As romantic comedies go,"The April Fools" is one of the undiscovered treasures of the 1960s, comparable to the vanguard of all New York romantic comedies "Breakfast At Tiffany's". This film is far more simplistic (too simplistic it seems for many reviewers in 1969) and perhaps because of this it will strike more of a chord with today's audiences weary of recent ponderous comedies.
Perhaps what sets this movie apart from the others is that it captures - totally - the fashionable corporate high life in the summer of 1969: at the time, this was probably seen as 'production values' added by the producers to give the film a certain style....the producer in this case was Jack Lemmon himself (Jalem Productions). What the film makers have done here is something many have tried in recent years and few have succeeded -- to those who consider "Valley Of The Dolls" as the height of 60s style should brace themselves for the eye-popping title sequence set during a swinging high fashion party thrown by Peter Lawford (some TV prints show this entire section of the movie in 'letterbox' format--if you're lucky enough to see it this way, you're in for a rare treat). Other sequences that capture the era include one set at a 'safari club' ("Bwana want a taxi?") and later in a discotheque (in a scene reminiscent of the rave party sequences from a film made 30 years later - "Go") where Jack Lemmon as Howard Brubaker is reduced to a jived up-jived out wreck in the midst of frenetic dancers and a far-too-psychedelic sound and light show. All are beautifully staged and never detract from the basic romantic story. All the performers are at the height of their powers -- Jack Lemmon giving it all he's got, Catherine Deneuve never more beautiful, Charles Boyer and Myrna Loy having fun with their roles, and a great supporting cast including hilarious performances by Kenneth Mars, Melinda Dillon, and Harvey Korman. Two performances though deserve special mention -- the magnificent Jack Weston as Potter, Brubaker's lawyer and best friend who is swept up in the romance (alcoholic or otherwise) of the moment, and Peter Lawford in his greatest performance as the ultimate suave swinger Gunther ("Gunther's the name, buy you a drink?")....but was it all acting? Could you or I wink like that?!
A great first time musical score by Marvin Hamlisch and a memorable title song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and sung by Dionne Warwick (and featuring a haunting french horn solo that is featured through the entire film). Many would see the 'princess and the frog' analogy as being too corny these days, but in "The April Fools" it is the basis of a delightful romance and a very funny comedy, which I would heartily recommend to all.
Perhaps what sets this movie apart from the others is that it captures - totally - the fashionable corporate high life in the summer of 1969: at the time, this was probably seen as 'production values' added by the producers to give the film a certain style....the producer in this case was Jack Lemmon himself (Jalem Productions). What the film makers have done here is something many have tried in recent years and few have succeeded -- to those who consider "Valley Of The Dolls" as the height of 60s style should brace themselves for the eye-popping title sequence set during a swinging high fashion party thrown by Peter Lawford (some TV prints show this entire section of the movie in 'letterbox' format--if you're lucky enough to see it this way, you're in for a rare treat). Other sequences that capture the era include one set at a 'safari club' ("Bwana want a taxi?") and later in a discotheque (in a scene reminiscent of the rave party sequences from a film made 30 years later - "Go") where Jack Lemmon as Howard Brubaker is reduced to a jived up-jived out wreck in the midst of frenetic dancers and a far-too-psychedelic sound and light show. All are beautifully staged and never detract from the basic romantic story. All the performers are at the height of their powers -- Jack Lemmon giving it all he's got, Catherine Deneuve never more beautiful, Charles Boyer and Myrna Loy having fun with their roles, and a great supporting cast including hilarious performances by Kenneth Mars, Melinda Dillon, and Harvey Korman. Two performances though deserve special mention -- the magnificent Jack Weston as Potter, Brubaker's lawyer and best friend who is swept up in the romance (alcoholic or otherwise) of the moment, and Peter Lawford in his greatest performance as the ultimate suave swinger Gunther ("Gunther's the name, buy you a drink?")....but was it all acting? Could you or I wink like that?!
A great first time musical score by Marvin Hamlisch and a memorable title song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and sung by Dionne Warwick (and featuring a haunting french horn solo that is featured through the entire film). Many would see the 'princess and the frog' analogy as being too corny these days, but in "The April Fools" it is the basis of a delightful romance and a very funny comedy, which I would heartily recommend to all.