Review: The Wild Party (1975)

USA/C-108m./Dir: James Ivory/Wr: Walter Marks/Cast: James Coco (Jolly Grimm), Raquel Welch (Queenie), David Dukes (James Morrison), Perry King (Dale Sword), Tiffany Bolling (Kate), Royal Dano (Tex), Annette Ferra (Nadine)

Long before the team of Ismail Merchant and James Ivory became famous for period dramas like A Room With a View (1985) and Howard's End (1992) they produced this dreary, ham-fisted drama about a hedonistic Hollywood party at the end of the 1920's. James Coco stars as Jolly Grimm, a washed-up, alcoholic silent film comedian who throws the soiree to screen his new film, in hopes of selling it to a studio. Unfortunately, his guests are more interested in engaging in boozing, sexual debauchery, and ogling Queenie (Raquel Welch), Jolly's maltreated mistress, than watching the movie on which the comic has pinned his hopes. As Jolly begins to realize that his plans for a comeback have failed, he dives deeper into drink and despair, which ultimately ends in tragedy.

The Wild Party was loosely based upon Joseph Moncure March's narrative poem of the same name, mixed with touches of Hollywood's Fatty Arbuckle scandal. On top of that, the picture was originally envisioned as a musical, and the resulting muddle can't decide whether it's supposed to be a poetry recital, straight drama, or song and dance. It really doesn't matter that the movie never arrives at a decision, because the drama, poetry, and musical numbers are handled with equal ineptitude.

There are a few elements working in the film's favor, namely Coco's excellent performance and Welch's astounding physical attributes (her body looks great wriggling in a nightgown). Still, although the cast tries hard, they can't compensate for bad direction, a poorly written script, and crappy songs. It's hard to imagine how anyone involved in this dismal production thought that anyone would find it entertaining. You'd be smart to decline an invitation to this party.

It should be noted that although Fatty Arbuckle became embroiled in a scandal following a party that he hosted, his case was nothing like what is portrayed in this film. Arbuckle was innocent of the charges waged against him, and he was merely a victim of the Hollywood gossip machine.

Drinks Consumed--Wiskey, gin, and champagne

Intoxicating Effects--Staggering, stumbling, slurred speech, sentimentality, bickering, brawling, physical violence, public disturbance, loosened inhibitions, soused sex, and passing out

Potent Quotables--MAID: Here’s the list of liquor for the party tonight.
TEX: Twenty cases of gin?
MAID: Jolly wants you to leave right away for Pasedena. He says, “Remember, Ginsberg sent ya.”
TEX: Ginsberg?
MAID: Ginsberg, the bootlegger.

Video Availability--The Wild Party DVD (MGM)

Similarly Sauced Cinema--Dick Van Dyke portrayed another alky comedian of the silent era in The Comic (1969).

The Wild Party: The Lost Classic by Joseph Moncure March

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Booze News: Not Much Rum--Still Great Fun

I don’t know whether you'd heard, but a new theme park ride-based pirate movie opened this weekend. Being that I rather enjoyed the prior two theme park ride-based pirate movies, Mrs. BoozeMovies and I decided to check out the new one on opening weekend. Although there was considerably less rum in this flick versus the first two (they run out of liquor about an hour into the film), it was still a rollicking good time.

Most critics have complained about the film’s length and complex plot, and while they are probably right on both counts, neither issue bothered me at all. I love the universe that Gore Verbinski has created with this series--combining pirate lore and multiple oceanic mythologies--so for me, the longer the better. Also, as tangled as the plot became, I never found the story or character motivations confusing. Of course, I’ve always preferred films that require the audience to pay attention.

I’ll agree that the movie is nowhere near perfect. (MILD SPOILER AHEAD) I could have done without that multiple Jack Sparrows. It's great fun to watch Jack playing off more sober-minded characters. Seeing Jack play against himself diminishes the character rather than expanding upon it. Also, Pintel and Ragetti, the comedy-relief pirates played by Lee Arenberg and McKenzie Crook, had begun growing tiresome in the second film, and they grow more so here. Still, these small negatives are far outweighed by the return of Geoffrey Rush to the series as Captain Barbossa. Rush steals the film with his joyful, scenery-chewing performance and Robert Newton-ish line readings.

