LOVE HAS MANY FACES
US, 1964, 104 minutes, Colour.
Lana Turner, Cliff Robertson, Hugh O'Brian, Stephanie Powers, Ruth Roman, Virginia Grey.
Directed by Alexander Singer.
Love Has Many Faces is a mid-'60s attempt at a lurid melodrama. Filmed beautifully in sun-drenched Acapulco, it is more glamorous than lurid. However, it has a hothouse atmosphere - and was produced just at the time that Hollywood was beginning to make more permissive sounding and looking films. This is a story about promiscuity, beach gigolos in Mexico, affairs as well as suicides and a mention of abortion.
However, it comes across as a likely steamy entertainment.
Lana Turner in her mid-40s looks exceedingly glamorous - with Edith Head gowns (changing her costumes with rapid regularity) and Sidney Guillarof hairstyles. Cliff Robertson and Hugh O'Brian are the middle-aged gigolos. A young Stephanie Powers makes an early appearance. Veterans Ruth Roman and Virginia Grey are women on the loose in Mexico. The screenplay was written by Marguerite Roberts (whose credits include the screenplay for True Grit).
1.Entertaining melodrama? Acapulco settings? The steamy atmosphere? A film of the mid-'60s?
2.The Acapulco settings, the beauty of the region, the beaches and the water, homes, affluence? The Mexican countryside, poor villages, bullfighting, ranches? The musical score?
3.The title and its suggestiveness, ambiguities? Pete not using the word `love' - and his conversation with Carol? The finale and the relationship between Kit and Pete?
4.The death of the gigolo, found on the beach, relationship with most of the characters, murder or suicide, the police investigation, Carol and her coming to claim the body? The beginning of conflicts and tensions?
5.Kit, Lana Turner and her glamour? Wealth, the boat, the house, her lifestyle? Marrying Pete and the tensions in their relationship? Relationship with Hank? Her background, her telling her story to the maid, her pregnancy, abortion, inability to have children? Her moodiness and jealousy? The locket with the dead man? Her antagonism towards Carol? Fearing that she was losing Pete? Jealousy at the volleyball, going home, the party, sending away the guests? The clash with Carol, going to the bullfight? Her being gored? The reconciliation with Pete?
6.Pete, his background, change of lifestyle, relationship with Kit, interest in Carol, going to see Carol, late home? The friendly discussions with the policeman? Clashes with Hank? Pursuing Carol, sending her away? The reconciliation with Kit after saving her from the bull? His partnership with the policeman with the boat?
7.Hank, the gigolo, his friend, on the beach, surfing, seduction? Margo and Irene? Escort, sexual encounters? The cheque and the discussions with Margo? The dalliance with Kit? At her party? Telling her where Pete was? His friend pulling out? His future? The life of the American gigolos in Acapulco? Immoral but not illegal?
8.Margo and Irene, the middle-aged women going to Mexico, on the lookout for the men, wealth, escorts, relationships? Paying off the men?
9.Carol, relationship with the dead man, youth, naivety, hostility towards Kit? Investigations, attracted towards Pete, with him, falling in love, the clash with Carol? Going to the ranch, the balls, her not liking it, leaving? Wiser?
10.The Mexican police, investigations? Friendships? The ranch owners, society, the bullfighters? The ranches, the training of the bulls, local atmosphere?
11.How well-drawn the characters? Believable? Moral standards and values? Promiscuity, true love? The characters in this Acapulco context?
