As a young man Mark St Neots meets Sylvia at his birthday party, The two share an attraction and he falls for her striking red hair. Many years later both are married to different people and Mark is a successful politician on his way up. However one day he misses his taxi and has to get a bus - on the bus he meets Daphne - who looks just like Sylvia. He takes her to dinner behind his wife's back and gets a way with it. Despite her not being Sylvia this gives him a taste for seeing other women with red hair and he begins a double life with the character Mark Wright.
I taped this as the title really caught my eye in the television guide. I watched it unsure of many details and not sure whether it was a farce, a romantic story or what. After about 30 minutes I got the impression that the makers weren't too sure themselves what they wanted it to be. The plot is simply Mark trying to lead this second life as a playboy with a penchant for women with red hair. At the start (his date with Daphne) it is quite a farce and is slightly amusing, however the rest of the film is not as funny and seems to glorify the way that he is running around behind his wife's back. I think they were aware that this was in poor taste and the climax seems to show how foolish he was and how his wife is not in the least upset but more bemused by him.
The ending leaves a sour taste as it doesn't work at all. The film clearly wanted a straight ending that would provide a moral and emotional conclusion to the film but this wasn't it. I think the main weakness in the film is simply that it doesn't know what it is aiming for - is it farce? Comedy? Romantic fable? It is unsure and as a result it meanders around several stools. The dullest point is where it throws in over-extended ballet scenes - seemingly to show off the dancer's talents but also to try and fill out the running time.
The cast are OK but more interesting in their support. The biggest group of people who will enjoy this film will be fans of Moira Shearer, as she plays all the lead female roles here. She does well and carries off the roles with just enough difference to matter. Justin is OK but is much better in his `first date' scene than he is as a ageing playboy. Culver is amusing as Osacar but not that good. The actors of most interest are those famous for what they did in later years - specifically appearances by a young Denholm Elliot and Melvyn Hayes (It Ain't Half Hot Mum).
Overall I didn't know what genre this film would fall into before I watched it and I must admit to be a little unsure after watching it. This lack of one strong direction is it's downfall - while it does have it's moments it is ultimately not that good a film despite it's intriguing title.
I taped this as the title really caught my eye in the television guide. I watched it unsure of many details and not sure whether it was a farce, a romantic story or what. After about 30 minutes I got the impression that the makers weren't too sure themselves what they wanted it to be. The plot is simply Mark trying to lead this second life as a playboy with a penchant for women with red hair. At the start (his date with Daphne) it is quite a farce and is slightly amusing, however the rest of the film is not as funny and seems to glorify the way that he is running around behind his wife's back. I think they were aware that this was in poor taste and the climax seems to show how foolish he was and how his wife is not in the least upset but more bemused by him.
The ending leaves a sour taste as it doesn't work at all. The film clearly wanted a straight ending that would provide a moral and emotional conclusion to the film but this wasn't it. I think the main weakness in the film is simply that it doesn't know what it is aiming for - is it farce? Comedy? Romantic fable? It is unsure and as a result it meanders around several stools. The dullest point is where it throws in over-extended ballet scenes - seemingly to show off the dancer's talents but also to try and fill out the running time.
The cast are OK but more interesting in their support. The biggest group of people who will enjoy this film will be fans of Moira Shearer, as she plays all the lead female roles here. She does well and carries off the roles with just enough difference to matter. Justin is OK but is much better in his `first date' scene than he is as a ageing playboy. Culver is amusing as Osacar but not that good. The actors of most interest are those famous for what they did in later years - specifically appearances by a young Denholm Elliot and Melvyn Hayes (It Ain't Half Hot Mum).
Overall I didn't know what genre this film would fall into before I watched it and I must admit to be a little unsure after watching it. This lack of one strong direction is it's downfall - while it does have it's moments it is ultimately not that good a film despite it's intriguing title.