George Stevens made his farewell work as a director with The Only Game In Town
and you wouldn't think that a flop Broadway play would make such a good film.
It's happened before and it will happen again.
For this final performance his leading lady was Elizabeth Taylor and she was certainly lucky for him. Stevens won two Oscars for Best Director for A Place In The Sun and Giant and Taylor was in both those films. This third time out didn't yield any Oscar gold for him, but this is certainly a most respectable character studies of two Las Vegas characters.
Taylor is an aging dancer in one of the plush casinos. She also had been the kept mistress of Charles Brasswell who just can't quite get around to divorcing Mrs. Brasswell. After a quarrel on that subject he leaves and on a whim she takes up with lounge piano player Warren Beatty.
Beatty was a last minute substitution for Frank Sinatra and wouldn't have that been a once in a lifetime pairing of Liz and old blue eyes. Sinatra was definitely set for the role and I know that because of Hank Henry's presence in the cast as Beatty's employer. Henry, a former burlesque comedian, was a Sinatra regular in many of his films and I have no doubt Frank got him the small part as the bar owner.
Despite no Sinatra, The Only Game In Town is a nice and deep character study of two show business veterans for whom the industry has lost its glamour a long time ago. Beatty also has a gambling problem which is why he can't stay in any relationship. Both of our stars make you forget it's them you are watching and get deep in their roles.
Director Stevens in his farewell directorial gig got great performances from his stars and the mood and ambiance of Las Vegas is captured beautifully. You can't go wrong with The Only Game In Town.
For this final performance his leading lady was Elizabeth Taylor and she was certainly lucky for him. Stevens won two Oscars for Best Director for A Place In The Sun and Giant and Taylor was in both those films. This third time out didn't yield any Oscar gold for him, but this is certainly a most respectable character studies of two Las Vegas characters.
Taylor is an aging dancer in one of the plush casinos. She also had been the kept mistress of Charles Brasswell who just can't quite get around to divorcing Mrs. Brasswell. After a quarrel on that subject he leaves and on a whim she takes up with lounge piano player Warren Beatty.
Beatty was a last minute substitution for Frank Sinatra and wouldn't have that been a once in a lifetime pairing of Liz and old blue eyes. Sinatra was definitely set for the role and I know that because of Hank Henry's presence in the cast as Beatty's employer. Henry, a former burlesque comedian, was a Sinatra regular in many of his films and I have no doubt Frank got him the small part as the bar owner.
Despite no Sinatra, The Only Game In Town is a nice and deep character study of two show business veterans for whom the industry has lost its glamour a long time ago. Beatty also has a gambling problem which is why he can't stay in any relationship. Both of our stars make you forget it's them you are watching and get deep in their roles.
Director Stevens in his farewell directorial gig got great performances from his stars and the mood and ambiance of Las Vegas is captured beautifully. You can't go wrong with The Only Game In Town.