I loved this movie when I saw it in theater almost 20 years ago, and I still love it on DVD that I found at my public library. Nicholson normally plays a very clever character, but here he plays a mob hit man, a bit slow upstairs, but having achieved favored status by being the godson of the 'don.' Plus, he appears to be competent if straightforward in carrying out his 'assignments.' Kathleen Turner whom I so enjoyed in movies as 'Romancing The Stone' and 'Peggy Sue Got Married' plays Irene, a beautiful west coast blond who shows up at a Prizzi family wedding in NYC. Charlie is instantly smitten and the romantic comedy, a dark romantic comedy, begins. Angelica Huston, daughter of director John Huston, plays spurned lover Maerose beautifully.
The remaining comments contain SPOILERS, SPOILERS - please read no further if you have not seen 'Prizzi's Honor.'
The title comes from developments near the end, when Maerose is telling her father how Charlie 'took her.' 'He did it to me, father, on the floor, he forced himself on me.' Of course she was lying, the sex was invited by her, it was consensual. But it was her way of getting back at Charlie for having spurned her affections, and to get back into the good graces of the Prizzi family. So dad hires a contract killer to snuff Charlie. Problem is, he hired Irene, who he didn't know but was already Charlie's wife. Meanwhile, the 'don' tells Charlie that he must snuff Irene, because she had stolen $360,000 from the family before she and Charlie met.
SPOILERS still!! In the end Charlie comes home to find Irene gone, he calls, she is in Califirnia to tie up some loose ends. He knows she has the contract, so takes a long knife taped to his leg. He arrives, they embrace, he gets in bed, she undresses, he puts the knife under the bed, she walks into the room, points her pistol, fires and hits the pillow, as Charlie pulls the knife and throws it to pierce her neck, she dies almost instantly. A very dark romantic comedy, not for everyone. But I really enjoyed the characters created by Nicholson, Turner, and Huston.
The remaining comments contain SPOILERS, SPOILERS - please read no further if you have not seen 'Prizzi's Honor.'
The title comes from developments near the end, when Maerose is telling her father how Charlie 'took her.' 'He did it to me, father, on the floor, he forced himself on me.' Of course she was lying, the sex was invited by her, it was consensual. But it was her way of getting back at Charlie for having spurned her affections, and to get back into the good graces of the Prizzi family. So dad hires a contract killer to snuff Charlie. Problem is, he hired Irene, who he didn't know but was already Charlie's wife. Meanwhile, the 'don' tells Charlie that he must snuff Irene, because she had stolen $360,000 from the family before she and Charlie met.
SPOILERS still!! In the end Charlie comes home to find Irene gone, he calls, she is in Califirnia to tie up some loose ends. He knows she has the contract, so takes a long knife taped to his leg. He arrives, they embrace, he gets in bed, she undresses, he puts the knife under the bed, she walks into the room, points her pistol, fires and hits the pillow, as Charlie pulls the knife and throws it to pierce her neck, she dies almost instantly. A very dark romantic comedy, not for everyone. But I really enjoyed the characters created by Nicholson, Turner, and Huston.