As I write this, the death has been announced of Alan Arkin. He was not a comedian per se, just an actor who happened to be hilarious. 'Last Of The Red Hot Lovers' cast him as 'Barney Cashman', a middle-aged, happily married ( we never see his wife, Thelma ) fish restaurant owner who sees sexual promiscuity all around him and wants a slice of the action. He takes three very different women ( not at the same time, I hasten to add! ) back to his mother's apartment ( she is away at work ) in the hope of having one-night stands. These women are swinger 'Elaine' ( the late Sally Kellerman ), neurotic would-be actress 'Bobbi' ( Paula Prentiss ), and emotionally overwrought ( she's found out her husband is cheating on her ) 'Jeanette' ( Renee Taylor. Each time, something goes wrong, and Barney finds himself back where he started.
If the film looks like a photographed stage play, its not surprising. That's what it was. Producer Howard Koch and director Gene Saks were clearly hoping to emulate the success of 'The Odd Couple', also based on a Neil Simon play. Arkin is brilliant. Some of his observations about life, sex and death are wonderfully profound. Of the three women, Kellerman gives the best performance. Her hacking smokers' cough indicates she is terminally ill, and is trying to end her days by sleeping with as many men as possible. Prentiss' character is too not different to the one she played in 'What's New Pussycat'. Taylor is also impressive. 'Jeanette' wants an affair to get over her husband's infidelity, but then finds she cannot go through with it.
So, definitely a film worth tracking down. Just like all of Arkin's other movies. Thanks for all the laughs, Alan.
If the film looks like a photographed stage play, its not surprising. That's what it was. Producer Howard Koch and director Gene Saks were clearly hoping to emulate the success of 'The Odd Couple', also based on a Neil Simon play. Arkin is brilliant. Some of his observations about life, sex and death are wonderfully profound. Of the three women, Kellerman gives the best performance. Her hacking smokers' cough indicates she is terminally ill, and is trying to end her days by sleeping with as many men as possible. Prentiss' character is too not different to the one she played in 'What's New Pussycat'. Taylor is also impressive. 'Jeanette' wants an affair to get over her husband's infidelity, but then finds she cannot go through with it.
So, definitely a film worth tracking down. Just like all of Arkin's other movies. Thanks for all the laughs, Alan.