I first saw this movie as a 2 a.m. late-night feature in 1979, I then gleaned the TV guides for the next 12 years before it was re-run in my area, such was the impact that David Janssen's performance had on me.
Janssen plays Harry Adams as a we suppose Janssen to be in real life, a disenchanted loner knowing there's something better right around the corner. With just a little help...
The story is wrapped around the backdrop of President Kennedy's assassination and loss of his still-born child, a loss Harry knows but doesn't sharedwith his wife Marian, played coldly but superbly by Stefanie Powers, and her overbearing parents.
Harry has a plan he slowly and meticulously puts into action while being pursued by bumbling P.I. Herbie Stoltz (Allen Garfield). Harry and Herbie accidently become friends sharing the same "something-better-around-the-corner" feeling albeit on different levels and different reasons.
After Harry's plan is parleyed we're introduced to Linda Evans, a somewhat after-thought character, yet essential to the surprise and amusing ending.
Throughout the movie Janssen gives his usual over-the-top performance that we've come to expect and really underestimate, while changing this character from caustic to encouraging. The backdrop of Kennedy's life intermingled through and through brings a hard, yet gentle touch of realism to the story, but it is Harry's plan that sets the intrigue.
For me, it was worth the wait of 12 years to see this picture again. I hope you get the same enjoyment I did watching the character development of David Janssen's "Harry Adams".
Janssen plays Harry Adams as a we suppose Janssen to be in real life, a disenchanted loner knowing there's something better right around the corner. With just a little help...
The story is wrapped around the backdrop of President Kennedy's assassination and loss of his still-born child, a loss Harry knows but doesn't sharedwith his wife Marian, played coldly but superbly by Stefanie Powers, and her overbearing parents.
Harry has a plan he slowly and meticulously puts into action while being pursued by bumbling P.I. Herbie Stoltz (Allen Garfield). Harry and Herbie accidently become friends sharing the same "something-better-around-the-corner" feeling albeit on different levels and different reasons.
After Harry's plan is parleyed we're introduced to Linda Evans, a somewhat after-thought character, yet essential to the surprise and amusing ending.
Throughout the movie Janssen gives his usual over-the-top performance that we've come to expect and really underestimate, while changing this character from caustic to encouraging. The backdrop of Kennedy's life intermingled through and through brings a hard, yet gentle touch of realism to the story, but it is Harry's plan that sets the intrigue.
For me, it was worth the wait of 12 years to see this picture again. I hope you get the same enjoyment I did watching the character development of David Janssen's "Harry Adams".
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