Des amis comme les miens

29 years before American Beauty, Otto Preminger destroys the icons of american life, from the husband to the mother to the medical doctor, in a vitriolic satire where only the wronged ones gain the viewer's sympathy.

Ever asked yourself why you should be faithful to your husband/wife? See this movie. I loved it.

I'm a big fan of the beautiful, sexy, and talented Dyan Cannon. I saw this film when it first came out in 1971 and thought it was funny, sexy, well-acted, and entertaining. Well, I just saw this movie today, after some 35 years and it hasn't aged well. The movie about a medical mishap and extra-marital affairs is now old news. The plot no longer has the kick it had back in 1971. There are some bright spots that are still shinny; an all-star cast of veteran actors, the sexy Miss Cannon and the equally attractive Jennifer O'Neal, and one very humor "sex" scene. Aside from that, the movie is slow moving and somewhat dull. The plot is depressing, and the ending makes little or no sense. So, unless you're a big fan of Dyan Cannon or Jennifer O'Neal, I'd forget about Such Good Friends.

Otto Preminger's later films are an acquired taste. But this one, while completely outrageous, seems to be one of his better efforts.

Some of the more memorable scenes: Burgess Meredith walking around nude at a cocktail party (!); Ken Howard impotent while making love to Dyan Cannon; Cannon attempting to seduce obese James Coco who is wearing a girdle (!); and Cannon finding her husband's black book with notes about sex with other women.

Despite its unusualness, SUCH GOOD FRIENDS is an enjoyable picture to watch because it's something you don't have to take seriously. It is obviously a black comedy and the first few minutes establish the mood perfectly. It does become a bit of a maudlin soap opera where Cannon's character is figuring out her husband's infidelities and trying to decide if she still loves the guy or not. But the melodramatic aspects are definitely overshadowed by the satirical look at urban mores that Preminger presents.

It has only a couple of scenes that you'll remember and the plot is too slow. Otto Preminger may have done a good work with the actors in this film but this is not enough.

Even though it has no ambition either so ...

I came to this after seeing a very recent You Tube interview with Dyan Cannon, in which this film was mentioned positively. And for good reason. Yes, of course the styles, clothes, and culture have all evolved and those elements create a sense of dated-ness. But it doesn't matter! The characters/characteristics satirized remain as dead-on as ever: male egotism, overbearing, critical mothers, self-important artists, an untrustworthy medical establishment (talk about THAT one still being timely), spoiled children, but most of all (and sadly so) the ease with which supposed good friends readily demean a friendship to satisfy a personal tryst. Ms. Cannon portrays a realistically complex character with consummate skill and integrates a constantly careening tonality into a coherent whole. This is a funny, albeit painfully so, minor classic.