Review of A Fine Madness (1966) by Stuart K — 30 Jul 2009
Between Thunderball (1965) and You Only Live Twice (1967), Sean Connery took a break from Bond capers, and teamed up with Irvin Kershner, (later director of The Empire Strikes Back), for this downright peculiar comedy-drama.
It feels like the sort of film the Coen's would make if they had made films back then. Unfortunately, it's downright dated. It's about jobbing poet Samson Shillitoe (Connery), who lives in Greenwich Village, New York with waitress Rhoda (Joanne Woodward).
Samson is in a creative slump, he cannot find the inspiration to finish what he believes to be his greatest poem to date. Samson becomes moody and depressed, so Rhoda contacts noted psychiatrist Dr. West (Patrick O'Neal), to help Samson overcome his writers block.
Even a stay at a sanitarium does little to help Samson's violent moods. It's billed as a comedy, but it's more of a dramedy, this is one film where Connery manages to put on an American accent, and make it sound convincing.
But even that can't save the film, any humour is twee and dated, plus it does feel a bit mean-spirited. One to be remade.
This review of A Fine Madness (1966) was written by Stuart K on 30 Jul 2009.
A Fine Madness has generally received mixed reviews.
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