CRITIC'S CHOICE

US, 1963, 100 minutes, Colour.
Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Marilyn Maxwell, Rip Torn, Jessie Royce Landis, John Dehner, Jim Backus, Marie Windsor.
Directed by Don Weis.

Critic's Choice is a moderately amusing Bob Hope-Lucille? Ball vehicle. They had starred together in a version of Damon Runyon's Little Miss Marker, Sorrowful Jones (1949). They also were together in the comedy The Facts Of Life (1961). This is a rather more serious role for Bob Hope - and is generally an unsympathetic role, a hard drama critic criticising his wife's play. Lucille Ball has a more engaging role. There is amusing support from Jessie Royce Landis doing her usual mother role, Jim Backus as a psychiatrist and Rip Torn as an up-and-coming eccentric director. The play was written by Ira Levin - in pre-Rosemary's Baby days.

1. An entertaining comedy? Satire? Piece of Americana?

2. The transition from stage to screen? The use of Panavision? The opening out of the play? The family apartments, theatre, rehearsals? The strength of the dialogue - wit, jokes? The stars delivering? The build-up of character, interactions. situations?

3. Colour photography, the atmosphere of New York? The stage sequences in a film? The film relying on the star quality of the cast?

4. The contrived nature of the screenplay ~ for plot purposes, for establishing Parker Ballantyne as a critic? His relationship with his wife and family? His former wife being an actress? The writing of the play by Angela, the rehearsals? The tryouts out of town? The build-up to Broadway? The background of the Broadway theatre and news papers?

5. Bob Hope as Parker Ballantyne - how credible as a leading New York critic -his acidic tone, smug arrogance? His walking out of plays? His manner of writing his reviews? His disappointment at successes? His marriage to Ivy - and the break-up, re-meeting her throughout the film, depending on her, her trying to get him back? His love for Angela? Their home life, the boy? The build-up of the clash with Angela writing the play, Parker pouring cold water on it? His amazement when it was accepted by the producer? The rehearsals and the work of Dion? Parker's relationship with his son? The growing antagonism towards Angela? The irony of the visit to the downstairs psychiatrist-playwright? His talking about himself and getting some help? The build-up of suspicions fostered by Ivy? His drinking, making a fool of himself? The slapstick comedy of his getting to his place for the play? The finale and the grand confrontation with Angela and Dion? The happy ending -with Parker winning!

6. Lucille Ball's characterisation of Angela - loving wife, mother, housewife? Her eccentric family background and the humorous scenes with her mother? Her devotion to John? Her being bitten by the play-writing bug? The humour of the sequences illustrating her composing, her relentless finishing of the play, its acceptance? The friendship with Dion and the flirtation? The production of the play - antagonism towards Parker and her being hurt? Her tantrums and nervousness? The final confrontation?

7. Dion and the satire on the up-and-coming eccentric playwright? His manner, party conversation, reputation, treatment of Angela, rehearsals?

8. The background of the theatre - Champlain and productions, friendship with Parker? The rehearsals? The background of the newspaper and the publishing of reviews? The humour with Harvey Rittenhouse reviewing the plays? Joe Rosenfield and his observations about Parker and his work?

9. Angela's family - the basis of the comedy, their arrival and Parker's paying for their fare to New York, their enjoying the play? Comedy touches? The contrast with Ivy and her machinations and come-uppance?

10. The incidental comedy - outings, parties, the television ads, John and the psychologist's son and their friendship? Humorous background to the main themes ?

11. The film as a piece of Americana - the American dream for playwrights, success? The critical role of journalists and critics? The glorification of Broadway and the American theatre? Family themes, marital troubles?