Riches et célèbres

Not-bad-at-all swan song for the great George Cukor, a "women's picture" remake of 1944's "Old Acquaintance" that actually improves on it somewhat. That's thanks mostly to screenwriter Gerald Ayres, who has updated it in credible and interesting ways and cut down on some of the excesses of the genre. As old friends who become romantic and professional rivals, Jacqueline Bisset and Candice Bergen appear to be having a marvelous time, and David Selby's quite all right in the Gig Young-ish role of the dreamboat who married the wrong Smith graduate. Cukor's venture into R-rated filmmaking is a little self- conscious, and he dwells perhaps too long on the various beautiful young men who make the acquaintance of these two, but it's professional, attractive filmmaking. Notable also for the fascinating party guests who turn up as extras--Nina Foch, Christopher Isherwood, etc.

Both Jackie and Candice are terrific in this movie. They are well-suited to their roles and have several chances to shine. In particular, the way Candice pronounces the words "Puerto Rican" is very funny, as she is being kind as she can be but condescending at the same time. I had seen the original of this movie, called "Old Acquaintance", starring Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins. They allegedly did not get along, so because the movie is about female friendship, that might have been a problem. Here, the actresses clearly admire and respect each other. Hart Bochner and Meg Ryan have supporting parts and are both excellent, in particular Bochner, who never got many decent parts in movies, as far as I am concerned. George Cukor did not make another movie after this, so this was a good one to go out on.

In 1959, roommates Liz Hamilton (Jacqueline Bisset) and Merry Noel (Candice Bergen) are best friends in Smith College. Merry runs off to marry Doug Blake. Liz goes on to become a serious writer. Merry has a daughter, a large beach house in Malibu, and writes a trashy novel about her neighbors. Liz brings it to her publisher and Merry becomes an overwhelming success.

Hey! It's Meg Ryan in her debut. This wants to be a serious movie about a female friendship but at times, it falls down into trashy romance novels. Candice Bergen is too flighty and she doesn't fit the role. As for Bisset, she's solid until the movie gives her a boy toy. It's not so much a meet-cute but rather a creepy stalking. For every step forward, this movie takes a step back. The potential for a great movie about female friendship is here. It has two solid actresses. It needs more scenes with them together. They could show the changes in their relationship with those scenes. It also needs to cut out some of the more pulpy elements and clunky dialogue.

George Cukor is an actresses director.He told himself it was nothing but an old cliché ,probably as old as the hills ,as old as "gone with the wind" when Leigh and De Havilland went on rehearsing with him even after he was fired.

But this cliché is completely true here.Every scene where Jacqueline Bisset and Candice Bergen are together is riveting,dazzling,moving,funny all at once.but when the movie deals with Bisset's love affairs,it 's an awful bore.Doug's scenes are watchable at a pinch because the actor has a certain presence ,but the Rolling Stone guy's ones are almost unbearable,being bland ,pseudo-intellectual ;this is really a lightweight performance ,to put it mildly.

But the two actresses work wonders when they share the screen.Two scenes highlight the movie:the first ,in Malibu,where the two women spend a whole night reading Bergen's writing prowess;the second in NYC,when they have an ultimate quarrel :Bisset tells her mate she's only one part of a woman:you easily guess which one.

Of course ,it's a very uneven movie and inferior to Cukor's precedent work ("travels with my aunt",not counting his ill-fated "the blue bird") but the fast forward button is useful when the movie begins to drag on.

If you're old enough to remember when television networks aired movies of the week--usually part 1 on Sunday nights and part 2 on Tuesday nights--you'll probably understand how this film fits into that, at least in my view. Remakes, reboots, and reworkings have been a part of storytelling since it began, but the question I'm left with is...why? Why did someone decide that Old Acquaintance, with Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins, would work as an updated, R-rated film, especially with a television-like feel to it?

I disagree with reviewers who say this is wonderfully cast. Yes, there is chemistry between Bisset and Bergen, but that doesn't mean it works for the film as a whole. I do, however, agree that Bergen's southern accent is more than just distracting. She slips in and out of it so often, I wanted to stop watching.

The movie did, in my opinion, pick up around the 1 hr 30 min mark; and that's the only reason I watched it in its entirety. It was fun and slightly nostalgic to see Meg Ryan in her debut. And I also agree with other reviewers who comment on Ms. Bergen's cool wardrobe. I also reluctantly concede that Deleure's music score is too sappy for this production.

In all, it's average and nothing more. If you're big fans of either of the lead actresses, it's worth your time. Otherwise, it's kind of a snooze fest.