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Rating:  - An Excellent Movie
Reading Evelyn Waugh was already on my "to do" list, and this film only reinforces that. His reputation is for irreverent humor which you can enjoy without knowing anything about the time or place he's set it in, and I certainly felt that in this film.
Now, considering when the novel was written, I don't believe the rockets into space were part of it. The movie added that. But I suspect they stuck to the spirit of the original. I won't know until I read his books.
Something to offend everyone, the film promises. Yeah, it was out there. The humor remains funny, and outrageous when compared to some of Hollywood's current offerings. For its time, wow.
And at long last, I learned that Jonathan Winters can be funny. I've spent years seeing him on talk shows or Mork and Mindy and wondering what the hell people saw in the guy. Now I know.
This is another one that I'll watch again, and again, it's very rare for me to do that.
Rating:  - "Something To Offend Everyone"
Although he is probably best known in the United States as the author of BRIDESHEAD REVISITED, Evelyn Waugh (1903-1966) is most highly regarded as the author of a series of short, singularly acid satires--and the 1948 THE LOVED ONE is easily among his best, a remarkably funny yet darkly disturbing portrait of American class-conciousness and materialism viewed through the lens of the funeral industry.
The 1965 film version is not a particularly accurate adaptation of the novel, but it does follow the book's outlines and recreate its major characters. Young Dennis Barlow (Robert Morse) travels from England to Hollywood, where he stays with uncle Sir Francis Hinsley (John Gielgud), a long-time film studio employee. When Sir Francis is unexpectedly fired and then commits suicide, Dennis is suddenly making funeral arrangements at Whispering Glades, 'the' place to buried in Hollywood. In the process he falls in love with corpse cosmetologist Aimee Thanatogenous (Anjanette Comer), but their relationship is complicated by her own adoration of chief embalmer Mr. Joyboy (Rod Steiger)--not to mention Dennis' employment at a pet cemetery that mimics Whispering Glades itself!
At the time of its release, THE LOVED ONE was billed as "the film with something to offend everyone"--and it was quite successful. Most critics and viewers considered it incredibly, incredibly tasteless. Seen today, the film clearly anticipates the ultra-tacky humor of such directors as John Waters. Many of the performers (and it boasts a galaxy of star cameos) are extremely good, with John Gielgud a particular standout; many of its individual scenes linger in the mind long after the final credits roll. It also has a remarkable, very distinctive sense of sadness within its wildness, a pity for its characters that distinguishes it from most other films that display a satirical edge.
All the same, the film never quite seems to find its target, largely because it fires off in so many different directions at the same time. In the end, it may be best to think of the film as a sort of 1960s cinematic "happening" than the black comedy it purports to be. The DVD includes the original trailer and an interesting "making of" documentary that includes interviews with Morse, Comer, and others. Recommended, but more for its ideas than their execution.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Rating: - The Loved One
The Loved One is a dark satire dealing with American's obsession with death. At times, VERY dark, no slapstick comedy here but if you have a gallows sense of humor the caricature of the funeral industry is hysterical. Jonathan Winters is at his chameleon-like best and seeing him again in a movie reminds Winters fans how much they miss him. Rod Stiger is about as warped as it gets as Mr. Joyboy. This DVD will not be for everyone, just be in the right mood when you see it. Do not go into it with the hope that it will cheer you up and do not see it if you are easily offended. This movie takes a crack at everything that is now PC. There is an "Oh my gosh, is that..." moment with the appearance by a young song-writer that totally suprised me. Definatly a cult classic.
Rating: - A funny take off on the funeral business
This film has something to offend everyone. At times it is very funny and equally gross. A man attends to his uncle's funeral in California and encounters some bizarre aspects of the funeral business. You might need an off center sense of humor to view this dark comedy.
Rating: - Not for the easily disturbed
The Loved One has been out for over 40 years but it is, as it was, on the cutting edge of satire. The movie satirizes the funeral industry, while remaining on the edge of expectable taste, which was dangerous in 1965, but way to risky for any studio to touch in our sanitized entertainment industry of 2007. Like Dr. Strangelove, M.A.S.H. and the Graduate; they don't make them like this anymore!!!
Rod Steiger is absolutely marvelous as Mr. Joyboy the head embalmer. Steiger played Dr. Zhivago's brother the same year, and the police chief in The Heat of the Night, two years later. His acting range ranks up there with Meryl Streep and Marlon Brandon. Unfortunately, he never got the recognition he disserved. Anjanette Comer is was perfectly cast, as the tormented cosmetician for the dead. She floats through the morgue for the rich and famous like a ghost in a white gown. In addition, Jonathan Winters is wonderful, playing two roles. This move is not for everyone's taste, but if you like the blackest of comedies this ones for you.
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