A Woman for All Men

The fact a sexpot from Roger Corman women-in-prison flicks (directed by Jack Hill) could hold more power and importance over Andy Robinson and Keenan Wynn is proof that the seventies were far from over... In fact, racy drive-in vehicles from the infamously dirty decade were going through an awkward and contrived mid-life crisis...

That same summer, 1975, a giant shark named JAWS was devouring audiences in record-breaking numbers. Because of this "bigger boat," it was up to smaller theaters to suit those embarrassed to frequent porno houses: Sitting on the fence were a pileup of R-Rated wannabe X's, and most were pretty bad: Enter Judith Brown, star of THE BIG DOLL HOUSE and WOMEN IN CAGES when she was billed as Judy (whose name seemed to change with a haircut), playing the title character with a title that's exploitation enough: A WOMAN FOR ALL MEN...

The basic though tangled plot has the usual grouchy millionaire marrying a young beauty. In this case the rich dick is Kennan Wynn, who owns a construction company where his two sons, played by "The Scorpio Killer" Robinson and blue-eyed oddball Peter INGLORIOUS BASTARDS Hooten, work hard outdoors without cozy office jobs, providing enough frustration in what's already predictably forced into the overall Film Noir template...

Soon enough, oldest son and dad's trophy wife hook up and, like TAROT starring Sue Lyon and Gloria Graham a few years earlier, it's the heart-of-gold housekeeper (a respectfully aged Lois Hall) who begins figuring things out: along with dad's only-daughter played by Patty Bodeen, a blue-eyed, round-faced, pouting beauty who should have been in a lot more of these kitschy thrillers... Her melodramatic gusto really fits when needed: And with more dialogue than action, anything spontaneous is welcome to wake things up: Especially since Brown, usually the "straight woman" of Corman films, has to remain firm and one-dimensional in the lead role.

The suspense builds nicely but it's almost too late once the viewer gets lethargically captured. Then again, random twists and turns occur too soon for the essential "boiling point" to amount to anything beyond a reason for square-jawed Brown to shed her clothes (in an ongoing homemade film within this film).

And yet, with recognizable actors Don Porter as Wynn's lawyer and Alex Rocco as the inevitable snoopy cop, this WOMAN is better than one might think. Perhaps those who had served in classic crime heaven (the likes of THE GODFATHER, THE MECHANIC and CHARLEY VARRICK) lacked the usual guilt while reigning in this sizzling perdition of super-low-budget fare.

Judith Brown who plays the young hot wife and gold digger to her much older and very rich recent newlywed husband Keenan Wynn come home to a not too friendly welcome by Keenan Wynn's three (3) adult children. I find it hard to relate to these particular family dynamics as my own upbringing was much simpler.

In direct contrast to my own upbringing the McCoy family owned a huge general contracting business building large industrial plazas in and around California, they drove the most expensive vehicles, lived in a luxurious home on a large property, and they had servants taking care of any and all their household needs, but the McCoy children were lacking any semblance of love and/or affection from their matriarch father Walter (Keenan Wynn).

The new young hot looking wife Karen (Judith Brown) made no bones about why she married the much older businessman Walter McCoy it was because of his enormous wealth and nothing else. Walter liked to brag how rich, strong and virile he was and he ran his house as if everyone was expected to cow tow to him, not only the servants, but his new bride and three (3) adult children as well. If any of his family even breathed a sigh of discontent Walter would quickly tell them they knew where the front door was and they were free to leave and try and make it on their own without any of his financial support.

It doesn't take long for one of Walter's son Steve McCoy (Andrew Robinson) to be exposed to Walter's new bride Karen who starts having wandering eyes towards her much younger stepson who she begins grooming to be her next and new lover. This sets off even higher levels of mistrust and emotions between the various McCoy family members until Walter is suddenly and unexpectedly pronounced as missing and assumed to have committed suicide.

Now the family members including Walter's recent new bride Karen call in their husband/father's lawyer to commence dispersing his last will and testament which the lawyer states unequivocally that he is not prepared to do as he has specific orders from the missing Walter McCoy to follow.

I won't divulge how the family dynamics deteriorate further but suffice to say that the McCoy family show their greed, lust and anger towards one another even with their father still missing and assumed to have committed suicide, and their hussy stepmother grinning like a cheshire cat.

This is a strange family which reflects that money can't buy happiness. It is an under rated film which is why I have given it a slightly higher rating at 8 out of 10 to counter some of the lower under appreciated IMDB ratings.

"A Woman For All Men" aka "Deadly Intrigue" is a good movie. It's about two brothers: Steve (Andy Robinson) and Paul (Peter Hooten) who work for their father Walter (Keenan Wynn). When Walter brings home the beautiful Sarah (Lois Hall), everything spins out of control. Soon, blackmail, double-crosses, and murder become family traits.

The performances are well-acted, and the plot has some fun twists. Alex Rocco is only in it for 10 minutes, but his presence is always welcome. The only problem with the movie is that the 2nd half drags a little.

In the end: If you can locate this movie, it's definitely worth watching.

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Keenan wynn always was a loud mouthed womanizer and andrew robinson was only unforgettable as the psycho in dirty harry ... i fail to see how judith brown qualifies as some raving beauty and she only has fried eggs for chest ornaments...dul, dull, dull

Compact but talented cast headlined by sexploitation starlet Judy Brown as "the woman" brought home from one of cantankerous millionaire Keenan Wynn's frequent Las Vegas excursions, only to be mistreated by Wynn's drunken abuse and jealousy. His sons soon discover she's 'too much woman for any one man' (quote, unquote) and the web of seduction, murder and double cross is spun. But just who is the spider?

Notable in the cast are Andy Robinson and Peter Hooten playing the sons, while Alex Rocco has a small role as a police detective. There's not much prohibited content to warrant the R rating; a lot of semi-nude embraces, vaguely transparent negligees and soap opera dialogue but the film still manages to look like a 70's style loop. The trashy wallpaper, cheap sets and stage decor give an authentic render, but there's often too much talk, and too little action to sustain the interest.

Still, it's good to see Wynn in both a dominant and vulnerable characterisation, showcasing some acting talents he rarely had the opportunity to display in the latter part of his career (even if his screen time is limited).