CatRufus5591
Joined Oct 2017
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CatRufus5591's rating
Sorry, I couldn't help but go right to the most painful scenes to watch in this non-epic 'swashbukler' with my review title.
Sir Francis (ably portrayed by Rod Taylor) and his band of Merry Men land in the Americas and encounter an equally merry tribe of Native Americans. Twittering, lighthearted music plays in the background as Sir Francis and his aides flirt and smoke the peace pipe with Caucasian actresses made up like Native American women. Yuck! How far removed was this scene from so many low-grade cardboard Westerns that Hollywood churned out in the 1950's and early 60's?
To be fair, the costumes are true to the period, and there is a fair amount of action throughout the movie. The court intrigue, however, gets old fast.
Rod Taylor was a terrific actor, and deserved better than this dribble. And he DID do much better one year later in 'The Birds', the apex (outside of 'The Time Machine'), imho, of his career. Still, I think of his decision around this time to turn down the role of James Bond, 007. "I wanted to tear my hair out every time a new Bond film was released", he was quoted as saying. Sigh. "Coulda shoulda woulda".
Sir Francis (ably portrayed by Rod Taylor) and his band of Merry Men land in the Americas and encounter an equally merry tribe of Native Americans. Twittering, lighthearted music plays in the background as Sir Francis and his aides flirt and smoke the peace pipe with Caucasian actresses made up like Native American women. Yuck! How far removed was this scene from so many low-grade cardboard Westerns that Hollywood churned out in the 1950's and early 60's?
To be fair, the costumes are true to the period, and there is a fair amount of action throughout the movie. The court intrigue, however, gets old fast.
Rod Taylor was a terrific actor, and deserved better than this dribble. And he DID do much better one year later in 'The Birds', the apex (outside of 'The Time Machine'), imho, of his career. Still, I think of his decision around this time to turn down the role of James Bond, 007. "I wanted to tear my hair out every time a new Bond film was released", he was quoted as saying. Sigh. "Coulda shoulda woulda".
I've never been a fan of Ross Macdonald, so I watched 'Harper' with a jaded eye. And I wasn't disappointed -it's all style, albeit a rather sleazy style- with little or no substance.
Newman delivers a terrific performance as always, portraying a wisecracking, down-on-his-luck gumshoe in search of a missing man. The rest of the cast is just as good, including Robert Wagner, just a year or two before his popular stint as Al Mundy on It Takes A Thief.
An earlier reviewer praised the music in the film. But for me, it's the most painful element in Harper. It's featured early in the movie when Wagner's girlfriend is dancing on a diving board, then later in a dance club scene. It's that awful, ersatz 'rock and roll' music that was used on tv shows like 'My Three Sons' and 'Petticoat Junction'.
I recommend 'Harper' for Newman or diehard Macdonald fans only.
Newman delivers a terrific performance as always, portraying a wisecracking, down-on-his-luck gumshoe in search of a missing man. The rest of the cast is just as good, including Robert Wagner, just a year or two before his popular stint as Al Mundy on It Takes A Thief.
An earlier reviewer praised the music in the film. But for me, it's the most painful element in Harper. It's featured early in the movie when Wagner's girlfriend is dancing on a diving board, then later in a dance club scene. It's that awful, ersatz 'rock and roll' music that was used on tv shows like 'My Three Sons' and 'Petticoat Junction'.
I recommend 'Harper' for Newman or diehard Macdonald fans only.