An attractive, mildly perverse and playful tale about a former mental patient and pathological liar (Anthony Perkins) who seduces a high-school cheerleader (Tuesday Weld) under the guise of being a secret agent, but then ends up in more of a pickle than he bargained for. Stephen Geller's novel "She Let Him Continue" was adapted by veteran Hollywood penner Lorenzo Semple Jr. (Papillon, The Parallax View) into a clever little screenplay, but it is Noel Black's fun, spirited direction which gives Pretty Poison its distinction. He finds humour and parables around every corner and in the bleakest of situations, something which provides the understructure for Anthony Perkins' wonderful Dennis Pitt - a true invention of a character. And despite its entertaining, seditious nature, the film demonstrates a not unsubstantial understanding of the human psyche as well. A sexy Tuesday Weld just about pulls off her role as a high schooler, despite being too old for the part. And Beverly Garland is spunky as her mother. The score is by Johnny Mandel (M*A*S*H).
Review of Pretty Poison
