner wrote the script and has a role in the film. James Garner and Dick Van Dyke are together in one of the rare times they would be. Garner's Cherokee Productions is involved here in this Universal Film. Elke Summer, Angie Dickinson, and Ethel Merman are all here. Even Roger C. Carmel is here just a year before he would do Star Trek and The Mother's In Law.
Yet, this movie was destined to bomb with a large B. It is hard to understand why until you watch it. The plot is a bit of a stretch, and the ending goes beyond the pale. I love looking at this cast, but it is so difficult to understand why there is so much slap stick here and so little verbal comedy. Maybe Carl Reiner was writing too many other scripts for this one to get the dialog it needed.
The opening credits, Animation from Freleng (Pink Panther) is cute. I just think that for one time too much talent got together and produced something that just did not click for audiences. The slap stick of the arrival just in time to save Garner from the guillotine at the end of the movie is a stretch here.
At least the movie is short, and fans of this great cast should enjoy the short run. It is funny, but the dark comedy which dominates this one is done much better than this in other films. I do envy Garner making out with Angie Dickinson, and Van Dyke getting to know a really hot Elke Summer. Ethel Merman gets the only musical number.
The dead artist theme is actually proved here, too much slap stick comedy is dead, in 1965. It could have been so much better.
Yet, this movie was destined to bomb with a large B. It is hard to understand why until you watch it. The plot is a bit of a stretch, and the ending goes beyond the pale. I love looking at this cast, but it is so difficult to understand why there is so much slap stick here and so little verbal comedy. Maybe Carl Reiner was writing too many other scripts for this one to get the dialog it needed.
The opening credits, Animation from Freleng (Pink Panther) is cute. I just think that for one time too much talent got together and produced something that just did not click for audiences. The slap stick of the arrival just in time to save Garner from the guillotine at the end of the movie is a stretch here.
At least the movie is short, and fans of this great cast should enjoy the short run. It is funny, but the dark comedy which dominates this one is done much better than this in other films. I do envy Garner making out with Angie Dickinson, and Van Dyke getting to know a really hot Elke Summer. Ethel Merman gets the only musical number.
The dead artist theme is actually proved here, too much slap stick comedy is dead, in 1965. It could have been so much better.