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The Honey Pot

  • 1967
  • Approved
  • 2h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
The Honey Pot (1967)
In Venice, a millionaire hires an actor to help him prank three greedy ex-girlfriends into thinking he's dying and leaving his fortune to one of them.
Play trailer2:42
1 Video
26 Photos
Dark ComedySuspense MysteryWhodunnitComedyCrimeMystery

In Venice, a millionaire hires an actor to help him prank three greedy ex-girlfriends into thinking he's dying and leaving his fortune to one of them.In Venice, a millionaire hires an actor to help him prank three greedy ex-girlfriends into thinking he's dying and leaving his fortune to one of them.In Venice, a millionaire hires an actor to help him prank three greedy ex-girlfriends into thinking he's dying and leaving his fortune to one of them.

  • Director
    • Joseph L. Mankiewicz
  • Writers
    • Frederick Knott
    • Thomas Sterling
    • Ben Jonson
  • Stars
    • Rex Harrison
    • Susan Hayward
    • Cliff Robertson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    3.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joseph L. Mankiewicz
    • Writers
      • Frederick Knott
      • Thomas Sterling
      • Ben Jonson
    • Stars
      • Rex Harrison
      • Susan Hayward
      • Cliff Robertson
    • 39User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:42
    Trailer

    Photos26

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    Top cast14

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    Rex Harrison
    Rex Harrison
    • Cecil Fox
    Susan Hayward
    Susan Hayward
    • Mrs. Sheridan
    Cliff Robertson
    Cliff Robertson
    • William McFly
    Capucine
    Capucine
    • Princess Dominique
    Edie Adams
    Edie Adams
    • Merle McGill
    Maggie Smith
    Maggie Smith
    • Sarah Watkins
    Adolfo Celi
    Adolfo Celi
    • Inspector Rizzi
    Herschel Bernardi
    Herschel Bernardi
    • Oscar Ludwig
    • (scenes deleted)
    Massimo Serato
    Massimo Serato
    • The Pretender
    • (scenes deleted)
    Hugh Manning
    Hugh Manning
    • Volpone
    David Dodimead
    • Mosca
    Jack Benny
    Jack Benny
    • Violinist outside restaurant
    • (uncredited)
    Mimmo Poli
    Mimmo Poli
    • Cook
    • (uncredited)
    Luigi Scavran
    • Massimo
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Joseph L. Mankiewicz
    • Writers
      • Frederick Knott
      • Thomas Sterling
      • Ben Jonson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews39

    6.73.2K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    8PTaylor129

    Classy and original comedy mystery

    The Honey Pot is a delightful comedy mystery that seems destined to be under-appreciated. On the surface, an updating of Ben Jonson's Volpone, the plot twists in unexpected directions, confounding the viewer until the very end. While the mystery itself takes some time to get started, I found the film thoroughly entertaining due in great part to the witty dialogue of masterful Jospeh L. Mankiewicz and the colorful characterizations delivered by a wonderful cast led by Rex Harrison, Cliff Robertson and Maggie Smith. The dialogue also reaches some interesting depths towards the end of the film when Harrison's character makes some thoughtful reflections about time. As others have pointed out, the plot involves a lot of talking and takes its time to unfold, but this is part of the charm of the story. It is perhaps less about the mystery itself than the amusing interactions among a set of opportunistic and sly characters plotting against each-other. Performances are all around superb. Rex Harrison is exquisite as the cunning and charming orchestrator of the intrigue. Cliff Robertston is flawless as the quick-witted McFly/Mosca, executing his master's plan with intelligence and humorous servility. Just as delightful are Maggie Smith as the not-so-innocent nurse bringing a moral conscience to the story, Susan Hayward as a brash and aging American millionairess and Edie Adams as a rather crude Monroesque movie star. Perhaps a little too slow and not exciting enough for most audiences, The Honey Pot is neverthess worth the time of those interested in sophisticated and humourous dialogue, unusually creative mystery, and engaging performances.
    7rupie

    an obscure delight

    What a charming surprise to find this overlooked gem of a movie, a modern day update of Ben Jonson's Volpone. It was the cast that attracted my attention. Rex Harrison, Maggie Smith, Susan Hayward, Cliff Robertson, Edie Adams - how can you go wrong? They all acquit themselves well in this elegant whodunit - and whydidhedoit - romp. Adolfo Celi (Lago in Thunderball) is particularly good as the police inspector. The plot has enough false leads, misdirection and twists to make your head spin. The Venetian (or faux Venetian) interiors are splendidly luxuriant, and the exteriors are lovely. This is a lightheartedly elegant dark comedy that most entertainingly fills an hour or two. Highly recommended.
    9claudio_carvalho

