The Art of Love (1965)

Struggling artist fakes his own death so his works will increase in value.

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

Richard Alan Simmons (story), William Sackheim (story),

Stars:

James Garner, Dick Van Dyke, Elke Sommer

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Garner	...	Casey Barnett
Dick Van Dyke	...	Paul Sloane
Elke Sommer	...	Nikki
Angie Dickinson	...	Laurie Gibson
Ethel Merman	...	Madame Coco La Fontaine
Carl Reiner	...	Rodin
Pierre Olaf	...	Carnot
Miiko Taka	...	Chou Chou
Roger C. Carmel	...	Zorgus
Irving Jacobson	...	Mr. Fromkis
Jay Novello	...	Janitor
Naomi Stevens	...	Mrs. Sarah Fromkis
Renzo Cesana	...	Pepe
Leon Belasco	...	Prince
Louis Mercier	...	Judge

Storyline

Painter Paul Sloan feels he's a failure, since nobody will buy his paintings. His art dealer informs him, that the works of an artist become much more wanted and valuable if the artist is dead. Therefore, Paul, together with his friend Casey Barnett, plans to fake his own suicide. However, it starts looking like Casey has murdered Paul and when Casey starts making a move for Paul's fiancée, he decides to get revenge. However, Paul falls in love with Nikki, who has also tried to commit suicide.

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Plot Keywords:

painter | painting | paris france | valuable painting | guillotine | 

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Taglines:

Two nimble American rascals turn Paris on its ear!!!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

8 July 1965 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

A Arte de Amar

Filming Locations:

Little Europe, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cherokee Productions, Ross Hunter Productions, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mae West was originally offered the role of Madame Coco La Fontaine but the producers refused to let her write her own dialogue, so the part went to Ethel Merman.

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Connections

Referenced in The Directors: The Films of Norman Jewison (1999)

User Reviews

Funny and Dark at the Same Time

I saw this movie once a long time ago and never forgot it.It has several funny lines and wierd situations in it as well as Dick Van Dyke fakes his suicide, but survives to get even with the friend played by James Garner who is getting rich off his phony death. Not that I condone suicide, but it's unreal as the phony murder that Van Dyke sets up takes up a life of its own. Ethel Merman is the dance hall owner keeping them from killing each other as she is unaware of the extra duties of her female dancers.Beautiful Elke Sommar and lovely Angie Dickinson are Van Dyke's and Garner's love interests as "Star Trek's" Roger C. Carmel and Van Dyke's TV boss Carl Reiner provide some comic relief in this black comedy.