What a Way to Go!
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Movie Reviews of What a Way to Go!
Movie Review: Opulent, Frothy Showcase for MacLaine and her Men!
Summary: 4 Stars
"What a Way to Go!" is such an entertaining showcase of vivacious star Shirley MacLaine's talents as a comedienne, dancer, and singer that it's hard to believe that the original script was far darker, and intended for Marilyn Monroe!
A tale of an innocent who dreams of a 'simple life', marrying progressively richer men who leave her an ever richer widow, is the kind of tongue-in-cheek farce that European filmmakers relish, but was unfamiliar to American audiences of the early sixties. Writer Gwen Davis' original story was written to satirically echo Monroe's own marital misadventures, and might have provided the star her best vehicle since "Bus Stop". But Monroe's career took a tragic nosedive, culminating with her death, at 36, in 1962, leaving Fox with a script, a director (J. Lee Thompson), and a film in preproduction.
Gifted songwriting team Betty Comden and Adolph Green, fresh from transferring their B'way hit, "Bells Are Ringing" to the screen, saw the script, and were invited to rework it as a comic vehicle for MacLaine. The talented actress, who had achieved major stardom in "The Apartment", was being given a major build-up by Fox, who wanted to showcase her untapped skills as singer/dancer, as well as in comedy. Thus a lighter, more dazzling "What a Way to Go!" was born.
Fox spared no expense on the production, with over 70 Edith Head costumes, choreography by Gene Kelly, and a new song by Jule Styne...but they balked over Frank Sinatra's salary demands, to play one of the husbands (he was replaced by Robert Mitchum). For MacLaine, it was a joy, working with two ex-lovers (Mitchum and Dean Martin), dancing with Kelly, doing comedy with Dick Van Dyke, Bob Cummings, and a surprisingly deft Paul Newman, and working with legendary Marx Brothers' foil, Margaret Dumont, in her last film.
The end result, while a 'mixed bag', has memorable moments; Newman's French sequence, with a chimp and a murderous painting machine, captures the 'essence' of the material very well; the spoof of Fox multi-costume extravaganzas, with Mitchum, is dazzling (and his death is the funniest); best of all, the giant musical production number with Kelly and MacLaine is a total joy, a homage to both Kelly and Busby Berkeley. While the Van Dyke and Martin sequences lack the same sparkle, and Cumming's scenes appear more contrived than funny, the overall result is wonderful eye candy, with MacLaine never sexier, or more energetic. That the film failed to become a big hit when released was certainly not due to it's star.
The new DVD edition deserves a commentary and 'making of' documentary (neither of which it has), but does offer some entertaining newsreel footage from the 1964 World's Fair premiere, as well as an amusing newsreel of the casting of the chimp for the Newman sequence.
"What a Way to Go!" may not be 'classic' cinema, but it is fun, and if you're a MacLaine fan, you'll be in for a treat!
Movie Review: One kooky, charming, delightful good time...
Summary: 4 Stars
With a slew of big names, a number of hilarious performances, endless glitz and glamour and a story that is funny and engaging, `What a Way to Go!' was a lot better than I personally expected. I love everyone in the cast, but the film and premise just had `throw away comedy' written all over it, and so I watched it mainly because of my personally obsessions with Shirley MacLaine and Paul `greatest actor ever' Newman.
I was pleasantly surprised.
The film is not a perfect comedy, and it surely has its faults (the script can drift into corny more often than not) but it is delightful and entertaining and well worth a watch through, maybe even multiple ones.
Shirley MacLaine plays Louisa May Foster, a young poor girl whose life is turned upside down when she rejects the affections of local rich boy Leonard Crawley, choosing to cast materialism aside and live poorly with Edgar Hopper. That decision seemed perfect for her, but when Hopper catches the `money making' bug she realizes that materialism is something she just cannot escape.
Told in flashbacks as Louisa recounts her multiple marriages to her shrink, `What a Way to Go!' has a lot going on. After Hopper's untimely death Louisa marries a bohemian painter, and then a washed up dancer, and then a millionaire (figuring if he already has the money then he won't die trying to make it) and so on. Each and every storyline is accompanied by a new set of problems and a flashy style in which Louisa tells it (I absolutely adore the throwbacks to silent film or foreign classics). `What a Way to Go!' is colorful and vibrant and full of energy, and the performances almost all compliment the films tone.
Shirley is a delight here, a comedic gem and a very beautiful and engaging actress. She does tend to take a backseat though, to her many male costars. They make so much of their limited time that we wind up focusing on them over her. Paul Newman was my personal favorite; his carefree charm and comedic charisma light up every frame. Robert Mitchum was also very good as the Howard Hughesesque millionaire, and Gene Kelly sizzles as dancer Pinky Benson. I particularly adored Dick Van Dyke's portrayal of Edgar. He played to his newfound obsession with marvelous physicality. I was less impressed with Dean Martin than I was with anybody else. I just didn't find him charming in the least. I actually found him rather dull, which was maybe the point, but then again, I don't think it was.
Alas, a few minor faults (there are some jokes that don't land very well, and the film can seem to repeat itself and or drag a little by the tale end) won't prevent me from recommending this film. I'll surely watch it again, for it has a lot going for it.
