Dolce novembre

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.

I'm a huge Sandy Dennis fan. Her acting was disparaged by unkind critics, but to me acting is less about doing than about being. Sandy was a great human being and she shines in the few films I have had a chance to see.

This one I saw decades ago and remember only the basic outline, and I remember loving it utterly. It has the intimacy of chamber music. The unusual plot intrigued me very much. Why don't they show it more often? I also liked the fact that for a change, the main character is a woman who knows what she wants, and is not just a feather in a man's cap.

***Possible Spoilers*** OK, the overall plot does unfortunately suffer from a heavy dose of implausibility. However, if you're willing to suspend your disbelief and simply enjoy the ride from the outset, including the whole look and feel of the '60's (I was born in this decade, and always love living it vicariously through films), the clothes, her adorable apartment (I notice more of the interior design of her apartment with every viewing), and of course, above all else, their tender love story and the road on which Dennis' character leads Newley's, you'll be in for a very real treat. I can be a very harsh critic when films are set in "reality" but clearly have a very implausible storyline, but I make an exception with this film. It's unfortunate, but I have heard/read somewhere that Anthony Newley and Sandy Dennis did not get along at all during the making of this film. That fact alone is a testament to the strength of their performances, because their chemistry was so wonderful on screen. I was never much of an Anthony Newley fan prior to seeing this film, because I was too little during his heyday, and never really took to "children's films" during that time either, such as The Chocolate Factory and Dr. Doolittle. However, in this film, he was absolutely charming.

***SPOILER COMING***The scene in her bedroom loft in which he professes his love for her is one of the most genuine and tender love scenes (conversation only) I've ever seen on film. Whenever I watch this scene, I feel as if I were truly eavesdropping on a very private conversation between two people. Newley's slight mockery of Dennis' knack for going wackily off-subject during this conversation was just a beautiful little dance of dialog. He is just SO English!...he's adorable. Also, it was sweet to notice his first having a very hard time climbing the "stairs" in her apartment, but, toward the end of his "month", he's mastering them with finesse, without even needing to clutch the side railings. Finally, the "1,000 Novembers" he wants to give her make you hope that she will take him up on his offer, once and for all.

Beneath the storied romance of this movie, and Newley's beautiful, tender charm, there is an underlying message provided in large part by Sandy Dennis' character and brilliant performance. Though her character on surface appears to be very much of a free spirit, heavy on whimsy and light on logic, she is the one who makes the stronger impression on Newley than he on her, seemingly, at least, effecting more change in him than he in her. She slowly leads him to look at life as well as his role in it in a different manner, and his character is forever enriched as a result.

If you haven't seen this film, find it (you can get it on Amazon on VHS....I wish they'd offer it on DVD), make yourself a cup of tea, curl up under the covers, listen to this story and watch these characters. "Sweet November" is very touching....tender, sad, romantic, and warmly moving.

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.

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.