Reviews

Was the world ever really like this?

Pure 1965 black and white, this time machine of a crime drama takes you back to when Elkie Sommer was young, and Joseph Cotten was'nt dead. No profanity, blood or sex on the screen, but everywhere in the painlessly stereotypical screenplay. Predictable to a fault, you seem not to care it's all one big cleche. The jazzy, pre-groovy background music, a totally orignal score by Hal Schaffer, makes this crime-like thing a nostalgic romp of flat-foot flick.

These days women have names like Jennifer or Ashley, but Shirley MacLaine's memorable character in this film is named "Gittle". A Jewish girl in early '60s New York, she becomes involved with Jerry Ryan, (Robert Mitchum) an introspective, self loathing mid-western lawyer. The relationship becomes a bit complicated, and the two find their love cannot survive the rough seas of romance.

Critics in 1962 complained about the lack of on screen chemistry between Shirley MacLaine and Robert Mitchum, even though they began a real life romance directly after this film.

If you're single or even if you're not, you might like this charming low budget "relationship" yarn. Set in decidedly un-hollywood Louisville KY, the complex and troubling dynamics of modern day courting is addressed in a funny yet understanding manner by Director Stu Pollard, who had the good sense to avoid looking at dating ( as Hollywood is apt to do) as if it only takes place in LA or New York. Carter (Sean O'Brien)is a nice guy (maybe too nice) high school teacher who has been told by his dates "Lets just be friends.." once too often. Maggie (Sybil Temchen, is she the voice of Jane Lane on MTV's "Daria"?) is a race horse vet recently from NY who has been jerked by men in much the same way. Though they have the chemistry right off, Carter's slippery buddy complicates matters. This film is a charmer.