Adieu, geliebter November

Today I read the sad news that Anthony Newley had died, on April 14, 1999. It recalled to mind one of my favorite movies: Sweet November. It is a movie which the New York Times obituary did not even bother to mention but one which touched me. I saw the movie in college in 1968 and have not had the chance to see it since but I have never forgotten it. As the other user comment on this site indicates, it is a tender, moving, love story and is probably primarily a "woman's movie." But I am a man and I have to say I loved and enjoyed it. Over the years I have mentioned and recommended this movie to friends and,sadly, invariably they have never heard of it. That is too bad: I highly recommend Sweet November; it is well worth the trouble of locating a copy and taking a look!

Wow, I can't believe there are others out there that remember this film. I first saw about 20 yrs ago on a lazy Saturday afternoon on TV. It was one of those Saturday afternoon at the movies type deals back in 1980. I had never heard of it before, but when I saw who was staring in it, Sandy Dennis, it caught my attention as I have always liked her acting.

I laughed, I cried - LOL all that good stuff that comes with a good flick. I have never seen it since that time and have always searched for it in video stores and clubs and have never been able to find it again, let alone find someone else who ever even heard of this movie!!

And once I found it in a TV guide listing airing in the wee-hours of the morning, but I missed it because I read the listing the day after it aired. So I still search for it and hope to get to tape it when it plays again on TV.

Does anyone know if it is available anywhere to purchase????

I really wanna see this movie again!!!!!

I'm a guy who loves films, I also love poetry and for me this film is the perfect combination of both. I saw this film 15yrs ago and watch it every few years.

Its a film that touches in so many ways, and for what plays as a romantic comedy the ending is one of the best endings for such a film.

I hope Newly knew just how much of an abiding love people had for this film and for himself and Sandy.

Its a shame they remade it, but the remake is a soulless travesty when set against the original. Sadly more people probably know the remake and will be put off watching the original. Quite simply in a quiet, dignified way I think this is one of the best films ever made.

Sandy Dennis stars as a kooky, but kind girl who takes a different man under her wing every month and works to resolve their problems. In doing so, she seeks to take her mind off her own troubles. This was a great vehicle for the supremely gifted Dennis who, by this time, had already won the Oscar for her supporting role in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? and took the starring role in UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE. As irresistable and memorable as she was in these two films, I think she leaves an even more indelible impression with SWEET NOVEMBER. Co-star Anthony Newley, who plays her conquest for November, indeed contributes some fine moments, but this is Dennis' film all the way. There is no way that the remake, scheduled for release next year, will be able to hold a candle to this gem.

Sweet November is a charming enough quirk fest than can sometimes grate, cause a chuckle, and move you in the span of 5 minutes. You're always sort of on guard when you watch this movie. It all starts with a stuffy box company worker named Charlie (singer Anthony Newley) gets pushed out of his driver's test when a quirky young woman named Sara (Sandy Dennis) asks him for some answers. Instead of being appalled and angry at this woman, Charlie hangs out with her for a little while and discovers her to be another in a long line of Manic Pixie Dream Girls who could only exist in Hollywood fiction. They agree to continue to spend time together only for Charlie to realize that Sara wants him to be her man of the month. She has a habit of dating men for a month, trying to improve them and then releasing them into the wild. But what will happen if they fall madly in love?

Sweet November sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. Sandy Dennis' performance ranges from shrill to charming to bizarre to adorable to heartbreaking and back again. It's an odd performance, but I can't say I've ever seen anything like it. Anthony Newley does better than expected as Charlie, but there is something off puttingly smug about him at times that makes you want to slap him.

What starts out as an amusing rom com tries to go into melodramatic weepie territory towards the end and it doesn't really work. I'll give them this much - at least it doesn't end with an unearned death to tug at the viewer's heartstrings. In fact, the film ends on an impressively mature and thoughtful note that took me by surprise.