The Loved One
The funeral business gets a giant raspberry in this wickedly wacky, resplendently ridiculous farce based on Evelyn Waugh's macabre comic masterpiece and directed with inspired verve by Tony Richardson (Tom Jones). But the American way of death isn't the film's only target: sex, greed, religion and mother love are also in the crosshairs of its satirical shots. Robert Morse plays a bemused would-be poet who gets entangled with an unctuous cemetery entrepreneur (Jonathan Winters), a mom-obsessed mortician (Rod Steiger) and other bizarre characters played by such adept farceurs as John Gielgud, Robert Morley, Tab Hunter, Milton Berle, James Coburn and Liberace. If The Loved One doesn't make you laugh, call the undertaker!
Member Reviews
Great - rnhaas
I must admit I haven't read the novel. So I have no idea if this is bastardized. Of course, film is a different medium, so personally I'm okay with liberties if they make sense. On its own, this movie is hilarious and also pretty influential (it seems to predate the rapid cutting of many modern comedies by decades). The humour is often pretty subtle and often totally obvious. It is varied and broad. The ending seems totally fitting. It's pretty awesome.
Member Reviews
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Great - rnhaas
I must admit I haven't read the novel. So I have no idea if this is bastardized. Of course, film is a different medium, so personally I'm okay with liberties if they make sense. On its own, this movie is hilarious and also pretty influential (it seems to ...