The Art of Love Trailer Youtube Dick Van Dyke
From Bert in Mary Poppins to Rob Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Dick Van Dyke could've retired in the '60s and he would nonetheless be a household proper name. Just recently Belfast paid tribute to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, in which he besides starred. To celebrate his 96th birthday today, it seemed similar a adept time to visit two of his '60s films that aren't discussed as much.
Unfortunately, in the instance of The Art of Honey there could be skillful reason for that. All of the colorful wigs in the world can't relieve this movie or aid it set the right tone for its comedy (and Ethel Merman wears enough of them, then it's not for lack of trying).
It all starts when Van Dyke's Paul is mistaken for dead, and instead of telling people the truth his friend, Casey (James Garner), convinces him to stay dead and make some money. The logic is that since people didn't buy his paintings when he was alive, they'll appreciate his work more at present that he'southward dead, like Vincent Van Gogh's, and while that'due south not truthful (or at to the lowest degree non a given), the picture acts like information technology is.
The ingredients are at that place for a black comedy. There are even points where the film could've gone in a different direction and become a Hitchcock thriller, but ultimately The Fine art of Love wants to be something lighter, and the consequence fails. Garner plays the jokes also broadly and while his character's a cad, in that location'south trying to steal your best friend's girlfriend adequately, and there's ruining your best friend's character to get the girl. Not that Van Dyke'due south Paul garners much sympathy. If anything, he's cruel and while Van Dyke commits to his character having a common cold, sneezing isn't funny. Only Elke Sommers manages to find some humor in her character's romantic pursuit of Paul. Angie Dickenson doesn't get much to do other than faint. Merman'south backup dancers giggle (and to add insult to injury you can't actually come across them during Merman'due south large number because they're in shadow).
In his commentary, film historian and critic, Peter Tonguette, sometimes comes down hard on director, Norman Jewison (Fiddler on the Roof and Jesus Christ Superstar are two of my favorite musicals) but he'south right to call the film out for its questionable delineation of the artist's life, and his theory about opening titles existence animated stands true in this example.
If The Fine art of Dearest was a disappointment, Delbert Isle of mann'southward Fitzwilly couldn't be more fun (and it's a Christmas film, then the timing's perfect)! Every bit the title character, Van Dyke plays a butler who'south secretly using his employer's staff to carry out all kinds of go-rich schemes. He's not, however, cheating his employer (Edith Evans), who wouldn't have any coin to steal anyway, but is really making information technology possible for her to maintain her standard of living.
While some heist films merely work if yous can follow the heists completely, it's non ever necessary to know what Fitzwilly's up to here. What's of import is he'southward surrounded by great graphic symbol actors, and information technology all leads up to a department store scam that's cluttered in all the best ways.
Become Smart's Barbara Feldon plays the love interest who stands to spoil Fitzwilly's plans, while Van Dyke flourishes in lovable rogue mode. As much as the entitlement of Evans' graphic symbol can exist upsetting, the dictionary her character'south working on is a clever device and while filmmaker, Michael Schlesinger, and film archivist, Stan Taffel'due south, style of commentary is looser than others, they definitely succeed at imparting an appreciation for Fitzwilly. A lot of thought went into the film's trailer, too, which begins with a scene specifically filmed for the trailer.
The Art of Love is available on Blu-Ray and DVD at present from Kino Lorber.Fitzwillyis bachelor on Blu-Ray from Kino Lorber.
Source: https://www.comicon.com/2021/12/13/dick-van-dyke-double-feature-fitzwilly-and-the-art-of-love/