JIM O’CONNOLLY

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BB.5.  United Kingdom, 1967.  Herman Cohen Productions.  Story and Screenplay by Aben Kandel, Herman Cohen.  Cinematography by Desmond Dickinson. Produced by Herman Cohen.  Music by John Scott.  Production Design by Maurice Pelling.  Costume Design by Jay Hutchinson Scott.  Film Editing by Raymond Poulton.  

This hilariously goofy thriller’s kitschy qualities are what make it so entertaining.  Joan Crawford plays the head of a circus troupe travelling through London in the hopes of making enough money to see a profit. Their smooth ride is being interrupted by a series of murders that are taking place among the performers, but since they only improve box office receipts, Joan isn’t going to do anything too drastic about it. Meanwhile, her new tightrope walker (Ty Hardin) is a hot stud who has plans to shack up with her for good and maybe take over the business from her as well. The fact that Joan was old enough to be her male co-star’s grandmother is of no importance, though it would be a lot more supportable if she wasn’t trying so hard to look thirty (the hairstyles really need help).