|
|
Rating:  - Very funny look at dying
This hilarious satire on the funeral business (both human and animal) features a big cast of famous Hollywood stars. Robert Morse stars as Dennis Barlow, newly-arrived in L.A. from England and living with his uncle (John Gielgud). When his uncle promptly dies, Dennis must make the final arrangements for his "loved one." This brings him to the wildly gaudy "Whispering Pines" cemetery, run by an unscrupulous Blessed Reverend (Jonathan Winters) and staffed by a beautiful cosmetician and an eccentric embalmer (Rod Steiger).
The laughs keep coming in this black comedy that is, at times, irreverent and even grotesque. It's fun to see people like Milton Berle and Liberace pop up in scenes guaranteed to make you either guffaw or shudder, depending on how you feel about the American death business. Robert Morse (just before his starred in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) is very funny and likeable, in spite of a British accent that comes and goes - or maybe because of it. His wide-eyed innocence and cleverness connects all the wacky subplots. Steiger is unforgettable as the fussy, mother-loving embalmer, all the funnier because he usually played such serious parts.
This is probably not a good choice for someone going through the grief process, but everyone else will find this macabre story wickedly funny. It was advertised as "the movie with something to offend everyone" (pet lovers may cringe a bit), and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Rating: - A gem.
Based on the book by Evelyn Waugh, Tony Richardson's classic black comedy is a real gem. With a perfect cast, the comedy in the book is retained and is a great satire on the USA way of death.The Embroidered Corpse
Rating:  - The Loved One
Not as cutting edge as it was 40 years ago, but worth a watch. Takes on Hollywood, funerals, the church...just to name a couple of key ones.
Rating: - Wonderful Value-Rare Movie
I am a Funeral Director and this movie is a, "black" comedy about the funeral industry. It is in black and white and was shot in the mid 60's. A cast of very famous people in it. It is considered a cult classic by people in the funeral industry. It is also pretty hard to get a hold of a good copy of it, especially on DVD.
I have purchased this same DVD several times for gifts for friends in the industry and personal friends that I think will enjoy it.
It is a very satirical look at the death care industry. Definately a good one....good for some laughs at what makes most of us cringe.
What is life if we can't make fun of ourselves?
Rating: - The Loved One
The book was required reading for me in 8th grade in an English course. We didn't have those standardized tests shoved down our throats then and we could enjoy ourselves. Of course this movie was probably not suitable for 8th graders so I had to wait until TCM showed it many years later. It is very funny and a good movie to watch. Good to see alongside a Six Feet Under marathon. I'm sure they took many an idea from this book and movie.
|
|