Something for Everyone (1970)

Director:

Harold Prince

Writers:

Harry Kressing (novel)
Hugh Wheeler (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Compared to them, the MacBeths were just plain folks and the Borgias were a nice Italian family.

Plot:

Konrad, a handsome country boy in post-war Austria, charms his way into a butler position at the castle of a widowed countess that lost her fortune...

Plot Keywords:

Countess | Castle | Butler | Austria | Lake

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Angela Lansbury	...	Countess Herthe von Ornstein
Michael York	...	Konrad Ludwig
Anthony Higgins	...	Helmuth Von Ornstein (as Anthony Corlan)
Heidelinde Weis	...	Anneliese Pleschke
Jane Carr	...	Lotte Von Ornstein
Eva Maria Meineke	...	Mrs. Pleschke
John Gill	...	Mr. Pleschke
Wolfried Lier	...	Klaus
Klaus Havenstein	...	Rudolph
Walter Janssen	...	Father Georg
Erik Jelde	...	Bit Part
Despo Diamantidou		(as Despo)
Enzi Fuchs	...	Waitress
Erland Erlandsen	...	Schoenfeld
Hans Pössenbacher	...	Carl

Also Known As:

Black Flowers for the Bride (UK)
The Cook (UK) (working title)
The Rook

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Austria

Company:

Cinema Center Films

Trivia:

Renowned theater personality Harold Prince's debut as film director and one of only two theatrical films he has ever directed.

Quotes:

Countess Herthe von Ornstein: I don't like to be left behind. I have no talent for it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Plaza Suite (1971)

Deliciously wicked, seldom-seen black comedy that really shows off Michael York and Angela Lansbury.

Once upon a time there was a young, handsome, fair-haired commoner who dreamed of being a young, handsome, fair-haired prince. In fact, while the Britisher is bicycling through Austria, he sees the very castle described in the fairy tale picture book his mother gave him when he was young, and that he now carries with him at all times. Encouraged by this vision of splendour, the young drifter sets out to fulfill his life's dream.

Doesn't this sound like a lovely, whimsical, touchingly optimistic tale about believing in one's destiny and having the courage to seek it out? Normally, yes. But in the hands of director Hal Prince, this darkly comic tale takes another direction altogether. Michael York plays the clever, enigmatic young opportunist who is willing to seduce, charm, outmaneuver, even murder whoever he has to in order to become "king of the castle."

The afore-mentioned domain is inhabited by none other than the Countess Von Ornstein (the wonderfully eccentric Angela Lansbury) and her brood. The widow has fallen on hard times since the death of her husband and realizes she must marry into money once again to return to her former glory. But with a homosexual son and chubby, homely young teenage daughter left to carry on the family dynasty, prospects look truly abysmal.

To say any more would be a dastardly move on my part. Suffice it to say that the sharp, highly astute performances alone make this seldom-seen little gem worthwhile. There are enough twists and turns to keep things compelling from start to finish. Director Prince takes full advantage as well of the breathtaking Bavarian landscape.

York, as Konrad, has seldom had a meatier role as he first becomes a footman to the castle, then proceeds to eliminate all the other human elements that interfer with his rise to the social top. Lansbury steals every scene she is in, while given a number of deliciously wry monologues to remind viewers that the Jessica Fletcher character she played in "Murder She Wrote" was a popular move but a real step down. Jane Carr, who the year before gave a touching, timorous performance as the ill-fated student in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," does a 100% turnaround here as the dry, sardonic "plain Jane" daughter who is wise to York's game from the very start. And Anthony Higgins as the smitten gay son and Heidelinde Weis as an amorous young heiress are quite effective as two of Konrad's romantic pawns.

"Something for Everyone" definitely HAS something for everyone. A real find in my book.