You never know how a particular film may stick in your memory for years or even decades. For me -- just a year into college -- "The Landlord" was one such film. Naturally, it isn't quite as good as I remembered it being, but it's still caviar in an era that was so full of Hamburger Helper films.
What a difference 35 years makes. When the film came out it made fun of the White rich. Now the comparatively militant Blacks depicted in this film look pretty much just as silly.
However, lest you think this is a comedy, think again. It is a film about disillusionment. Disillusionment about being a member of the upper class. Disillusionment about being a member of the lower class. Disillusionment about being White. Disillusionment about being Black. There are no winners in this film.
Although it was actually his ninth film, it was the first time I ever really noticed Beau Bridges. I adored him. And still prefer his acting over that of his more successful brother. He's perfect here as the terribly naive White rich boy who, on a lark, purchases a tenement. What a hunk he was back then! Providing the balance -- at least for the early part of the film -- is Pearl Bailey, an actress and performer whom I never really cared for (despite seeing her live in "Hello Dolly" at the Kennedy Center). But here -- really quite good! Lee Grant plays Bridges' mother, and does so with panache, being the classic bitchy White snob. She's great fun. Diana Sands and a very young Louis Gossett have impressive roles as a married couple who face an ultimate challenge.
This film was a failure and didn't stay around long at the box office. Perhaps it's because the trailer gave people the impression it was a comedy. And word of mouth told everyone is was actually a somewhat depressing drama (with occasional humorous situations). Nevertheless, it is a rather penetrating look at where we were as a nation back in 1970.
What a difference 35 years makes. When the film came out it made fun of the White rich. Now the comparatively militant Blacks depicted in this film look pretty much just as silly.
However, lest you think this is a comedy, think again. It is a film about disillusionment. Disillusionment about being a member of the upper class. Disillusionment about being a member of the lower class. Disillusionment about being White. Disillusionment about being Black. There are no winners in this film.
Although it was actually his ninth film, it was the first time I ever really noticed Beau Bridges. I adored him. And still prefer his acting over that of his more successful brother. He's perfect here as the terribly naive White rich boy who, on a lark, purchases a tenement. What a hunk he was back then! Providing the balance -- at least for the early part of the film -- is Pearl Bailey, an actress and performer whom I never really cared for (despite seeing her live in "Hello Dolly" at the Kennedy Center). But here -- really quite good! Lee Grant plays Bridges' mother, and does so with panache, being the classic bitchy White snob. She's great fun. Diana Sands and a very young Louis Gossett have impressive roles as a married couple who face an ultimate challenge.
This film was a failure and didn't stay around long at the box office. Perhaps it's because the trailer gave people the impression it was a comedy. And word of mouth told everyone is was actually a somewhat depressing drama (with occasional humorous situations). Nevertheless, it is a rather penetrating look at where we were as a nation back in 1970.