Category: Directed by Richard Quine
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Bell, Book and Candle has three problems. The first involves Kim Novak and James Stewart’s May-September romance, which I’ll take couple jabs at in a bit. The second two problems are with the plotting, either in John Van Druten’s original stage play or Daniel Taradish’s screenplay. In the third act, Candle forgets its supporting cast…
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As far as suspension of disbelief goes, nothing in Pushover compares to the second scene of the film, when twenty-one year-old Kim Novak makes goggly-eyes over forty-eight year-old Fred MacMurray. Both actors handle it straight, which is impressive on its own, but clearly MacMurray realizes how lucky he’s got it. Turns out he’s a cop…
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Big ensemble adaptation of Arthur Hailey novel about a grand (albeit failing) New Orleans hotel and how hotel manager Rod Taylor tries to keep things afloat while also dealing with difficult guests. Quine occasionally makes some poor choices, but he’s got a fine handle on the material–especially keeping the serious fun and vice versa. Strong…
The Stop Button 