All in all, I really enjoyed my third trek into piratical waters, and I found the film to be a fitting capper to the most fun movie franchise since Indiana Jones. Once the third film makes its’ way to DVD, I’ll revisit the entire series and post the official rum-soaked reviews. It is a task I look forward to undertaking.

Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy [Blu-ray]

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Review: After the Thin Man (1936)

USA/B&W-122m./Dir: W.S. Van Dyke/Wr: Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett/Cast: William Powell (Nick Charles), Myrna Loy (Nora Charles), James Stewart (David Graham), Elissa Landi (Selma Landis), Joseph Calleia (Dancer), Penny Singleton (Polly Byrnes), Jessie Ralph (Aunt Katherine), Skippy (Asta)

Two years after The Thin Man provided MGM with a box office bonanza, William Powell and Myrna Loy returned to the roles of Nick and Nora Charles in the aptly named After the Thin Man. Metro’s patience in producing a follow-up to the 1934 film was a deviation from Hollywood’s standard practice of rushing out sequels at a rate of two or three a year to capitalize on a hit, and the extra attention to quality is evident in every frame. While After the Thin Man can’t quite match the giddy wit and elegance of the original, it comes intoxicatingly close--sparkling with a luminescence that few sequels can match.

The story picks up where the first film left off. Nick, Nora, and Asta return home after successfully solving the “Thin Man” case, exhausted and nearly out of liquor. Unfortunately, there’s no rest for the wasted. As soon as the couple arrives at their estate, they are forced to attend a dinner party with Nora’s stuffy relatives, where they once again find themselves embroiled in a mystery.

The sequel does surpass the original in one facet--Nick and Nora receive more screen time. This is a very good thing, because the Thin Man movies tend to drag during the non-comedic scenes that set up the mysteries. Unfortunately, although the couple still do a good deal of imbibing, the drinking is relegated to the background; as opposed to the first film, in which Nick’s superhuman thirst was his central character trait. The film also suffers from an atrociously bad supporting performance by Elissa Landi as the film’s overwrought heroine. It’s a shame she doesn’t end up as the murder victim.

Still, the positives far outweigh the negatives. After the Thin Man is a fast, funny romp; and Powell and Loy are in fine comic form as filmdom’s favorite soused spouses.

Drinks Consumed--Gin, brandy, scotch, champagne, and various unnamed cocktails

Intoxicating Effects--Hiccups, slurred speech

Potent Quotables--NORA: Are you packing dear?
NICK (drinking a martini): Hmm… Yes, darling. I’m just putting away this liquor.

Video Availability--After the Thin Man is available as a solo DVD or as part of The Complete Thin Man Collection (The Thin Man / After the Thin Man / Another Thin Man / Shadow of the Thin Man / The Thin Man Goes Home / Song of the Thin Man).

Similarly Sauced Cinema--Nick and Nora next appeared in Another Thin Man (1939).

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Review: Blotto (1930)

USA/B&W-26m./Dir: James Parrott/Wr: Leo McCarey & H.M. Walker/Cast: Stan Laurel (Mr. Laurel), Oliver Hardy (Mr. Hardy), Anita Garvin (Mrs. Laurel)

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy get blotto without actually consuming any alcohol in this 1930 comedy short. The unlikely predicament transpires when Stan and Ollie devise a scheme to attend the opening of a nightclub under the nose of Mr. Laurel’s shrewish wife. Not only must they sneak Stanley out of the house; they must also swipe a bottle of booze that Mrs. Laurel has been hiding since the start of prohibition (being that hooch is hard to come by). What the boys don’t know is that Mrs. Laurel has overheard their plans and has replaced the scarce joy juice with a mixture of cold tea and condiments (pepper, hot sauce, and other items to give the cocktail the proper kick). Stan and Ollie manage to sneak the illicit bottle into the club and get giddy on the phony giggle water. That is, until Mrs. Laurel shows up with a loaded shotgun.

