Review of Pulp (1972) by Jeff Z — 22 Sep 2009
After the success of Get Carter (1971), Michael Caine reunited with writer/director Mike Hodges and producer Michael Klinger for this forgotten little curiousity. For a short time, they had a production company called Three Michaels Productions, they only made one film and this is it.
It's an odd little film, quite ahead of it's time, but it benefits from it's brilliant locations, (all shot in Malta). Michael Caine is Mickey King, a seedy, shady author of sleazy pulp novels.
He finds himself being asked to be the ghost writer for the autobiography of reclusive ex-Hollywood actor Preston Gilbert (Mickey Rooney), who is also a notorious practical joker and is being followed by a hit man as he used to have ties to the mob, and could be killed at any second, which is what happens.
And soon, Mickey King finds himself in hot water and he finds himself up for the kill too, and he also deals with Princess Betty Cippola (Lizabeth Scott) and cross dressing Harvard Professor Miller (Al Lettieri).
It is a very raw film, but it has a sort of easy going charm about it. But, it does run aground when the laughs start to drain out of it and it becomes more serious. But, it has it's moments, Rooney is wonderful and George Martin proves a very good score.
This review of Pulp (1972) was written by Jeff Z on 22 Sep 2009.
Pulp has generally received mixed reviews.
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