    Delightfully Witty

    In Venice, the millionaire benefactor Cecil Fox (Rex Harrison) watches the Seventeenth Century play Volpone and plots a practical joke to his three former greedy mistresses. He hires the unemployed actor William McFly (Cliff Robertson) to act as his butler and stage manager and sends letters telling that he is terminal to the decadent Hollywood star Merle McGill (Edie Adams); to the broken Princess Dominique (Capucine); and to the sick Lone Star Crockett (Susan Hayward), who was married with him and arrives in his palace bringing the nurse Sarah Watkins (Maggie Smith) as her companion. The prime intention of Rex is to see the reaction of the women after the reading of his will declaring McFly as the only heir of his fortune and then laugh up them. However, when Mrs. Sheridan is found dead in her room, the snoop Sarah decides to investigate and realizes that the prank is indeed an intricate scheme to get the fortune of Rex.

    "The Money Pot" is a delightfully witty film of the great director Joseph L. Mankiewicz. The sophisticated and theatrical screenplay has wonderful lines and many plot points that surprises many times and a mystery that recalls the novels of Agatha Christie. The direction and the performances are superb, highlighting Rex Harrison, Cliff Robertson, Maggie Smith and Adolfo Celi, the Venetian inspector that watches Perry Mason at home. My vote is nine.

    Title (Brazil): "Charada em Veneza" ("Charade in Venice")
    7billsoccer

    Agatha Christie-like

    A very rich man sets up a scheme to convince 3 old lovers that he is dying and they - individually - are potentially his heir. Good performances by Harrison, Robertson and Maggie Smith. An end worthy of Agatha Christie - with all the players brought together and the details brought out.
    7theowinthrop

    The original novel

    This film is pretty good, but it was a flop in 1967 despite having some good performances by Rex Harrison, Clift Robertson, Susan Hayward, Capucine, Edie Adams, and Maggie Smith. The script and direction of Joseph Mankiewicz were perfect. But it flopped, possibly because the times did not call for a literate murder mystery film.

    It's lineage is impeccable since it begins with Ben Jonson's classic Jacobean comedy "Volpone". But actually it is not "Volpone". The film is based on Thomas Sterling's "The Evil of the Day". The story has been changed in one way. Sterling's novel brings together three would-be heirs too, but two are men, and one is Fox's wife (as in the movie - Susan Hayward's role). But the same plot switches go on in the novel as in this film.

    I enjoyed the movie, in particular one moment that was rare to see in any film of that period. Harrison has invited his three would-be heirs to come to dinner. Hayward (accompanied by her secretary Smith) comes in first. While they are talking to Harrison and Robertson, both Adams and Capucine show up at the doorway. Neither is willing to let the other go in first. They end up pushing into each other through the door frame into the dining room, thoroughly uncomfortable - but at least neither was forced to wait for the other to make the first move.

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    Related interests

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    Mystery

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The great Italian cinematographer Gianni Di Venanzo died suddenly of hepatitis (aged only 45) during the making of this movie, with many weeks of the five-month shooting schedule to go before completion. His operator, Pasqualino De Santis, took over as director of photography, but refused credit in this capacity, although he would quickly go on to international renown with his work for Luchino Visconti, Franco Zeffirelli, Joseph Losey, and others.
    • Goofs
      Near the beginning, when Dominique is bent over drawing her bath, a shadow of the camera falls across her back.
    • Quotes

      William McFly: An actor's gratitude is, at best, a mirage.

    • Crazy credits
      "Based Upon: A Play by Frederick Knott and A Novel by Thomas Sterling - and A Play by Ben Jonson"
    • Connections
      Featured in Discovering Film: Rex Harrison (2015)

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 21, 1967 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • French
      • German
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • El jarro de miel
    • Filming locations
      • Venice, Veneto, Italy
    • Production company
      • Famous Artists Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $11,159
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 30m(150 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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