What a Way to Go! (1964)

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writers:

Gwen Davis (story)
Betty Comden (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

12 May 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Musical

Tagline:

What A Cast!... What A Past!... What A Show!...

Plot:

This black comedy opens with Louisa Foster donating a multimillion dollar check to the IRS. The tax...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Merchant | Workaholic | Music | Death

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Shirley MacLaine	...	Louisa May Foster
Paul Newman	...	Larry Flint
Robert Mitchum	...	Rod Anderson, Jr.
Dean Martin	...	Leonard 'Lennie' Crawley
Gene Kelly	...	Pinky Benson
Robert Cummings	...	Dr. Victor Stephanson (as Bob Cummings)
Dick Van Dyke	...	Edgar Hopper
Reginald Gardiner	...	Painter
Margaret Dumont	...	Mrs. Foster
Lou Nova	...	Trentino
Fifi D'Orsay	...	Baroness
Maurice Marsac	...	Rene
Wally Vernon	...	Agent
Jane Wald	...	Polly
Lenny Kent	...	Hollywood Lawyer

Also Known As:

I Love Louisa (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Colour:

Black and White | Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (re-rating) (2006) | USA:Approved (certificate #20609) | Australia:PG | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:12

Company:

Apjac-Orchard Productions

Trivia:

Frank Sinatra was the first choice to play Rod Anderson. When Darryl F. Zanuck balked at his salary demand, Robert Mitchum agreed to play the role at no fee for tax purposes.

Quotes:

Larry Flint: The Louvre - It's the garbage pail of the arts.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Cleopatra (1963)

Soundtrack:

Musical Extravaganza

Delirium Tremens of the loveliest kind

Oh yes, absolutely. Just go to the movies to see a flick done with all the nerve in the world and for what? "To make a buck" I have an idiot sitting next to me, he is the pseudo intellectual who killed movies like this. I envy my parent's generation, as far as movie going habits are concerned. Doris Day comedies and Belle de Jour. Tell me who could be so unself conscious today to make "What a Way To Go" for what it is. The world has changed so much, women, us, that it would be impossible not to make it feel satirical,"Down with loveish" "What a Way to go" maybe satirical in its own way but it's not self conscious. If we cold only disconnect the micro chip implanted in our brains during the 70's we could have a wider spectrum of our lives without passing judgment, learning or re learning to enjoy. Shirley Mac Laine is priceless. Adorable. Superb. Paul Newman, lovely and very funny. Robert Mitchum plays it hysterically straight. The Gene Kelly episode has a life all of its own. Robert Cummings plays Robert Cummings beautifully as usual. Dean Martin plays himself and a softer version of himself, Dick Van Dike plays a sort of Rob Petrie who wants to simplify. Directed by J Lee Thompson, a Brit, with "Guns of Navarone" to his credit. He had signed a few odd gems like "Woman in a Dressing Gown", "Tiger Bay" and "Return from the Ashes". I thought I mention that. Listen to me, disconnect the micro chip, lay back and enjoy!