It's not a perfect movie, but the depicting of the crazy 1920s is convincing.
Jolly Grimm (James Coco) is a silent comic whose career is circling the drain. Nobody is interested in his celebrity and tries desperately to sell his last production. For that reason, he organizes a party at his mansion and invites la créme de la créme in Hollywood to close a deal.
Queenie (Raquel Welch), a former vaudeville dancer and singer, is his loyal lover. Grimm abuses her verbally and physically. He says he loves her, but unloads all his anger and frustration on her, especially when drunk. Long time ago, when Queenie was a young and starving starlet, he promised her a movie career, but in reality, he only gave her the job as his arm-candy and nothing else for fear of losing her. He even says that her only work is to look pretty and keep her mouth shut.
Dale Sword (Perry King) is the new kid in town, a dashing and handsome young actor who has taken Lalaland by assault with only one movie under his arm.
From then on, the movie takes a 180° turn from a sort of goofy musical to a very dark story.
To be honest, I watched this movie because I was interested in a young Perry King. I was surprised to know that his career wasn't only about Riptide or Class of 1984, but he had other interesting roles during the '70s like this one, directed by James Ivory.
The ending is a bit abrupt. Grimm would be the only character who's more rounded. You don't have time to feel sorry for Queenie or James Morrison (David Dukes), the narrator.
Jolly Grimm (James Coco) is a silent comic whose career is circling the drain. Nobody is interested in his celebrity and tries desperately to sell his last production. For that reason, he organizes a party at his mansion and invites la créme de la créme in Hollywood to close a deal.
Queenie (Raquel Welch), a former vaudeville dancer and singer, is his loyal lover. Grimm abuses her verbally and physically. He says he loves her, but unloads all his anger and frustration on her, especially when drunk. Long time ago, when Queenie was a young and starving starlet, he promised her a movie career, but in reality, he only gave her the job as his arm-candy and nothing else for fear of losing her. He even says that her only work is to look pretty and keep her mouth shut.
Dale Sword (Perry King) is the new kid in town, a dashing and handsome young actor who has taken Lalaland by assault with only one movie under his arm.
From then on, the movie takes a 180° turn from a sort of goofy musical to a very dark story.
To be honest, I watched this movie because I was interested in a young Perry King. I was surprised to know that his career wasn't only about Riptide or Class of 1984, but he had other interesting roles during the '70s like this one, directed by James Ivory.
The ending is a bit abrupt. Grimm would be the only character who's more rounded. You don't have time to feel sorry for Queenie or James Morrison (David Dukes), the narrator.