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Candy (Limited Edition Tin)

Candy (Limited Edition Tin)

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: dated, but still lots of fun
Review: This satire, based on Terry Southern's novel of the same name, does not have the book's bite and is dated, but it is still loads of fun, with a tremendous cast and crew. As a matter of fact, probably the only principal you will not know is the star -- Swedish teen model Ewa Aulin, who is absolutely stunning (in a blonde naive pouty way) in her acting debut. Everyone else is quite recognizable -- Richard Burton as the narcissistic poet with a giant need, Ringo Starr as a Mexican gardener with political issues, James Courn as an ego-driven surgeon, John Astin as the lecherous uncle, Walter Matthau as a megalomaniacal general, Charles Aznavour as a physically handicapped criminal and Marlon Brando as a guru travelling in the back of a semi. (If it sounds bizarre, that's because it is!)

The crew is nothing to sneeze at, either, wih Doug Trumbull (Blade Runner) on special effects, Fellini cinematographer Giuseppe Rotunno behind the camera, Buck Henry writing the script, and Dave Grusin (with the help of The Byrds and Steppenwolf) writing the music. Unfortunately the weak link is director Christian Marquand, who rarely seems in control of his actors or the action.

I'm puzzled about the film's advertising, which asks "Is Candy faithful? Only to the book!" because it seems inappropriate to ask if Candy is faithful to anyone here. Rather, she is continually and persistently accosted by older men who abuse her trusting and giving nature in order to use her body. How can she be faithful to lechers who want one-night stands? It seems that the marketing guys are using poor Candy too!

The film is definitely flawed but marvelously entertaining in a time-warp-ish way. Aulin is just beautiful, and it's great fun to watch Burton and Brando and all the rest ham it up. If Marquand had had a better grip on things, this could have been a classic. As it is, it's a curiosity that will probably entice you to read the book and look for other Aulin films!

The dvd has decent extras including: a trailer, radio spots, stills and interesting cast & crew bios.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Help - UK
Review: This was a 5 star production for my friends and I when, in 1969, we returned to the cinema time and time again for more viewings.

Can I get a version of Candy that will run on kit in the UK - DVD or video tape.

I couldn't find a regular email address for this query.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good Grief What a Bad Movie!
Review: To paraphrase Brando in a much much better movie, this film could have been a contender. After its mainstream publication in 1964, the source novel by Terry Southern and Mason Hoffenberg was initially under development at United Artists with Frank Perry (hot off David and Lisa)as director. Southern wrote an early screenplay with the hope that an American actress like Hayley Mills, Tuesday Weld or Jane Fonda would be cast. Well, as often happens in La La land, things change. French actor and Brando pal, Christian Marquand, became interested in the project when things went into turnaround. He managed to convince Brando and a cast of A-list talents - Coburn, Burton, John Huston, Matthau - to enlist. However, he jettisoned the idea of an American actress for the pretty, but woefully inept Ewa Aulin. By the time shooting commenced, Southern had moved on to Barbarella and Easy Rider. Buck Henry gets the script credit, but appears to be doing little more than exercising damage control as Marquand set up a series of sub-Fellinesque riffs. The first and last five minutes of Candy are promising bookends for a garish series of painfully unfunny episodes that are pale distortions of the novel's picaresque brillance. Still as a case study of how not to adapt a cult novel, Candy is still worth watching. The transfer is very good, but even the talent files admit the film is pretty awful.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Candy was on everybody's mind
Review: Watching this video recently brought back some very familiar images. Seeing Richard Burton reciting corny poetry was a real trip. Even Marlon Brando appeared very youthful in this movie.
Whatever became of Ewa Aulin???

See the trailer at IMDB.COM viewable with Windows Media Player 7.1..

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: 33 Years later
Review: When I first viewed this movie in 1968 I was spellbound. I watched it again 33 years later on video and I was dumbfounded. If you liked the Magic Christian or Myra Breckenridge, you'll love Candy. 'Nuff said.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Campy Candy, 3 Star Movie, 5 Star Soundtrack
Review: You can read any of the other reviews and get the idea. This film puts together vignettes featuring a panoply of famous actors (Brando, Coburn, Burton, Matthau, et al.)and not-so-master-thespians (Sugar Ray Robinson, Ringo Starr, et al.) It is fun. Ewa Aulin is nice looking and generates the one or two emotions required for the role. The film is entertaining more for seeing the cast do so well in silly situations than for serving any plot or theme.

The soundtrack is special. Dave Grusin is mostly known as a jazz composer and musician. His soundtrack has the simplicity of the rock sounds of the late sixties blended with jazz elements. The result is one of the best collections of music I have ever heard. In addition, there is "Child of the Universe" performed by the Byrds, co-written by Grusin, and "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf. My old vinyl disk has seen better days and I am not aware of this soundtrack ever making it to CD. Darn!

The combination of the various elements of "Candy" results in a movie I recommend viewing. I have the DVD and will view this every once in awhile for the fun and the music.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THIS IS A VERY SEXY MOVIE, BUT......
Review: YOU KNOW, WITH THE TALENTS OF MARLON BRANDO, RICHARD BURTON, WALTER MATTHAU, SUGAR RAY ROBINSON, RINGO STARR, JAMES COBURN, JOHN ASTIN, JOHN HUSTON, IN THIS MOVIE. THERE IS NO WAY, ANYONE CAN WATCH THIS MOVIE AND NOT ASK THE QUESTION, "WHAT WAS THESE MAJOR STARS THINKING, WHEN THEY MADE THIS MOVIE?" SO, DESPITE THE FACT, THAT THIS MOVIE WILL NEVER BE CONFUSED WITH AN OSCAR-WINNER FOR BEST PICTURE. NONETHELESS, THANKS TO THE BEAUTIFULLY DELICIOUS-LOOKING, EWA AULIN, SHE IS THE REASON WHY THAT, BEYOND THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT, BEYOND ALL DOUBTS...THIS IS A VERY SEXY MOVIE!!!


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