Um Homem para Ivy

Sidney Poitier developed the original story for this fantasy-romance between a black maid working for a neurotic, rich white family out on Long Island and a handsome, confirmed bachelor--a partner in a trucking firm which deals (rather craftily) in illegal gambling on the side. In the most prominent role, Abbey Lincoln (real-life jazz vocalist who resembles a young Dionne Warwick) has a firm jaw and a shyly self-conscious manner, but she grows on you--and in her lighter moments displays a tentative yet winning smile and personality. After a static, stilted beginning, the movie picks up some steam and quickly overcomes its contrived set-up, and Poitier is full of jubilant charisma. Nice end-credits theme song, written by Quincy Jones and performed by Shirley Horn, received an Oscar nomination. Good fun! *** from ****

I caught this last night on Turner and while this is a slight little movie, I found it quite charming, mainly in the developing relationship between the smooth, elegant, slightly dangerous Poitier and the sweet and yet sassy Ms. Lincoln. They're a good match together, and I love the very romantic seduction scene with that great Quincy Jones music playing in the background. From what I've seen of Sidney Poitier he usually plays a somewhat angry young man who's fighting the system in some way. Well, here he just gets to play a smooth hustler, and man is he sexy!!! Wish he'd made more light romantic films like this.

As for the rest of the cast - well, the plot serves them poorly. The white family come across as well meaning stooges, and the hippie look is really dated on Beau Bridges. But it's kind of the equivalent of one of those Rock Hudson/Doris Day movies with a bit more of an edge and a little bit of a conscience. Well worth watching when it comes around again.

There are lots of reasons to like For Love of Ivy, so if you haven't seen this '60s classic yet, make it this weekend's matinee. You can see a pre-Archie Bunker performance from Carol O'Connor playing the family's patriarch who throws a touch of racism at their black domestic maid. Upon learning she's going to leave their employ, he shrugs to his wife and doesn't see the problem finding a new maid. The matriarch, Nan Martin, is horrified. She looks at Ivy as a member of the family, and even though Ivy wants to get an education and live in her own place, she doesn't want her to leave. It's very much a statement piece, that the white family can't fathom why their black housekeeper feels unsatisfied.

Abbey Lincoln, who plays Ivy, is just delightful. With a cute, spunky personality and great energy, we easily root for her and hope she finds a happy ending - whatever that means. . . The teenaged children of the family, Beau Bridges and Lauri Peters, come up with a scheme to keep Ivy happy and employed: romance. If she falls in love, she'll be happy and give up her idea of leaving. Beau knows a shady bad boy, Sidney Poitier, and blackmails him into dating Ivy. Which is another great reason to see the film: how often do you see Sidney playing a bad boy?

Beau Bridges was nominated for a Golden Globe for his sweet performance, and if it seems like he's very comfortable in front of the camera, it's because he was practically a veteran in 1968. Going all the way back to The Red Pony, he did movies and television before this big splash - no wonder he had a great screen presence! Abbey Lincoln was also nominated for a Golden Globe, but for Supporting Actress. Can anyone explain that? The movie is, literally, all about her, and she has the largest part of all the female characters. Why wasn't she nominated for Actress instead?

Just watched this on Netflix disc with Mom. She thought it was weird and I found myself half-agreeing with all the dated '60s clothes abounding in many scenes. While both Mom and me laughed at some scenes, I don't think either of us realized this was a comedy since there wasn't much in the lines we thought was funny. Still, I myself liked the dialogue between Sidney Poitier and Abbey Lincoln that permeated throughout and was glad with the way it ended for them. Interesting seeing Carroll O'Connor as someone other than Archie Bunker and a young Beau Bridges early in his film career. In summary, For Love of Ivy is worth a look. Oh, and unlike many of his characters during this period, Mr. Poitier doesn't seem so noble here...

When Abbey Lincoln in the title role of Ivy announces she's quitting to go out on her own, the Austins except for father Carroll O'Connor hit the panic button. Nan Martin is beside herself as the mom and the kids Lauri Peters and Beau Bridges recoil at the prospect of doing for themselves.

Beau Bridges who is a rather shallow character with pretensions of being a flower child comes up with the idea of fixing Lincoln up with a disreputable character so she would see how well off she is and stay. His choice is Sidney Poitier a man with a trucking company who on the side at night has moving casino inside one of his moving vans.

But as these things work out, Poitier falls for Lincoln and mounts an earnest campaign to win her. That campaign is some of the best parts of the film, Poitier and Lincoln have a real chemistry together.

The other part I like is what goes on with Beau Bridges. Some of the dialog between him and his parents remind me of Carroll O'Connor and son-in-law Rob Reiner from All In The Family.

This is a nice feel good movie about a princess who finds a Prince Charming in a strange place.