Moviedrome Introduction (YouTube Link)
Film Details
Release Date: 1965
Director: Tony Richardson
Stars:
Robert Morse as Dennis Barlow
Rod Steiger as Mr. Joyboy
John Gielgud as the Uncle Sir Francis Hinsley
Plot Summary
Dennis Barlow (Robert Morse), a young English poet, arrives in Los Angeles to work at a movie studio. When his uncle, Sir Francis Hinsley (John Gielgud), loses his job in Hollywood and subsequently commits suicide, Dennis is left to handle the funeral arrangements. This draws him into the surreal world of Whispering Glades, a lavish cemetery modeled on Forest Lawn, where the dead are treated with consumerist spectacle.
At Whispering Glades, Dennis meets Aimee Thanatogenos (Anjanette Comer), a naïve and devout cosmetician devoted to her work with the dead. She becomes the object of romantic rivalry between Dennis and the eccentric embalmer Mr. Joyboy (Rod Steiger), whose grotesque attachment to his domineering mother adds a disturbing layer of comedy.
Meanwhile, Reverend Wilbur Glenworthy (Jonathan Winters), who oversees Whispering Glades, concocts grandiose schemes to profit from death. His most outrageous plan is to launch human remains into orbit as part of a futuristic "Heavenly Acres" space-burial service.
As Dennis woos Aimee with poetry and Joyboy pursues her with macabre devotion, she becomes overwhelmed by her conflicting ideals, her faith in Glenworthy’s pseudo-religious funeral empire, and her disillusionment with both men. Tragedy follows, leading to her demise. Dennis, left behind, drifts on, a passive observer of the bizarre, grotesque culture he has stumbled into.
Personal History
Never heard of it.
Current Review
Jet black comedy, where I was never sure which bits to laugh at, so laughed at nothing. Reminded me of an unfunny Dr Strangelove.
Black and White, it has a British Innocent, who has won a free flight anywhere in the world. He decides to visit his uncle (Geilgun is the best thing in the film) in Los Angeles, at the very point where he loses his job. I was vaguely interested in the ex-pat community, their endless dinner parties and drinking and allegiance to the Queen. Watching a dated film like this really emphasises the changes she lived through.
On losing his job, a rather graphic suicide and the arrangements for a funeral.
Knowing nothing about the pomposity of American funerals, the jokes were rather lost on me once a reserved Liberace started the up-sell of coffins. Interest slipped, the mobile phone was messed around with and before I knew it, there was an orgy in the funeral home and ashes were being shot into space.
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| A non piano playing Liberace on the up-sell |
This makes it sound better than it was - but I do have 30 days to re-watch it on Amazon and see if it holds more appeal.
Quirky Facts
Evelyn Waugh disowned this movie of his famous novella and tried unsuccessfully to get his name taken off of the credits. Three days after the movie's London opening, he died unexpectedly at his house in Somerset. It is thought that he had not seen it.
This is Liberace's only movie in which he does not play the piano on-screen.
American Robert Morse had such trouble keeping up his "British" accent that eventually all of his dialogue had to be recorded in a studio and dubbed over the movie. Ha! I thought it was dubbed.
Quotes
A rather excellent Eulogy poems;
Dennis Barlow: They told me, Francis Hinsley, they told me you were hung. With red protruding eyeballs and black protruding tongue.
Dusty Acres: [in a thick southern drawl] Ah shore do feel bad about yore uncle. He's the one that learned me good English.
Future Inspiration
Interesting that the film is based on a book by Evelyn Waugh. I was thinking maybe to look there for future inspiration, but it transpires that I have read "Scoop" and found it dated and racist. Maybe not, then.
AI gives Dr Strangelove (already identified as similar) and nod and a couple of books by Mr Amis - Lucky Jim by SNR and Money by JNR.
Both already read but I am working my way through Martin's work and look forward to re-reading Money.
Interesting AI put together a movie and book pairing - and has recommended The Player to be partnered with Money.
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