FAME IS THE NAME OF THE GAME
US, 1966, 100 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Franciosa, Jill St John, Jack Klugman, George Macready, Jack Weston, Susan Saint James, Lee Bowman, Melodie Johnson, Robert Duvall, Jay C. Flippen, George Furth.
Directed by Stuart Rosenberg.
Fame is the Name of the Game has the distinction of being the first telemovie which was designed as a pilot for a possible series. It was taken up as a series and Anthony Franciosa appeared in five episodes between 1968 and 1970.
The film is standard material, of interest as well as a touch of prurient curiosity. An investigative reporter is examining the murder of a callgirl. He finds her diary with a lot of prominent names and proceeds to investigate the case and to discover the murderer amongst these names.
The film has a very strong cast with some character actors from the 40s and 50s like Lee Bowman and George Macready as well as a number of actors who were beginning their careers like Robert Duvall and Susan Saint James. Direction is by Stuart Rosenberg who went on in the next year to make the classic Paul Newman film Cool Hand Luke as well as a number of interesting films including Brubaker with Robert Redford.
1. An entertaining telemovie? One of the earliest television movies? Murder mystery, glossy magazine atmosphere, politics and corruption? Popular ingredients for an interesting murder mystery?
2. The conventions of the murder mystery: Geoff Dillon as newspaper man, magazine writer, his detective work? The police and their inability to solve the murder? Identities, the assistant? The boss, gangsters?
3. Colour photography, locations, pacing, music? Glossy style for glossy story and glossy entertainment?
4. How credible was the plot? Sufficient for a murder mystery? Geoff Dillon and his world? Peggy and her qualifications and style, Leona and the rich and blackmailing criminals? The world of the gangsters, the magazine, District Attorney's office? The blending of all these for plot complications?
5. Geoff Dillon as hero: Tony Franciosa’s style, flip remarks, his talent in politics, curiosity, relationship with Peggy, with Leona and infatuation, disillusionment? His way of detection, his push? His attitude towards his superiors? A typical hero for this kind of film?
6. Peggy as a humorous assistant? Comic style, getting the work done, a balance to Dillon and Leona? The contrast with Leona and her glamour, her falling in love with Dillon, supporting him, the revelation then of her involvement - surprising? A credible character for this kind of world?
7. The portrayal of people at 'Fame' magazine, Glenn and his toughness, going through the motions of sacking Dillon and then encouraging him, Griffin and his work with the magazine?
8. The presentation of Cruickshank and his involvement with the murdered girl, Ben an a gangster, dark glasses, violent, blackmail? The victim and the switched identification? Pat the telephonist and her contribution?
9. The portrait of a crooked world, complications, murder, money, blackmail, jail? The importance of Ellen's husband turning up and identifying her at the morgue, his seeking after money, his murder?
10. How important are audience presuppositions about right and wrong, values, justice? Satisfactory entertainment?
