The Loved One

The Loved One (1965)

Runtime: 122 minutes

Directed by: Tony Richardson

Starring: Robert Morse, Anjanette Comer, and MANY others

From: Filmways Pictures

Yep, this is the sort of story that both Elaine May and Luis Bunuel wanted to bring to screen.

This is a movie I've viewed before, but the last time was at least 15 years ago so this was long overdue; in the past it played rarely on TCM but it's even less frequent now so I decided to make the Prime rental instead. It is a rather peculiar movie where I understand why it's not for all tastes-then again I've never read the Evelyn Waugh novella it's based on and it works for me because it takes the piss out of many things and a few facts will further solidify why it's rather surprising for a movie from 1965. To further describe the tone, multiple people have noted how this must have formed the entire world viewpoint of John Waters.

From what I understand, when Waugh went to Hollywood he was both disgusted w/ Old Hollywood and the funeral business in the area so this skewers both, along with stiff upper lip British chaps... in short, Robert Morse is an awkward dork of a man who leaves England and ends up in Los Angeles. Things happen, including love w/ Anjanette Comer, Jonathan Winters in a dual role as twins, and a mortuary which employs both Rod Steiger as an embalmer named... MR. JOYBOY & Liberace.

It becomes more bizarre & absurd this progresses which is how this starts with a cameo from James Coburn and because Paul Williams is “vertically challenged”, he played a boy genius even though he was in his mid 20's. Along the way are other familiar faces-usually briefly-including Milton Berle, Tab Hunter, Roddy McDowall, Bernie Kopell, Lionel Stander, John Gielgud and Dana Andrews.

Apparently, the Old Hollywood types that saw this were as offended as you'd expect; I'm sure the same goes for those in the funeral industry. As always, comedy is more subjective than most genres so all the middling reviews I've seen for the film is understandable. Be that as it may, all the wry humor amused me even if there aren't that many laugh out loud moments. It's not necessarily an endorsement of the few minutes spent with the gross caricature that is Mr. Joyboy's mother. One key asset is that Haskell Wexler of all people was the cinematographer & from hearsay I know that he may have been inspired by the French New Wave at times.

It's a movie that has various bisexual or homosexuals involved in front or behind the camera; more than one of the characters could be implied as such. The Loved One is a curio I was happy to revisit.