Packed house at a Manhaattan triplex, the now defunct Loews 34th Street.
First bad sign (not including the initial early review)s: Loews was playing it in their SMALLEST auditorium. Even "Stephen King's Silver Bullet" got the large house.
As the movie unspooled, you could feel the disappointment palpably. Some of Attenborough's choices in the first third I liked, but the movie was clearly gasping for breath by midpoint. Filming actors laughing at jokes is never a smart move. (See Jessica Harper in DePalma's "Phantom of the Paradise".)
It didn't help matters that the entire cast lacked charisma. I can't even remember who was in this, besides the infamous Ms. Reed and the hapless Michael Douglas. Oh, and one of the Landers sisters.
"What I Did For Love" and "Surprise, Surprise" (in particular) elicited very audible groans.
The audience, on the way out, remains one of the most despondent in my memory. I believe a few of them were even weeping and not in a good way. |
