I've never read Kingsley Amis' novel but surely there was more to it than what is here. Not all books are easy to adapt, but my overwhelming impression watching this is "what's the point?"
Producer Hal Chester has thrown a whole bunch of ingredients into the mix - the director is Beyond the Fringe alumni Jonathan Miller, the writer is musician George Melly, the cast includes Oliver Reed coming off Women in Love and Hayley Mills trying to grow up on screen and a singer, Noel Williamson - but the end result is just... ugh, whatever.
Actually no, that's not true - for the most part this is downright uncomfortable with Reed being a sex pest to Mills - he takes her to his place, insists she go to his flat although she's not keen, kisses her and tries to seduce her, even after she repeatedly says no... then I think we're meant to hope they end up together. He keeps coming at her, she keeps saying no, but seems to like him, he keeps lecturing her that she should have sex, she relents, then finds out he told his mate they were gong to do it, she decides to sleep with his mate... I was unsure whether this happened. Then he chases after her she says she might be in love with him he keeps chasing her.
Is this meant to be romantic? Charming? Frank?
At it's heart this feels like a Rock Hudson-Doris Day-Tony Randall comedy with Oliver Reed as Rock, Hayley as Doris and Noel Harrison as Randall. Only those movies at least had the excuse of being American in the early 60s, and Hollywood glamour, nice costumes and clothes, and star charisma. This is set in some ugly small down.
Mills is actually quite good - an understated touching performance. She's so likeable you really wish she could do better than lecherous Reed. Reed has charisma as always but overpowers. He looks like a psychotic rapist there's no Rock Hudson charm. Harrison is meant to be a swinger but comes across as a creepy gay.
This was a horrible horrible movie. I felt for Hayley Mills who was doing good work.
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