The Money

Out of enough pesos for a better night out on Magsaysay, I saw this movie for $.35 (American!) on the Navy base at Subic in 1979. The major problem wasn't the plot, which was fairly interesting, but it was completely overshadowed by the incredible number of times the boom mike fell down into nearly every shot. I can just imagine the director (Rod Amateau) cringing at the dailies... it makes his Gilligan's Island efforts look like DeMille epics. There's also an incongruent appearance by a Coke machine in a parking lot, that leaves you wondering why it's there, except it gives the lead something to vent his anger upon. Funny what you remember 24 years later, huh? Would've been better as a ABC Tuesday Night Movie instead of a feature. Watch for Danny DeVito.

Honestly, I don't remember this film tremendously well as I was only 13 when I saw it; however, as I grew up in Atlantic City, I think my attention was mostly focused on seeing any street corners or things I knew very well and while I've not seen the film since it's premier (it was at the Charles Theater in Atlantic City; Mr. Tannenbaum, the owner, always let me in for free as he was friend of my dad's), I'd like to see it again and maybe this time focus more on what was going on with the story! It has a wonderful cast, so right off, I tend to think the crummy reviews may be a bit overstated.

My memories of the film (other than the location shooting!) was that it was kind of an "art" film--although I was too young at the time to know exactly what constituted an "art" film and was perhaps a little "too" off-key to register with my 13-year-old brain (although I was quite a radiantly bright rascal at the time).

So at this point in time, until I can see this film again, my personal rating is based on the knowledge that if I can find it, it would be like revisiting my childhood again.