Sex and drugs in the Big City are too much for the young country reared
Southern ladies and gents to bear, in this well over the top and very
florid meller, directed by the always unreliable Michael Anderson. But
I was young (23) when I saw it at the Loew's Warfield in San Francisco,
with PLATINUM HIGH SCHOOL, on 9-19-60; and it's a movie aimed at a young
audience. I always loved Natalie Wood, back to when we both were kids;
Bob Wagner was a fave since 1950; Susan Kohner caught my eye in TO HELL
AND BACK, dazzled the world, and me, in IMITATION OF LIFE.
George Hamilton's the odd man out here, but he's credible. Story and
treatment are pure soap, but nothin's wrong with that.
The only sour note for me in this lushly produced and always interesting
walk on the 1930s wild side, is the music. Jazz and more jazz; badly
played, written, composed and sung. Stops the movie stone cold whenever
they use it, which is waayy too often. Pearl Bailey's role shoulda been
cut. This aside I found it, then and now, an absorbing and watchable drama
with a sterling cast of young stars. The two girls are excellent in
every way. Too long (124), and too much jazzy music -
Southern ladies and gents to bear, in this well over the top and very
florid meller, directed by the always unreliable Michael Anderson. But
I was young (23) when I saw it at the Loew's Warfield in San Francisco,
with PLATINUM HIGH SCHOOL, on 9-19-60; and it's a movie aimed at a young
audience. I always loved Natalie Wood, back to when we both were kids;
Bob Wagner was a fave since 1950; Susan Kohner caught my eye in TO HELL
AND BACK, dazzled the world, and me, in IMITATION OF LIFE.
George Hamilton's the odd man out here, but he's credible. Story and
treatment are pure soap, but nothin's wrong with that.
The only sour note for me in this lushly produced and always interesting
walk on the 1930s wild side, is the music. Jazz and more jazz; badly
played, written, composed and sung. Stops the movie stone cold whenever
they use it, which is waayy too often. Pearl Bailey's role shoulda been
cut. This aside I found it, then and now, an absorbing and watchable drama
with a sterling cast of young stars. The two girls are excellent in
every way. Too long (124), and too much jazzy music -