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Posts from the ‘1967’ Category

Mar 6

Wait Until Dark

Wait Until Dark is one of those thrillers that relies on a gimmick. In this case, the gimmick is pitch blackness. The basics of this 1967 picture work out okay, with Audrey Hepburn succeeding as the blind woman in distress and Alan Arkin hamming it up somewhat as a crazed criminal. At the time of its release, the movie was promoted largely for its last act and theatres were plunged into total darkness for effect. Fear is a wonderful selling point.

But the film still has a number of flaws and holes because it has to act as audience bait. This is standard ground for thrillers and horror movies to walk on, I guess, as there has to be a lure to get people into the seats. Still, Wait Until Dark doesn’t feature a very smart heroine (or smart criminals) and there are more than a few moments of head-scratching confusion.

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Feb 2

You Only Live Twice

You Only Live Twice is the fifth James Bond film in the series. Directed by Lewis Gilbert, it’s very, very loosely based on the Ian Fleming novel of the same name. The screenplay, believe it or not, is by Roald Dahl. Yes, the Charlie and the Chocolate factory guy. Dahl’s screenplay actually tosses most of the components from the Fleming source and comes up with a story all its own.

The movie has the usual Bond elements, including exotic locales, gorgeous women and fun gadgets. It was originally supposed to be Sean Connery’s last spin in the role, but that turned out somewhat differently thanks to Diamonds are Forever and the outcast Never Say Never Again. It would be Gilbert’s first time behind a Bond film but not his last. He’d step behind the camera again for The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker, both of which starred Roger Moore.

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Jan 10

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The Jungle Book

Disney’s The Jungle Book is a jazzy, funky, fun 1967 animated feature that introduces cool characters and good songs. It’s one of the better movies to come out of Disney and represents the company at its breezy, easygoing best. This is the last picture personally overseen by Walt Disney, as he would die during its production.

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Sep 19

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Casino Royale

As an example of pure absurdity, Casino Royale can’t be missed. Of course, it’s a terrible motion picture and the amount of ego and indulgence on display is often disturbing, but it’s still a compelling project in terms of just how off the rails things got. The movie is, of course, loosely based on Ian Fleming’s novel of the same name. It’s intended as a slap in the face of the Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman series, but it’s too terrible and too misguided to make any sort of impact beyond the car crash variety.

The story behind Casino Royale is more interesting than the chaos on screen. Producer Charles K. Feldman had acquired the film rights to Fleming’s novel before the Bond series took off and before Sean Connery had become a household name. He was unable to turn it into an official Bond film, though, so he hired a fleet of directors and a pile of actors to spend $12 million on the project. Sure, it was originally slated as a $6 million movie, but things got so bloated throughout production that the $12 million expanse was remarkably easy to reach.

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Dec 28

A Guide for the Married Man

Gene Kelly directs A Guide for the Married Man, a film that is truly a product of its time. The 1967 “bedroom farce” feels quite dated today and seems to rely on its guest stars a bit too much, but the root of it is a pretty funny little send-up of infidelity and how not to get caught screwing around on your wife. The premise is ludicrous from the outset, with a bunch of slovenly dopes paired with some truly glorious hotties, so right away you know Kelly’s up to something…

To take anything in A Guide for the Married Man seriously requires the bending of logic. We have to accept that Walter Matthau’s Paul Manning could be married to Inger Stevens’ Ruth Manning, for instance, and we have to imagine that he’d want to cheat on Inger Stevens. This takes some doing. We also have to accept, rationally, that Robert Morse’s Ed Stander is going to help Paul cheat on his wife and that his gap-toothed idiot grin is something women look for.

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