The Love Machine (1971)

User Rating:

3.8/10   

Director:

Jack Haley Jr.

Writers:

Jacqueline Susann (novel)
Samuel A. Taylor (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 August 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The Love Machine now on the Screen !

Plot:

An ambitious TV newscaster has an affair with the wife of a network executive to get a promotion.

Plot Keywords:

Lesbianism | Threesome | Shower Scene | Female Nudity | Based On Novel

Cast

John Phillip Law	...	Robin Stone
Dyan Cannon	...	Judith Austin
Robert Ryan	...	Gregory 'Greg' Austin
Jackie Cooper	...	Danton Miller
David Hemmings	...	Jerry Nelson
Jodi Wexler	...	Amanda
William Roerick	...	Cliff Dorne
Maureen Arthur	...	Ethel Evans
Shecky Greene	...	Christie Lane
Clinton Greyn	...	Alfie Knight
Sharon Farrell	...	Maggie Stewart
Alexandra Hay	...	Tina St. Claire
Eve Bruce	...	Amazon Woman
Greg Mullavy	...	Bob Summers (as Greg Mullavey)
Gene Baylos	...	Eddie Flynn

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:X | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Sujac Productions

Trivia:

Cameo: ['Jaqueline Suzanne']TV reporter, covering the death of one of the characters.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: 'Manos' the Hands of Fate (#5.24)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

He's Moving On

Slick and sleazy, but uneven and uneventful

Though I've only seen it cut for television and therefore may not be able to judge fairly, The Love Machine is a pretty dull ride. The talented, attractive cast seems completely lost. Despite several steamy sex scenes, this suffers from the same problem as Valley of the Dolls--namely, diluting the subject matter of Jacqueline Susann's great novel. A lot of Jackie's most powerful material is either watered down or omitted completely, reducing the proceedings to shallow soap-opera level. The ending is entirely inconclusive. And, unlike Valley of the Dolls, there isn't even that much unintended humor to punch things up. Interestingly, the outrageously gay David Hemmings character is a combination of about three or four characters from the book!

Still, the production looks good, and Dionne Warwicke's renditions of "He's Moving On (Theme from The Love Machine)" and "Amanda's Theme" are beautiful. The rest of the soundtrack is good, too, if you enjoy psychedelic lounge music. I am the proud owner of the LP on Sceptor Records. Worth seeing for fans of Dyan Cannon, John Phillip Law, and moderately sensationalistic trash. It's a harmless diversion, but I still have to agree with Jackie Susann, who was very disappointed with the finished film. It really could've been great.