One of the last films Sandra Dee made for Universal
and Ross Hunter, who had made her a star. She’s the spunky
granddaughter of an eccentric Auntie Mame type, played by Rosalind
Russell, who runs around spending money, being wacky and driving fast
cars. Her kids worry that their inheritance is being flittered away so
they move to have her declared insane.
There’s a climax reminiscent of Mr Deeds
(complete with scene where Russell sulks and doesn’t want to be proved
sane, but rallies because of the love of a good woman [well in this case
man]). There are also references to King Lear which doesn’t
quite work because Lear was a ruthless prat who was dumb because he gave
up his money and power – Rosie here married into her money and hasn’t
done anything to deserve losing it.
It’s based
on a play written by Ruth Gordon, who could have played the title role.
James Farentino is in the John Gavin part as the young lawyer who falls
for Dee and helps Russell. If I’m not mistaken it’s implied they have
pre-marital sex – a sign that the 60s were starting to swing in Ross
Hunter land. Another sign are comments made about the Youth of Today by
Russell that the kids always want everything now, and being young is a
state of mind rather than age, and young people can be greedy. It’s sort
of trying to have it’s cake and eat it too – say old people aren’t as
fogey-ish as you think. Dee is fine in a not-much role (she’s nice and
that’s it basically).
Brian Aherne is the elder
lawyer who secretly loves Russell; other old timers include Juanita
Moore, Margaret Hamilton and Virigina Grey; Leslie Neilson offers smooth
villainy as a greedy so in law. It doesn’t look particularly glossy or
expensive –a bit TV.
No comments:
Post a Comment