Just Tell Me What You Want

I have seen this movie several times, and the interplay between Alan King and Ali McGraw never fails to make me smile. There is no confusion as to which genre this movie was meant to be or in how it turned out. It's clearly a romantic comedy, and a funny one. Some younger viewers may have a hard time understanding the humor, because none of it involves body fluids, toilet humor, eating disgusting things or other gross-outs. We know that love and war are sometimes the same thing. This time, it's business, too!

King shines as a hard-nosed business tycoon who is romantically involved with his executive assistant, Bones (McGraw). He likes the informal arrangement just fine, but Bones is to the point where she either wants marriage or to move on. When she seems to fall for a young writer and moves in with him, it's not clear if she is truly in love with him, or if she is using him as leverage to make King jealous enough to propose. King, of course, retaliates. The war between the two, using under-handed business tactics is very funny, with each trying to top the other. The winner can either move on in triumph or dictate the terms of their reconciliation. King is probably best known for his stand-up comedy, but this movie shows him to be a fine comedic actor as well.

Alan King's world falls apart when long time mistress Ali Macgrue breaks up with him and marries much younger Peter Weller. Snobby comedy isn't for all taste, but is expertly performed and is very, very funny, especially the scene in the department store. Alan King is displayed at his absolute as is Loy in a quite performance. Terrific entertainment. 9 out 10.

Myrna Loy's last great theatrical film role comes in this comedy starring Ali McGraw and Alan King. This the story of a girl Friday mistress and her campaign to make it legal with her boss.

King's role is a combination of William Randolph Hearst and Louis B. Mayer and like them he's the head of a communications/entertainment conglomerate which he rules by fear and intimidation. His normal conversational tone is a soft bellow. His assistant and mistress is Ali McGraw ho if she can't make it legal would like to get out from under.

The problem is King Already has a wife, the beautiful but fragile Dina Merrill. So like Marion Davies she has to be content with being a rather public mistress. But McGraw is running out of patience.

Loy is King's ever so efficient secretary and keeper of the keys to his kingdom. During her years at MGM Loy had the perfect role model. Ida Koverman was Louis B. Mayer's secretary and she functioned the same way that Loy does vis a vis King.

As for King the tantrums he throws are the stuff that made Louis B. Mayer a legend among the moguls. He certainly had Myrna there to give him pointers.

King and McGraw are a well matched pair of leads. Sidney Lumet got some great performances out of all the cast he assembled.

Best scene: McGraw encountering King at Bergdorf-Goodman's. Can't say more this has to be seen.

Just Tell Me What You Want, one great comedy.

Saw this years ago when it came out. Now seeing it again through older eyes makes it even better. While the relationships depicted are predatory--eat or be eaten--they still have a certain sweetness to them. It's a uniquely well-done commentary on the rich. Fitzgerald was right: they're different.

Can't understand why there's no "memorable quotes" part of this entry.

This movie became one of my favorites the instant I saw it and I didn't even like Ali MacGraw! But I like her just fine now. This is an absolutely top-notch production from start to finish and the performances are outstanding -- without exception. I mean here you have Alan King, with Keenan Wynn, and Myrna Loy as supporting actors! MacGraw and Peter Weller are very appealing as young lovers and MacGraw gives her perhaps only great performance. She pulls out all the stops in this one and couldn't be better. I just love this movie and can't understand why it wasn't a big hit. Well, I can, actually. It doesn't appeal to immature adolescent boys (including most Hollywood producers).