A flop on release but the reputation of this film has probably risen (proportionally) more than any Peter Bogdanovich film. Its not hard to see its appeal to auteurists as it has a very strong personality, a loose-limbed feeling trip around the island of Manhattan as various detectives chase various women. There is lots of scenes using subjective camera work and without dialogue, plenty of moving around - it's a chase film. It has a carefree air and the cast all seem like nice people who enjoy each others company - which helps douse the slightly nasty taste that results from the fact that on one level this is a film about stalking. There are other unique touches, too - all the country and western songs on the soundtrack despite the fact this is set in New York, the appearance of Dorothy Stratten, Audrey Hepburn's last lead performance, the fact that Bogdanovich bankrupted himself distributing this film. Colleen Camp loves Ben Gazzarra but he then hops in bed with a sexy cab driver (Patti Hansen - never seen a cab driver quite like her, a gorgeous thing keen for a role in the hay with customers but I guess this was before AIDS hit), then falls in love with Audrey Hepburn so Camp chases John Ritter but goes for Sean Ferrer when Ritter chases Dorothy Stratten.
A film long on atmosphere and charm (also long on long takes and POV shots), short on story and characterisation. A little bit more meat in the Gazzara-Hepburn story might have made their parting more moving - it also doesn't help that the supposedly heartbroken Gazzara then goes and hops in a cab with an ever-loving Hansen something like 20 seconds after Hepburn leaves.
Having the boss of the agency have an affair with his secretary was an OK idea but one elder man-younger woman romance too many for the film (Gazzara already has two in the film with Camp and Hansen) and I wasn't wild about the shaggy haired stud detective character (Blaine Novack) who all the women love despite wearing sunglasses and a cap all the time. Hepburn is enchanting despite some unfortunate 1981 sunglasses and curly hair; Gazzara not quite believable to be this irresistible to so many younger women (maybe he is to others - I guess I'm not used to seeing him in this sort of role); Stratten lights up the scene, and Ritter very engaging in the geek-with-glasses part usually played in Bogdanovich films by Ryan O'Neal. (NB later found out that Hansen in real life went on to marry Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.)
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