Movie Review: Froth, Foolishness, and What Will She Wear Next?
Summary: 4 Stars
To describe WHAT A WAY TO GO as an ultra-light 1960s confection would be an understatement: frothy, foolish, and seeking no more than to be mildly entertaining, it is a classic of its kind and of its era.
The plot is episodic. When multi-millionaire Louisa May Foster tries to give away her money she finds herself slapped onto a psychiatrist's couch--where she details the story of a little girl from the wrong side of the tracks who was only interested in marrying for love. But as fate would have it, every husband she touched turned to gold, and their successes spelled finish to the marriage in no uncertain terms, with each widowhood leaving Louisa even more fabulously wealthy than before. What's a poor little rich girl to do?
The charm here is in the cast and the production values. Although she offered considerably more in her most celebrated films, Shirley MacLaine had a remarkable way with light comedy, and she pulls out all the stops as the eternal widow, at times sassy, at times silly, but never less than completely watchable. Her unlikely co-stars--Dean Martin, Dick Van Dyke, Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Gene Kelly, Robert Cummings and (in her final film) the amazing Margaret Dumont--are also up to the task.
The humor is both obvious and sly, lampooning various rags-to-riches (or in one case riches-to-riches) stereotypes with a wink, a nod, and now and then an unexpectedly sophisticated bit of wit. The film works best when it gently mocks both itself and the more obvious cinematic conventions of its day, as when Louisa recalls each of her marriages with the words "it was like one of those movies where..." Everything from silent film to musicals gets a poke, and over-budgeted romantic blockbusters suddenly become considerably more comic than you'd ever imagine.
The production values are first rate, and to say there is always something to look at on the screen would be an understatement: they are deliberately and often deliciously over the top--and often as amusing as the performances. (The "Lush Budget" sequence, in which MacLaine changes gowns every few seconds, is particularly witty.) True, the movie is a no-brainer, but it is a fun one. Only a sour-puss could resist! Recommended.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
In Memory of Ellen R. Smith, 1920-2005
Virtuoso Pianist and Good Friend
Movie Review: Lush Budget All The Way
Summary: 4 Stars
A quintessential example of Studio comedy of the early 1960's, `What A Way To Go" owes all it's charm to its cast. Topping the list is Shirley MacLaine in a comic performance not to be missed. She brings a fresh kooky charm to her Louisa as she careens from one marriage to the next totaling a roster of husbands with Mega-Star power that today would have sunk 20th Century Fox on salary alone.
Here it's all about timing, reaction and pace. All of witch Miss MacLaine is an expert. It is a sheer joy just to watch her take a thin story and make magic out of it. Dick Van Dyke, Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Gene Kelly, and Dean Martin aid her in her romp across the cinemascope screen.
There are two standouts in the husband department for me, first, Paul Newman as an ex-patriot American artist in Paris. Rarely do we get to see him execute a comic turn and here as Larry Flint he is both sexy and funny. And Robert Mitchum as Rod Anderson, the maple syrup king is a delight.
The cleverest aspect of the story is the use of Louise's remembrances of each marriage as a different genre of film from the silent screen to the big splashy musicals of the 1950's. The funniest occurs when she is married to Mitchum. It is a Lush Budget production all the way. Also of note is the big dance number with Gene Kelly, in and of itself a lampoon of Mr. Kelly's famous routines over at M.G.M. a decade before.
Also of note is the superb color and cinematography of Leon Shamroy fresh off his Oscar win with "Cleopatra" the year before. (Note the in-joke jabs at Cleopatra and Richard Burton in two segments.) And glittering right up there with her best work are the stunning costumes of Edith Head.
This DVD also includes slight extras the best of which is a newsreel of the day called "What A Way To Go To The Fair." It chronicles the films opening at the 1964 New York World's Fair. It is a gem all it's own.
What a way to go is a light delight and a prime example of a bygone age of glamour and excess. And above all it is Shirley MacLaine's film all the way and it is the only way to go!
Movie Review: Shirley MacLaine and the men of her dreams
Summary: 4 Stars
For a glimpse of Shirley MacLaine at the dizzying height of her Hollywood success, check out the delightful comedy WHAT A WAY TO GO!
All Louisa May Foster (Shirley MacLaine) wants in life is a loving husband and a simple life, free from the trappings of wealth. But when Louisa marries Edgar Hopper (Dick Van Dyke) he becomes so obssessed with the almighty dollar, success quickly leads to his early demise. The story is played out several more times as Louisa falls in love with passionate painter Larry Flint (Paul Newman), brash playboy Rod Anderson (Robert Mitchum) and hoofer Pinky Benson (Gene Kelly), and each of her husbands succumbs to the same fate, leaving her with more money than she knows what to do with. This movie is an absolute romp!
Shirley MacLaine glitters in no less than 78 fabulous Edith Head/Moss Mabry-designed outfits (who were wisely Oscar-nominated for their efforts). Also on hand are Bob Cummings (Louisa's flustered psychiatrist) and Dean Martin.
This DVD includes a beautifully-restored anamorphic print, with some great bonus features highlighted by newsreel footage of the movie's lavish Worlds Fair premiere, audition footage for the role of `Frida the Chimp', and copious trailers of other classic releases from Fox.
What a cast! What a movie! What a way to go!