Caprice (1967)

In this comedy-thriller, Patricia Foster is an industrial designer who gets herself into a whole heap of trouble when she sells a secret cosmetics formula to a rival company in Paris.

Director:

Frank Tashlin

Writers:

Jay Jayson (screenplay), Frank Tashlin (screenplay),

Stars:

Doris Day, Richard Harris, Ray Walston

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Doris Day	...	Patricia Foster
Richard Harris	...	Christopher White
Ray Walston	...	Stuart Clancy
Jack Kruschen	...	Matthew Cutter
Edward Mulhare	...	Sir Jason Fox
Lilia Skala	...	Madame Piasco
Irene Tsu	...	Su Ling
Larry D. Mann	...	Inspector Kapinsky
Maurice Marsac	...	Auber
Michael Romanoff	...	Butler
Lisa Seagram	...	Mandy
Michael J. Pollard	...	Barney

Storyline

In this comedy-thriller, Patricia Foster is an industrial designer who gets herself into a whole heap of trouble when she sells a secret cosmetics formula to a rival company in Paris.

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Plot Keywords:

cosmetics | industrial espionage | truth serum | fishnet stockings | helicopter | 

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Taglines:

Doris Day Richard Harris play the game of excitement in the cliff-hanger of the year !

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 May 1967 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Capricho

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arcola Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (as De Luxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Informed in 2011 by a film historian that this film had found new favor among film school students admiring the picture's eclectic mix of satire, slapstick and action, Doris Day admitted she hadn't watched the movie in decades and may have to give it a second look.

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Crazy Credits

Each screen of the opening credits is presented uniquely. The names of the leads appear in speech/thought bubbles of an extra. One page appears gradually as a walkie-talkie's antenna extends. Others fade in, slide in, are pulled from behind walls, appear with different clipart, etc.

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Connections

Features Batman (1966)

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Soundtracks

"Caprice"
Words and Music by Larry Marks
Performed by Doris Day (uncredited)

User Reviews

A "Mod" Doris Day Thriller

"Caprice" was made near the end of Doris Day's spectacular film career. It was met with mixed reviews by the New York critics. But, when I saw the film at Radio City Music Hall, the audience seemed to enjoy it.

The opening credits were very clever and there was a spectacular beginning to the film, a ski chase with the villain in black and the victim in white getting shot to death.

Doris Day was dressed in mod attire and gave her usual professional performance. The plot was the film's biggest problem. It was very complicated and it takes two or three viewings to grasp everything.

Richard Harris was a good choice to play opposite Miss Day. He later said that, even though he didn't like "Caprice", he was delighted to work with Miss Day, a true expert in the comedy field. He stated that he learned more from her about comedy than he could have learned in years at the Royal Academy. Nice words.

This picture could have been good, if they had cut several scenes. I liked the rapport that Miss Day had with Edward Mulhare in their scenes together. She also worked well with Lilia Skala, Ray Walston and Jack Kruschen. There was a funny bit, which Doris played with Michael J. Pollard in a movie theatre, that was showing Doris Day and Richard Harris in "Caprice".

Doris Day is a "natural" actress. She uses props well and approaches her material from a realistic standpoint. You believe her, even when she is thrusted in the most unbelievable situations. Miss Day was very good near the end of the picture when she confronted Ray Walson, in drag, and then Edward Mulhare who sent her on an unexpected helicopter ride.

There were some exciting scenes, especially the one when Doris is being chased down the slopes by the man who killed her father in the beginning of the film. The resulting "rescue" was directly out of the old '40s cliffhangers.

It has become fashionable to dismiss "Caprice", but if you are a Doris Day fan, you might enjoy it if you can ignore some of the "cuteness" director Frank Tashlin threw into the plot.