When a movie star is kidnapped, everyone thinks it's a publicity stunt. It's not.When a movie star is kidnapped, everyone thinks it's a publicity stunt. It's not.When a movie star is kidnapped, everyone thinks it's a publicity stunt. It's not.
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Featured reviews
The biggest stretch is having Laurel (Russell) fall for her kidnapper Mike (Meeker). It may have worked on paper, but it fails on screen. Too bad Meeker couldn't muster up some romantic emotion; instead he basically walks through the role in indifferent fashion. Then too, Russell's nightgown is hardly revealing, let alone titillating. Moreover, we have only the b&w movie's word that it's actually pink. Nonetheless she and Wynn do inject some needed spark.
Arguably, the movie's best part is its cynical take on the movie industry, from greedy studio honcho Martin (Menjou) to conniving agent Baylies (Harris) to waspish gossip columnist Parker (Venuta). Had the script played up this aspect, the results would have been more compelling. But, of course, that would have cut down on Russell's celebrity screen time. Anyway, there're some good shots of a Malibu beach house, a chic 50's parlor room, and a studio lot.
Despite Russell's spirited performance, the movie remains a jumbled disappointment.
Here she's not exactly a scene-stealer--in fact, her performance is rather strained and only improves after she takes off that horrendous wig. Then, it improves considerably.
No help is the script, a tiresome thing that is silly from the start and wastes some talented people--like ADOLPHE MENJOU, RALPH MEEKER and KEENAN WYNN. Meeker seems so uninterested in his role that it shows. Badly.
Meeker and Wynn are partners in a kidnapping scheme that fails to go smoothly because Russell is a regular spitfire who proves hard to handle, until she decides the kidnapping would be good publicity for her latest film. The script only gets worse as it goes along, with only FRED CLARK able to put some laughs into a brief supporting role.
Summing up: A really clumsy script, it does nothing for the careers of Russell, Meeker or Wynn who have all done better elsewhere.
I really like the first half and how Jane Russell is playing up her character. I don't like as much the second half. It is not quite the fun that I expected. Maybe if the kidnapping didn't last as long as it does. The fun start fades in the second half.
Did you know
- TriviaRay Danton was originally cast in the role of Mike, but was let go after only two days of filming because he came down with laryngitis. However, according to gossip columns of the time that wasn't the real reason: "The laryngitis was announced as the reason for Ray Danton's bow-out as Jane Russell's leading man in The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown turned out to be the fuzziest announcement of the year. The real reason Ray's out of the cast: After looking at the rushes, Producer Bob Waterfield [Jane's husband] decided he was too young for Jane. Ralph Meeker is now playing the role." Fact of the matter was, Jane was 10 years older than Danton and Meeker was 6 months older than Jane.
- Quotes
Laurel Stevens: Look, what have you got against me, anyway?
Mike Valla: I don't like phonies.
Laurel Stevens: So what's phony?
Mike Valla: You! Big man expert, phony act, phony everything.
Laurel Stevens: This just happens to be a legitimate article. People pay good money to look at it.
Mike Valla: [Scoffing] "Look." When I was a kid there was a little weasel who ran a candy store on Coney Island. Sundays and holidays he'd put a big sign in the window, "Free Bubble Gum." Only, the store was always closed. Next day the price went right up out of the market. I never got enough of hating that guy.
Laurel Stevens: Maybe you just never got enough bubble gum?
- ConnectionsReferenced in What's My Line?: Edie Adams & Jane Russell (1957)
Details
- Runtime
- 1h 27m(87 min)
- Color