Main Cast: James Coco, Raquel Welch, Perry King, Tiffany Bolling, Royal Dano
Release Year: 1974
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Director James Ivory has disowned this Hollywood drama, inspired by the Fatty Arbuckle/Virginia Rappe case and based on a satirical poem by Joseph Moncure March, which was heavily cut by American International Pictures from two hours to 90 minutes. The story concerns Jolly Grimm (James Coco), whose career as a famous silent film comic is coming to an end with the advent of talking pictures. He plans a last hurrah by making one more silent film and invites a collection of Hollywood big shots to his mansion in hopes of convincing one of them to distribute the picture. His mistress, Queenie (Raquel Welch), encourages him, but it quickly becomes apparent the film is a bomb. As Jolly Grimm keeps drinking, his mood becomes less jolly and more grim, particularly when movie star Dale (Perry King) starts getting quite familiar with Queenie. Meanwhile, young starlet Nadine (Annette Ferra), after finding her sister in bed with a guest, seeks out Jolly for solace. When Jolly tries to comfort her by kissing her full on the mouth, a drunken party guest, thinking Jolly is trying to seduce the girl, begins to beat Jolly senseless. Dale halts the fracas, but when Jolly doesn't thank Dale properly for saving him from a shellacking, Dale retreats with Queenie to the boudoir. Jolly, already keyed up to a dangerous level, awaits their emergence from the bedroom with a gun in his hand. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
David Dukes - Morrison; Michael Grant Hall - Oscar D'Armano; Skipper - Phil D'Armano; Susan Arnold; Geraldine Baron - Grace; Waldo K. Berns - Policeman; Regis J. Cordic - Mr. Murchison; Bill Dance; Don de Natale - Jackie, the Dancer; Dena Dietrich - Mrs. Murchison; Annette Ferra - Nadine; Jill Giraldi - Crippled Girl; Martin Kove - Editor; Eddie Lawrence - Kreutzer; Bobo Lewis - Wilma; Baruch Lumet - Tailor; Ralph Manza - Fruit Dealer; Tony Paxton - Sergeant; Barbara Quinn - Mildred; Tom Reese - Eddy; Marya Small - Bertha; Chuck Comisky; Jennifer Lee - Madeline True; Lark Geib - Rosa; J.S. Johnson - Morris; Richard Dano; Frederic Franklyn - Sam
Credit
David Nichols - Art Director, Patricia Birch - Choreography, Ralph Lauren - Costume Designer, Ron Talsky - Costume Designer, Edward Folger - First Assistant Director, James Ivory - Director, Kent McKinney - Editor, Joseph Beruh - Executive Producer, Walter Marks - Composer (Music Score), Laurence Rosenthal - Composer (Music Score), Louis St. Louis - Composer (Music Score), Laurence Rosenthal - Musical Direction/Supervision, Louis Lane - Makeup, Walter Lassally - Cinematographer, Ismail Merchant - Producer, Edgar Lansbury - Producer, Bruce Weintraub - Set Designer, Ed Bash - Special Effects, Richard Vorisek - Sound/Sound Designer, Walter Marks - Screenwriter, Joseph Moncure March - Book Author
