I remember when this movie was released and hearing about
the friction between co-stars Bette Midler and Ken Wahl. Midler had won rave
reviews for her performance 3 years earlier in THE ROSE. Wahl was an up and
coming actor noted for his looks coming off of a string of moderately
successful films like FORT APACHE THE BRONX and SOLDIER. Apparently during the
filming the two crashed frequently and the pair, lovers in the film, both
described how unpleasant it was to kiss each other.
But the one thing that got me the most was hearing Midler
complain about the director of the film. She talked about how he didn’t know
what he was doing and how he had it in for her. Those comments cemented her in
my mind as a diva at the time. Why? The director she claimed was terrible was
Don Siegel, the director of films like INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, HELL IS
FOR HEROES, THE SHOOTIST, ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ and DIRTY HARRY. Comparing that
resume with her one previous starring role made me think the friction was
directed at her so much as emanating from her.
After watching this movie for the first time some 34 years
later my beliefs were confirmed. The film studio centered the film around
Midler trying to cash in on her popularity at the time and it shows. The film
revolves around her making most of the other characters seem like side notes.
Worse yet the trailer for the film, included on this blu-ray release, also
showcases her and makes the movie seem like a hilarious new comedy. If that was
what they were going for they failed miserably.
The story begins with Harry Benson (Rip Torn), a high
rolling gambler, playing blackjack at the table of Willie Brodax (Wahl). As it
unfolds we discover that Harry’s playing at Willie’s table in Las Vegas cost
Willie his job as Benson always seemed to win at his table. The same happens
here and Willie loses yet another job.
Midler stars as Bonita Friml, a lounge singer and Harry’s
girlfriend whose grown weary of Harry’s rough ways but stays with him with
nowhere else to go. When she asks Harry why he continues to play Willie’s
tables he lets her know that it’s a bit of luck that follows the two of them
where ever they go. Willie will deal and Harry will win no matter what the
costs to Willie.
Willie gets a new job and Harry of course shows. When Willie
talks to his boss about it the boss tells him that he’s jinxed and that the
only way he can break the jinx is to take something of Harry’s. So of course he
sets his eyes on Bonita who is all too willing. Bonita comes up with a solution
to their problem: kill Harry and she’ll cash in his insurance and the two can
live happily ever after. What should have been a comedy of errors falls flat
from here on in. Not only that the buildup to this point was slow and not the
least bit funny.
The number of things wrong with this movie are too many to
count but here are a few. It’s not funny to begin with. I’m talking serious
lack of laughs here. Midler’s acting may have grown later but here her
performance is too big and suited for the stage than it is a movie. Wahl’s part
seems tiny in comparison and he’s given little to do let alone act with. Torn
seems to be making time and collecting a check. From the look of things Siegel
apparently had too many chiefs on this film telling him what to do. One of those
items was the music for the film. Siegel had Lalo Shiffrin record the
soundtrack which the studio tossed and replaced. It was a major mistake as the
score here is terrible and uses light hearted tones where not needed as if to
say “hey this is a funny flick” when it isn’t.
Midler has grown into a much better actress. Wahl’s career
took a nosedive until 1987 when he struck gold with the TV series WISEGUY.
Unfortunately for Siegel this was the last movie he ever did, an unfitting
farewell for a fantastic director. Fans of the stars might want to add this to
their collection for that reason alone. Siegel fans will only want to pick it
up to make sure they have everything he ever did in their collection even if
they never watch it. Other than those few my suggestion is to avoid this one,
it truly is that bad.
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