It's nice when romance and everything about it has a twist of humour too!That's exactly what the scriptwriter to this 1974 made-for-TV movie did and boy,did he do it well! Karen Valentine plays a small town girl who is hired by a rich playboy's friends as his "birthday present".Robert Long plays the role of the publishing tycoon,Michael Green,who has just turned 40 but refuses to admit it.His magazine boasts that it's for "the guy who has everything" but Greene find himself alone and drunk on the night of his 40th birthday.He feels alone and empty when in walks Sandy Benson in a bikini and a bow and his life is never the same again.Now if this was one of your run-of-the-mill romances and you're up at 11:00 in the night you'd think why bother?But what it is a wonderfully charming and witty comedy with 2 equally charming and witty actors who refuse to let you get bored!
9 Reviews
Romantic comedy with a feminist slant...
moonspinner5529 June 2008
Aaron Spelling-Leonard Goldberg TV-movie from ABC in 1974 follows a pretty predictable formula: swinging bachelor meets his match, learns a lesson in love, discovers growing up isn't a bad as he thought it would be. Richard Long is a magazine publisher celebrating the big 4-0 who doesn't think his "present" from the fellas, wisecracking Karen Valentine in a skimpy outfit, is very amusing. After trading barbs with the former beauty pageant winner, he finds they have an attraction of sorts and she sticks around. Perhaps because the writer of this teleplay was a woman (Susan Silver), Long's would-be lascivious lifestyle is frowned upon--he's the one who needs (and gets) the make-over. Still, this female point-of-view provides some interesting subtext, and when Long refuses to say "I love you" (preferring instead the all-inclusive "love ya!"), the dialogue and situations show a sensitivity that isn't always found in these television quickies. Lots of fine supporting players pop up (including Farrah Fawcett and Tom Bosley), and the low-budget isn't too distracting.
Really a 6, but add one if...
pro_crustes27 October 2001
...you'd like to see Ms. Valentine sing "Happy Birthday" and finish by dropping off her overcoat revealing her bikini-clad figure. She was something pretty cute in 1974, and I was something pretty confused at the age of 16. Her "Room 222" persona made her the ideal fantasy woman for that time and place, and this bit of absurd TV sexism gave me something I wanted. If you remember her as I do, this one scene will be worth the rental, and not purely for its prurience. It might make you feel young again, if only very briefly.
Aaron Spelling Classic!
dgordon-118 March 2002
I faintly remembered this movie, but figured since it had Karen Valentine in it, it cannot be that bad. It is actually a very cute movie, and reminds me of "Love American Style" Karen Valentine plays a girl that is hired by a friend of a big-time Magazine publisher. She shows up at his door with nothing on but a bikini and wrapping bow for his birthday. They just don't make made-for-tv movies like this anymore! The VHS print that I viewed was awful! Time has not been kind to the print the distributor used. The film was in rough shape during changeovers, and the colour was bad-people looked flaming pink or morbid grey. The only good thing was that it was recorded in SP. It would be nice if the older TV movies were treated with a little more respect, for this movie it would have been better to be out-of-print, than the crusty version that's available on the market.
Michael is crazy not to be completely gaga over this woman!
planktonrules13 February 2017
Richard Long plays Michael. He's a very successful guy and has every reason to be happy. But he's just turned 40 and is in a funk. To help him out, a co-worker (Tom Bosley...NICE Tom Bosley of all people) hire a woman (Karen Valentine) to arrive at Michael's house...gift wrapped in a bow. But Michael is no cad. Instead of a quickie, he just spends the evening talking to his 'gift' and soon the pair become friends. What he doesn't realize is that his 'gift' really likes him and would like to become more than just friends. The problem is that Michael is a very damaged guy and has serious problems with commitment and intimacy. What's next in this strange comedy-romance?!
If you grew up long ago like I did, you'll enjoy seeing all the familiar TV faces in this made for TV film. Richard Long ("The Big Valley"), Karen Valentine ("Room 222"), Farrah Fawcett ("Charlie's Angels"), Tom Bosley ("Happy Days"), Dave Madden ("The Partridge Family") and Rita Shaw ("The Ghost and Mrs. Muir") are among the familiar TV folks you'll see in this one.
So is it any good? Yes. While not among the deepest things I've ever seen, it is enjoyable and has some interesting messages about commitment and modern love.
If you grew up long ago like I did, you'll enjoy seeing all the familiar TV faces in this made for TV film. Richard Long ("The Big Valley"), Karen Valentine ("Room 222"), Farrah Fawcett ("Charlie's Angels"), Tom Bosley ("Happy Days"), Dave Madden ("The Partridge Family") and Rita Shaw ("The Ghost and Mrs. Muir") are among the familiar TV folks you'll see in this one.
So is it any good? Yes. While not among the deepest things I've ever seen, it is enjoyable and has some interesting messages about commitment and modern love.
She's from Kenosha........
Hup234!1 July 1999
........., my home town, and that's why I sought this made-for-TV film out. I heard one of the writers was a pal of Daniel J. Travanty (who's also from Kenosha), and thereby the in-joke, where Karen Valentine's character has the line "The whole world's working on a new morality, and in Kenosha, they still refer to Ingrid Bergman as 'that woman'". Just a cute, forgotten little opus which serves to mark the next-to-last film of Richard Long's career.
thanks
fairytale825 June 2012
They insist I write ten lines...which I don't really want to do, All I wanted to do was to thank the people who wrote these reviews. As the writer of this MOW, I appreciate the great reviews and comments. After all these years, it's nice to see the movie struck some chords. It was fun to do and though there were some changes... rewrites by others, I still enjoyed the final product and working with the terrific actress Karen Valentine who became a friend. Both this and another MOW that I wrote were Top Ten in ratings in those early days of MOWs. So, to everyone who liked it... Thanks a lot!!
Susan Silver
Susan Silver
Cute little movie
mlbroberts27 June 2020
Karen Valentine shows up as Richard Long's 40th birthday present. He publishes a magazine called "The Man Who has Everything," but personally he is in a funk, and doesn't really have much. He doesn't need the stripper to come do her act and then leave. He needs Karen to come and stay. The next to the last film in Long's long career, he would die of heart failure before 1974 was out but it's a sweet one he goes out on. Karen Valentine is as cute as a button so it's not surprising Long can't resist, even if she does come with a dog and plants. It is a cute little movie, good for lifting spirits in a time when spirits really need lifting.
The Way I Like Films to be Made!
blocherd5 February 2004
Its been 30 years since I saw this movie, but I remember it well, and seeing Karen Valentine in that bikini really made the movie for me! She has such beautiful skin tones and being so slender in the two piece bikini really made the ratings on my score board. Having her clad in those halter tops throug out the remaining part of the movie was a big bonus! I wish a sequel would have been made, but after so many years gone by I would just assume to have a re-make of this movie using an young actress of today's generation.
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