IMDb > The Honey Pot (1967)

The Honey Pot (1967) More at IMDbPro »

Videos
The Honey Pot (1967) -- An eccentric millionaire tricks his three former mistresses into believing that he is on his deathbed.

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   587 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Contact:
View company contact information for The Honey Pot on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
22 May 1967 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
You are cordially invited to enjoy a perfectly elegant case of murder!
Plot:
Inspired by a performance of his favorite play, "Volpone," 20th-century millionaire Cecil Fox devises... more | full synopsis
User Comments:
Modern twist on Volpone glows more (8 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Rex Harrison ... Cecil Sheridan Fox

Susan Hayward ... Mrs. Sheridan

Cliff Robertson ... William McFly
Capucine ... Princess Dominique

Edie Adams ... Merle McGill

Maggie Smith ... Sarah Watkins
Adolfo Celi ... Inspector Rizzi
Hugh Manning ... Volpone
David Dodimead ... Mosca
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Herschel Bernardi ... Oscar Ludwig (scenes deleted)
Antonio Corevi ... Tailor (scenes deleted)
Cy Grant ... Revenue Agent (scenes deleted)
Frank Latimore ... Revenue Agent (scenes deleted)
Massimo Serato ... The Pretender (scenes deleted)
Carlos Alberto Valles ... Assistant Tailor (scenes deleted)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Anyone for Venice? (USA) (working title)
It Comes Up Murder
Mr. Fox of Venice
The Honeypot (USA) (alternative title)
more
Runtime:
Italy:125 min | UK:150 min | 132 min (TCM print)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Anne Bancroft was originally cast as Merle McGill, but she turned it down for a stage role. more
Quotes:
NurseWatkins: I don't want to sound like a voice for morality, it makes him angry and you angry. But there are some things...
Fox: What things?
NurseWatkins: Not gold, perhaps, but still precious. Not negotiable, not even legal tender. Just tender.
Fox: Love, for example?
NurseWatkins: You can't even say it, you poor man, you make it sound like hate.
more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
9 out of 11 people found the following comment useful.
Modern twist on Volpone glows, 15 June 2007
9/10
Author: John Esche from Jersey City, New Jersey

Coming at the end of a prosperous string of all-star mystery films, THE HONEY POT suffered more from a lame title and timing than anything on screen when first released (an even worse title, "Up Pops Murder" didn't help when the film was first released to television).

The typically superb script and direction from Joseph L. Mankiewicz, from a play by mystery writer Frederick Knott, inspired in turn by Ben Johnson's classic play, VOLPONE, THE HONEY POT could not have had a better cast with Rex Harrison (at the top of his game) as the supposedly super-wealthy Cecil Fox mentally tilting with his secretary, Cliff Robertson, and a nosy nurse/love interest for Robertson, a very young Maggie Smith (younger viewers may be interested to see this very different performance from HARRY POTTER's Professor McGonagall - as well as her amazing Desdemona opposite Olivier's OTHELLO) and a trio of ex-loves, Edie Adams, Cappucine and Susan Hayward all in Fox's beautiful Venetian palatzo (the exterior shots are as gorgeous and the interiors).

A death happens (accident? perhaps murder?) and a Venetian police inspector, Adolfo Celi, enters the picture (lovely side note as his family at home is enraptured with PERRY MASON on American TV more than his real-life work) and the film starts to leave Ben Johnson's Volpone behind and delve into more complex games.

To be frank, this film has long been among my favorites - I have been accused of teaching an entire university course on Mystery Writers just to develop an audience for it. Showing the film at the conclusion of the course, after considering the progression of great mystery writing from Poe to Conan Doyle to Christie, Hammett and beyond, this marvelous under-appreciated work from Knott & Mankiewicz never fails to grab them. It's well worth a look for anyone interested in good literate fun, great performances and writing that don't depend on splatter gore, special effects or CGI.

While the ongoing box-office clout of stars Harrison and Hayward got the film a limited VHS release, it's hard to a copy today - but well worth the search.

Wonderful film...if only it had a better title.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (8 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Honey Pot (1967)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The Prisoner - Honey Pot visible thefourthalien
A really good movie layne5402
The title [possible spoilers] Fletista
The French title claude-rouyer
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Boom The Secret of Treasure Island Home from the Hill The Talented Mr. Ripley It's All Yours
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.