BBB.5
(out of 5)
Frank Oz’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels had its origins in this delightful comedy, with Oz’s version a 95% exact duplicate (you figure out the difference and report back). Two masterful con artists, one a suave Brit who impersonates European royalty (David Niven) and the other an American lothario who assumes the identity of melancholy officers (Marlon Brando), butt competitive heads in the French riviera and try to outdo each other in the game of swindling. When neither is able to get the upper hand, they then decide to join forces and go after an American soap heiress (Shirley Jones) and split the winnings. They aren’t playing nice for long, though, before they start trying to beat each other at their own game again. Written and produced by Stanley Shapiro (most famous for the Rock Hudson/Doris Day romantic comedies), this candy-coloured concoction is buoyed by delightful performances (even Brando, who is awkwardly cast, tickles a rib), a bouncy screenplay and lovely scenery. Definitely a fun night in front of the tube.
Pennebaker Productions, The Lankershim Company, Universal Pictures
USA, 1964
Directed by Ralph Levy
Screenplay by Stanley Shapiro, Paul Henning
Cinematography by Clifford Stine
Produced by Stanley Shapiro
Music by Hans J. Salter
Production Design by Robert Clatworthy, Alexander Golitzen
Costume Design by Jean Louis
Film Editing by Milton Carruth
