Caprice (1967)

An industrial designer causes chaos when she sells a secret cosmetics formula to a rival company.

Director:

Frank Tashlin

Writers:

John Kohn (screenplay) (as Jay Jayson), Frank Tashlin (screenplay)

Stars:

Doris Day, Richard Harris, Ray Walston

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Doris Day	...	Patricia Foster
Richard Harris	...	Christopher White
Ray Walston	...	Stuart Clancy
Jack Kruschen	...	Matthew Cutter
Edward Mulhare	...	Sir Jason Fox
Lilia Skala	...	Madame Piasco
Irene Tsu	...	Su Ling
Larry D. Mann	...	Inspector Kapinsky
Maurice Marsac	...	Auber
Michael Romanoff	...	Butler
Lisa Seagram	...	Mandy
Michael J. Pollard	...	Barney

Storyline

There is an on-going battle of industrial espionage between rival cosmetics companies, Femina, owned by Sir Jason Fox, and May Fortune, owned by Matthew Cutter. Caught in the middle between the two are among others top industrial designer Patricia Foster, who officially is on May Fortune's payroll after being fired by Femina, and Christopher White, a suave Brit who also is officially on May Fortune's payroll as Cutter's right hand man. On the surface, Patricia is still working for Femina trying to steal the new top secret formula for a water repellent hairspray developed by Dr. Stuart Clancy for May Fortune, that hairspray which would make all other hairsprays obsolete, while Christopher secretly tries to stop her. Below the surface, it is not clear whether either Patricia or Christopher truly are working for May Fortune, Femina or someone else. But as they progress through these on the surface missions, their true missions are eventually revealed as are their true allegiances, which ...

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Plot Keywords:

espionage | cosmetics | industrial espionage | flipper | spy spoof | 

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Taglines:

A zigzag pattern of suspense and excitement

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 May 1967 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Capricho

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$4,075,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Melcher-Arcola Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Not released on DVD until 2007.

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Goofs

When Patricia follows Su home, she finds Su living in a luxurious house in the hills, complete with pool. The next time we visit Su's home, it's a high rise apartment.

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Quotes

Patricia Foster: That phone is making me very nervous.
Christopher White: It is making me nervous too. Let me take you away from all this. I also have a room with no phone.

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Crazy Credits

Each screen of the opening credits is presented uniquely. The names of the leads appear in speech/thought bubbles of an extra. One page appears gradually as a walkie-talkie's antenna extends. Others fade in, slide in, are pulled from behind walls, appear with different clipart, etc.

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Connections

References The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)

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Soundtracks

Caprice
by Larry Marks
Performed by Doris Day (uncredited)

User Reviews

A "Mod" Doris Day Thriller

"Caprice" was made near the end of Doris Day's spectacular film career. It was met with mixed reviews by the New York critics. But, when I saw the film at Radio City Music Hall, the audience seemed to enjoy it.

The opening credits were very clever and there was a spectacular beginning to the film, a ski chase with the villain in black and the victim in white getting shot to death.

Doris Day was dressed in mod attire and gave her usual professional performance. The plot was the film's biggest problem. It was very complicated and it takes two or three viewings to grasp everything.

Richard Harris was a good choice to play opposite Miss Day. He later said that, even though he didn't like "Caprice", he was delighted to work with Miss Day, a true expert in the comedy field. He stated that he learned more from her about comedy than he could have learned in years at the Royal Academy. Nice words.

This picture could have been good, if they had cut several scenes. I liked the rapport that Miss Day had with Edward Mulhare in their scenes together. She also worked well with Lilia Skala, Ray Walston and Jack Kruschen. There was a funny bit, which Doris played with Michael J. Pollard in a movie theatre, that was showing Doris Day and Richard Harris in "Caprice".

Doris Day is a "natural" actress. She uses props well and approaches her material from a realistic standpoint. You believe her, even when she is thrusted in the most unbelievable situations. Miss Day was very good near the end of the picture when she confronted Ray Walson, in drag, and then Edward Mulhare who sent her on an unexpected helicopter ride.

There were some exciting scenes, especially the one when Doris is being chased down the slopes by the man who killed her father in the beginning of the film. The resulting "rescue" was directly out of the old '40s cliffhangers.

It has become fashionable to dismiss "Caprice", but if you are a Doris Day fan, you might enjoy it if you can ignore some of the "cuteness" director Frank Tashlin threw into the plot.