THE CROOKED HEARTS
US, 1972, 74 minutes, Colour.
Douglas Fairbanks Jnr, Rosalind Russell, Maureen O'Sullivan, Ross Martin.
Directed by Jay Sandrich.
The Crooked Hearts is an entertaining, black romantic comedy. It is an opportunity to see old-time stars Douglas Fairbanks Jnr. and Rosalind Russell in one of their final roles. Maureen O'Sullivan and Kent Smith make guest appearances. Ross Martin and Michael Murphy represent the younger generation. The film is about a conman and a conwoman matching wits. A pleasing telemovie, directed by Jay Sandrich (Seems Like Old Times).
1. Entertaining comedy with a black touch? Veteran stars?
2. California locations, atmosphere of affluence, hotels, matching services? Musical score?
3. The title and the indication of themes? The ironic comedy about a debonair elderly gentleman and a resourceful ageing matron? The variation on the Bluebeard theme?
4. The framework with the police and their investigations: the police investigator, his cigarette in mouth, frantic style, detection work, tracking Lorida? Shooting the dog? Solving the case? His assistant and his earnestness, detection? Entertaining police story?
5. Lorida and Rosalind Russell as an elderly star? Her presence, style? The hotel, the dating service? The encounter with Lilian Stanton? Correspondence? The meeting with Rex, sharing stories? It seeming evident that he was trying to con her? The revelation that she was conning him? The visit to the factory and her ploys? The mutual entertainment, tricks, sparring? Money, telegrams, jewellery and pawning? The unmasking of each other?. Her visit to Rex's mansion? The discovery of the truth? Mrs Stanton arriving? Rex's technique with the dog, chasing Lorida to the cliff? Her being rescued? Her trying to talk her way out of things with the police? The humorous encounters in the hotel, flashing her money about with the waitress, her chats with Edward at the desk, Mr Simpson and his attentions?
6. Rex and the debonair English style, the letters to Lorida, the meeting, his names, his story, the outings, his falling for her tricks, his leading her on, the telegram about his family, getting the money, taking the necklace? In league with Mrs Stanton? The investigations about the murders? His technique? Caught?
7. Maureen O'Sullivan charming as Mrs Stanton? Her dating agency? The murders? The conversations with Lorida? In league with Rex? Her comeuppance?
8. The characters in the hotel: flirting, pinching? waitress helped? Mr Simpson and his 60 years, tennis, Edward and the good advice from Lorida?
9. The affluent background, California, the verbal repartee, visual comedy? An ironic crime romance?
