Shelagh Delaney, faced with writer’s block after the dizzying success of A Taste of Honey, writes a play about a writer suffering from writer’s block – what’s known in film circles as Pulling a Fellini. Albert Finney, flushed with success after the mega business of Tom Jones, but feeling similarly trapped by typecasting, warms to the theme and stars as the protagonist. Since it’s being produced by Finney’s Memorial Enterprises (yes, we all see what you did there, Bertie), he decides to direct it as well. Something’s got to give, and in the balloon-based whimsy of the closing ‘enigmatic’ scene, it certainly does. Still, as self-indulgences go it’s watchable enough, and deserved better than the shabby ‘staggered release’ brush-off Rank cinemas gave it on release.
Sidney Balmoral James
May 5, 2023 at 7:54 pm
Chiefly notable for Liza Minnelli, who I believe gives our Albert the first, obvious, you know, what the tabloids used to call ‘a sex act’ on screen.