DON'T MAKE WAVES

US, 1967, 97 minutes, Colour.
Tony Curtis, Claudia Cardinale, Robert Webber, Joanna Barnes, Sharon Tate, Mort Sahl.
Directed by Alexander Mackendrick.

Don’t Make Waves was an attempt at satiric comedy on the Southern Californian Malibu way of life. It does not quite come off. Tony Curtis gives a typical comic performance. Claudia Cardinale is quite attractive. This was also Sharon Tate’s first film. Alexander Mackendrick made such excellent satires as Whisky Galore, The Man in the White Suit, The Lady Killers, The Sweet Smell of Success.

1. An entertaining film? Comedy, social comment, farce, all of these? Impact in America, outside America?

2. The film is considered a satire. How satirical? How much straightforward comedy and farce? The film is considered to be some kind of social/critical comment on the way of life of southern California. Was it successful in showing the particularities of the way of life, commenting on them, critique?

3. Colour photography, panavision, southern Californian locations? The atmosphere of the opulence of the way of life in homes, business, the beach? Moral background? Musical score? Special effects, especially the ending?

4. How, plausible was the basic plot? The introduction to Carlo and the interchange with Laura which left him penniless and without resources, the relationship with Laura and the transition of his confidence trick in getting himself into Prescott's business? Carlo's complicating the lives of Laura, the Prescotts, Malibu and Harry? His using the medium for tricking people? The coincidence of having the main characters in the collapsing house at the end? Sufficiently plausible for farcical comedy, the overtones of thirties screwball comedy?

5. Tony Curtis's style as Carlo? The innocent American who plays on his charm and his shrewd ability to get himself to the top? His using of people and his push especially with the Prescott ? The forcing himself on Millie and tricking Harry? The inevitability of his finishing with Laura? A suitable hero for this kind of comedy?

6. Claudia Cardinale's presence in this southern Californian farce and her Italian tone? Her explanation of her presence? Her scatty comedy style? Her place as Prescott's mistress? Her capacity for disaster especially in the opening sequences? The end?

7. The portrait of Millie and Harry and the satire on the beach girls and the beach boy types? The portrayal of the beach, the surfing, the muscle men? Carlo as contrast with these types?

8. The portrait of the Prescotts and their marital tangles, business acumen? Carlo and his running rings round Rod? The deal with Jim Backus? the satire on American business?

9. How effective were the comedy sequences such as the opening and the finale with the collapsing house (and the memories of Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush? ordinary scenes of business, romance?

10. Conventional American values, presented, criticised? American image?