Once Is Not Enough

"Once Is Not Enough" is a movie that starts off innocently enough but after a while, it's obviously a story adapted from a Jacqueline Suzann novel. I say this because in the 1960s and 70s, Suzann's stories resulted in several VERY salacious movies, including "The Valley of the Dolls", "The Love Machine" and this film. These movies deliberately pushed the envelope of good taste and the ratings board by including all sorts of adult themes. For example, in "Once Is Not Enough", the author tackles bisexuality, an Electra Complex (where a woman is essentially in love with her father or an older man as a 'daddy substitute'), alcoholism and more.

When the story begins, a famous but down and out movie producer (Kirk Douglas) learns that his daughter (Deborah Raffin) was badly injured in an accident. Apparently, she was in a Swiss clinic for years recovering and when she is released, she moves in with her father in a fancy New York apartment. She soon learns, however, that her father essentially sold himself to get her this apartment, as he's practically broke and married a rich woman (Alexis Smith) to give his daughter a fancy life. But over time, the daughter finds that living in this apartment isn't for her and she sets out to find herself in a new job, new apartment and, of course, sex.

The film certainly is very blunt when it comes to sex, so some viewers might be turned off by this. Of course, some also might find the plot terrific! I just mention this because this certainly isn't a movie for the prudish or conservative viewer. It also, at times, comes off as crass....and this, of course, depends on the viewer.

So is it any good? Some of the dialog is a bit cheesy...and some is simply fabulous. The acting is generally very good and the film looks lovely. As for the plot, subtle is ain't! I found the film entertaining but also pretty shallow and glossy. It's tough to love a film when you dislike pretty much everyone in the story! Worth seeing if you like that sort of thing...and far, far better than "The Valley of the Dolls", which was a bit of a bomb.

By the way, it is strange that Deborah Raffin receives 8th billing, as she is clearly the star of the movie and the plot centers around her. Of course, at the time, she was a 'nobody' and a lot of 'somebodies' were billed above her...even if they were barely in the movie.

I haven't seen this in a while, and miss this rarely seen pic, which deserves a cult following. Deborah Raffin is outstanding as a gorgeous young girl with strange feelings for her Dad. She gets involved with an unhappy alcoholic writer, played by David Janssen. Brenda Vaccaro is outstanding as her beautiful but embittered friend who is desperate for a man. And Melinda Mercouri is memorable as a lovely lesbian. They knew they were making a piece of trash here, and it is well worth your time. Good job. I esp. like those corny singers at the end of the film which seem to have stepped out of a 1960s movie!Deborah is good and she is fortunate to have such a great ensemble cast to support her. Enjoy!

... Thank goodness legendary Hollywood film composer Henry Mancini wrote the score for this movie, for as usual, it elevates this flick with its interesting cast! - Led by Kirk Douglas, the ensemble is then headed up by Brenda Vacarro, who was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe award for her tasty role. ... "Once is Not Enough" is "Valley of The Dolls" East, but not as good! Still, is has its moments. And having worked in print-journalism for 35+ yrs. in the mainstream and gay media on both coasts: including 15-yrs. with "Billboard Magazine" in L.A., Vegas-&-the Bflo./Rochester, NY markets - I've met these "types" and lived in their worlds briefly. - Some are shallow for sure, selfish, others caring, kind, talented. Of course rich, often stingy while others very generous. All human. Kudos to Paramount Studios for this semi-gem from 1975!

I guess no one was able to turn out how quality camp in the 60's better than Jacqueline Susaan and every one of her novels that reached the big screen became a camp classic and this one was no exception. ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH is a camp classic from the Susaan library that induces numerous giggles along the way as it follows the adventures of a rich girl named January Wayne (the wooden Deborah Raffin)who is the daughter of a washed up of movie director (Kirk Douglas), with whom she has a semi-incestuous relationship with, who resents her father's marriage to a wealthy matriarch (Alexis Smith) and retaliates by having an affair with an alcoholic writer (David Janssen) who is her father's biggest enemy. This movie has it all...sex, drugs, lesbianism...all the makings of a camp classic, delivered by campy cast which also included George Hamilton as an aging playboy, Melina Mercouri, as an aging lesbian movie star, and Brenda Vaccaro as a man-crazy magazine editor (Vaccaro actually received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress). It's not as funny as VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, but there are definite laughs to be fund here.

Jacqueline Susann's glamorous, emotional, highly personal novels always lost something in their translation to the screen. Once Is Not Enough is another prime example. But it doesn't have the unintended hilarity of Valley of the Dolls, nor the compelling sleaziness of The Love Machine. The most outrageous and memorable elements of the book are excised completely, and the result is two hours of sudsy romantic nothingness. Without the pills, vitamin shots, wild sex (including an acid-fueled orgy), and disturbing violence that infused the compelling novel, the story is as flat as week-old ginger ale.

It's a slick production with an all-star cast, including the engaging Deborah Raffin as January, but the material is awful. The filmmakers' were obviously trying for a "respectable" approach, and the results are just plain boring. Case in point: Jackie provided the book with a surreal, escapist conclusion that's wholly amazing, whereas the movie just...ends. The book was about a naive girl trying to deal with life, and the movie is about--say it with me now!--LOOOOOOOVE! And it's like every other mediocre movie on the subject.

However, things are brightened by Brenda Vaccaro in her Golden Globe-winning, Oscar-nominated turn as uninhibited magazine editor Linda Riggs. She's the perfect realization of Susann's character (albeit with toned-down material) and provides a lot more spirit than this tepid production deserves. Her performance alone merits a viewing, but everything else is a daytime-TV-style mess. About as shocking as a trip to the supermarket--perhaps even less so.