During the '60's, the late Clive Donner made several modish comedies, of which 'What's New Pussycat' is probably the best known because it marked the acting/writing debut of Woody Allen. Its theme - 20th century Man's never-ending preoccupation with sex - is one Allen returned to in later films. Peter O'Toole plays 'Michael James', editor of Parisian fashion magazine 'Chic'. Everywhere he goes, incredibly beautiful women are willing to leap into his bed. He wants to marry the lovely Carole ( Romy Schneider ), but cannot bring himself to propose because he faces too much temptation. He goes to psychiatrist Dr.Fritz Fassbinder ( Peter Sellers ). The good doctor is madder than many of his patients. Envious of Michael's way with women, he begs him to help him bed a patient called Renee Lefebvre ( Capucine )...
Anyone familiar with Woody's later movies might be startled on viewing 'Pussycat' for the first time. It is a film Woody later came to despise, mainly because his script was altered by the stars, particularly O'Toole and Sellers. As well as exploiting the myth of Paris as the 'sex capital of the world', there is a 'Goon Show' flavour to some of the humour; at a strip club, Michael finds Fassbinder in the audience. Embarrassed, the doctor says he followed him there. When Michael points out that he was there already, Fassbinder says: "I followed you fast'.". Woody originally wanted the film to be more like a Marx Brothers romp, and wrote the part of 'Fassbinder' with Groucho in mind. Producer Charles K.Feldman had other ideas. Sellers was a hot property in the States thanks to 'Dr.Strangelove' and other pictures. Clad in a reject Nana Mouskouri wig and sporting a bogus Teutonic accent, he virtually shouts his way through the script. It is not one of his finest hours. O'Toole is miscast, bringing a heavy hand to what should have been a light role. It is hard to see why all these women find him so attractive ( and no, I'm not saying that out of jealousy! ). The main laughs come from Woody himself as Michael's geeky chum 'Victor Shakapopolis', who works in the local strip club dressing the girls before they go on stage. "Ten francs a week", he tells an astonished Michael. "That's not much!". Victor replies: "Its all I can afford!". In a very funny scene, Victor is with Carole ( whom he hopes to bed ) in a library when a thug snatches away her book. Victor sets about trying to teach the thug a lesson. Another has Michael and Carole having a row at the language school where she works, and the class start repeating their insults in the belief it is part of the lesson. Here we get a glimpse of the Allen comedies to come, such as 'Take The Money & Run' and 'Bananas'. Also good is Paula Prentiss as neurotic stripper 'Liz Bien' ( think about that name for a second ) who keeps trying to kill herself every five minutes. Her strip tease routine is genuinely erotic and thrilling ( though we see nothing we shouldn't! )
Things To Look Out For - a walk-on from O'Toole's 'Becket' co-star - Richard Burton!
With its distinctive Richard Williams Studios credits, Tom Jones theme song ( other numbers in the film were by Dionne Warwick and Manfred Mann ) by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the film was a massive hit. But for my money it comes across as forced, with everyone enjoying themselves a bit too much. The finale takes place at Château Chantelle, and has the cast chasing each other Tom & Jerry style, culminating in a go-kart scene that seems to be there only because someone thought a go-kart chase would liven up the film at that point. If Allen's ideas had been adhered to, the whole thing might have been better. Nevertheless, it is interesting from a historical perspective as an early example of the trendy sex comedy. It could not have been made five years earlier.
Popping up near the end ( she parachutes into Michael's car ) is Ursula Andress - the first 'Bond' girl - as 'Rita'. She, along with Sellers, O'Toole and Allen, reunited for Feldman's next production - the even more outrageous 'Casino Royale'.
Anyone familiar with Woody's later movies might be startled on viewing 'Pussycat' for the first time. It is a film Woody later came to despise, mainly because his script was altered by the stars, particularly O'Toole and Sellers. As well as exploiting the myth of Paris as the 'sex capital of the world', there is a 'Goon Show' flavour to some of the humour; at a strip club, Michael finds Fassbinder in the audience. Embarrassed, the doctor says he followed him there. When Michael points out that he was there already, Fassbinder says: "I followed you fast'.". Woody originally wanted the film to be more like a Marx Brothers romp, and wrote the part of 'Fassbinder' with Groucho in mind. Producer Charles K.Feldman had other ideas. Sellers was a hot property in the States thanks to 'Dr.Strangelove' and other pictures. Clad in a reject Nana Mouskouri wig and sporting a bogus Teutonic accent, he virtually shouts his way through the script. It is not one of his finest hours. O'Toole is miscast, bringing a heavy hand to what should have been a light role. It is hard to see why all these women find him so attractive ( and no, I'm not saying that out of jealousy! ). The main laughs come from Woody himself as Michael's geeky chum 'Victor Shakapopolis', who works in the local strip club dressing the girls before they go on stage. "Ten francs a week", he tells an astonished Michael. "That's not much!". Victor replies: "Its all I can afford!". In a very funny scene, Victor is with Carole ( whom he hopes to bed ) in a library when a thug snatches away her book. Victor sets about trying to teach the thug a lesson. Another has Michael and Carole having a row at the language school where she works, and the class start repeating their insults in the belief it is part of the lesson. Here we get a glimpse of the Allen comedies to come, such as 'Take The Money & Run' and 'Bananas'. Also good is Paula Prentiss as neurotic stripper 'Liz Bien' ( think about that name for a second ) who keeps trying to kill herself every five minutes. Her strip tease routine is genuinely erotic and thrilling ( though we see nothing we shouldn't! )
Things To Look Out For - a walk-on from O'Toole's 'Becket' co-star - Richard Burton!
With its distinctive Richard Williams Studios credits, Tom Jones theme song ( other numbers in the film were by Dionne Warwick and Manfred Mann ) by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the film was a massive hit. But for my money it comes across as forced, with everyone enjoying themselves a bit too much. The finale takes place at Château Chantelle, and has the cast chasing each other Tom & Jerry style, culminating in a go-kart scene that seems to be there only because someone thought a go-kart chase would liven up the film at that point. If Allen's ideas had been adhered to, the whole thing might have been better. Nevertheless, it is interesting from a historical perspective as an early example of the trendy sex comedy. It could not have been made five years earlier.
Popping up near the end ( she parachutes into Michael's car ) is Ursula Andress - the first 'Bond' girl - as 'Rita'. She, along with Sellers, O'Toole and Allen, reunited for Feldman's next production - the even more outrageous 'Casino Royale'.