The Love God?

I personally enjoy this film for a few reasons. The style, design, fashion, etc. and time period are awesome. Late 60s and groovy as can be. The whole "Hugh Hefner" thing is happening.

At least in 1969, who would be the best (aka WORST) Love God? Don Knotts, of course. While this movie is a bit different than his other starring films (it's PG-13 for a start), it still has that charm.

Knotts always plays a small town guy getting mixed up in something, and becoming a reluctant hero. It's a formula that works well for him, and we have it in this movie. I think some people do not enjoy this movie because it's just a little different than his other work up to this point, but that's okay.

While this is essentially a sex-comedy, the film is still family friendly overall. There's nothing too blatant, so if you're old enough you'll get it, and if you aren't then that's okay. I recommend this movie, especially if you like Don Knotts, the 60s, or both.

Clean and decent ornithologist Don Knotts (as Abner Peacock IV) is about to see his poor-selling bird-watching magazine peck it in. Meanwhile, smut-peddling publisher Edmond O'Brien (as Osborne Tremain) loses his magazine's license, due to pornographic content. To continue printing his bosomy babes, O'Brien tricks Knotts into turning over his periodical's editorial content. After sending Knotts off on safari, O'Brien turns the tame "Peacock's Magazine" into a titillating masturbatory aide.

Knotts returns to find himself corralled into becoming the defendant in a "free speech" case. With assistance from enterprising editor Anne Francis (as Lisa La Monica), Knotts is transformed into a Hugh Hefner-type publishing giant. Then, Ms. Francis falls in love with playboy Knotts...

Knotts can't help but be funny; this particular characterization was perfected in his role of "Mr. Furley" on the TV series "Three's Company". His "Abner Peacock" is little less sure, perhaps necessarily so, considering the times. Note, the screeching and shouting was not part of Knotts' later routine. Under-appreciated writer/director Nat Hiken cleverly mixes satire and sexy women. "The Love God?" is colorful, and features a delightful supporting cast. Unfortunately, by the last act, the film's direction, and humor, has pointedly unraveled.

***** The Love God? (1969) Nat Hiken ~ Don Knotts, Anne Francis, Edmond O'Brien

Don Knotts got a lot of mileage out of his inept Barney Fife character which he played in a series of movies throughout the 1960s (he won four or five straight Emmys so you have to give him credit). Most of his movie rip-offs were forgettable but not "The Love God?" Then and now, the movie is a social satire and a commentary on public morals. I'm not sure that is exactly what Knotts intended but that is what results. Knotts is Abner Peacock, the publisher of Peacock's Magazine, a bird-watcher journal which is in bankruptcy. Osborn Trelaine comes to his rescue with capital to save the magazine. What Abner doesn't know, and doesn't find out until he returns from a bird expedition, is that Trelaine is a pornographer. As soon as he returns to America, Abner is arrested for obscenity. The trial that follows is hilarious as Knotts' famous lawyer lambasts him and tells the country how disgusted he is to be representing such a degenerate. But because he loves liberty, he has to do it. Abner is acquitted and now finds himself to be considered to be a Casanova by every woman in America. His lawyers, his family and the pornographers convince him that it is his patriotic duty to put out a filthy magazine and prove to the world how free a country the US is. "But I don't know the first thing about publishing filth!" he objects. "You're young! You can learn!" he's told. With the luscious Anne Francis as his editor Abner then becomes the front for the most popular sex magazine of all time. Trouble is, while America thinks he's bopping models three at a time, he's actually a virgin and intimidated by women (except the faithful Rose Ellen who waits to marry him.). The funniest sequence of the movie is a musical montage of Abner living the jet-set life and appearing at a string of nightclubs. His hilarious rendition of "Summer in the Meadow" ("by Eloise W. Fetlock") is also unforgettable. Don Knotts never made a better movie and the social commentary hasn't diminished one iota in the over 30 yrs since it was released.

The Love God is a funny movie. don knotts is very funny but notice this movie is PG-13 but it is still funny! i'm 13 years old. i own the movie it is good! the other don knotts movies are not rated!

Typical Knotts wide eyed, who me?, what's going on here?, comedy. Fairly amusing throughout with no serious stone left unturned in this ridiculous farce which creates a sex symbol out of a straight arrow, dull, bird watcher. This wouldn't have been as funny using a actor less goofy looking than Knotts.