Although Laurel and Hardy were the best-loved comic duo of their day (and the only popular comedians to transition effortlessly from silent films to sound), their comedies have not aged as well as the work of most of their contemporaries. Looking at their work today, the pacing seems a tad slow and the slapstick seems a bit mild. However, once one has acclimated oneself to the pace, their films are undeniably funny, and Blotto is no exception. Hardy’s facial expressions when he first tastes the bogus booze had me falling on the floor, and his follow-up line, “You can certainly tell good liquor when you taste it,” is priceless.

By the way, if the premise sounds at all familiar, Jackie Gleason and his writers stole the concept and many of the gags for the Honeymooners episode in which Kramden and Norton get plowed on grape juice.

Drinks Consumed--Tea mixed with condiments

Intoxicating Effects--The giggles, sauced sentimentality, sneaking sips, brawling, and public disturbance

Potent Quotables--MR. HARDY: Oh say, do you know where we can get a bottle?
MR. LAUREL: Yeah. My wife’s got one. She’s been saving it since prohibition.
MR. HARDY: Won’t she miss it?
MR. LAUREL: No. I’ll blame it on the ice man.

Video Availability--You can find the short on DVD in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Holland, but it is unavailable in the U.S.

Similarly Sauced Cinema--Laurel and Hardy also imbibe (on actual alcohol) in a number of their films including Early to Bed (1928), The Devil’s Brother (1933), Them Thar Hills (1934), The Bohemian Girl (1936), Our Relations (1936), and Swiss Miss (1938).

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Booze News: Drinky Crow Show Update

Don't forget the pilot for The Drinky Crow Show premieres Sunday night during Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block (11:45 pm EST to be exact).

However, why not watch it now? The pilot can currently be viewed on adultswim.com along with several other pilots. Their site also contains a viewer poll, so once you’ve watched the show, be sure to vote for our favorite feathered swillbelly. The more votes he gets, the better chance Cartoon Network will greenlight the series. Dook dook!

Tony Millionaire's Drinky Crow PVC Figure
Drinky Crow's Maakies Treasury (Hardcover)

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Booze News: Soused Cinema Summer Preview

I haven’t had a chance to watch a liquor-centric film for a few days, so in lieu of a review, here is a calendar of upcoming flicks hitting the big screen this summer that have the potential for significant alky content.

May 25--Hide the rum! Captain Jack Sparrow and the crew return in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

June 6--Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl enjoy a drunken one night stand with hilarious complications in Knocked Up, the new comedy from writer-director Judd Apatow (The 40-Year Old Virgin)






June 27--Ben Kingsley stars as a hitman whose work is suffering due to his boozing in the mob comedy You Kill Me

July 27--America’s favorite animated inebriate, Homer Simpson hits the big screen with drinking buddies, Lenny, Carl, and Barney in The Simpson’s Movie


August 17--Michael Cera (Arrested Development) and Jonah Hill (Accepted) are high school seniors trying to score booze to get the attention of the ladies in SuperBad

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Review: High and Dizzy (1920)

USA/B&W-26m./Silent/Dir: Hal Roach/Wr: Frank Terry/Cast: Harold Lloyd (The Boy), Roy Brooks (His Friend), Mildred Davis (The Girl), Wallace Howe (Her Father)

Copious quantities of home brew and precarious heights combine to make Harold Lloyd high and dizzy in this classic comedy short. Set at the beginning of prohibition (or as the title card refers to it, “That never to be forgotten period when cloves, corkscrews, and foot-rails went out of fashion,”) High and Dizzy is a great example of silent slapstick at its most soused.

Lloyd portrays a young doctor with a failing practice who falls in love with the first patient to frequent his office, a young woman suffering from sleepwalking disorder. Her father doesn’t appreciate the doc’s advances toward his daughter, so Lloyd quickly loses his patient. However, the physician doesn’t have long to dwell on his loss, because he’s pulled into a neighboring office by his friend, an enterprising alky who is anxious to show off his home brewing kit and hand-bottled beer. When the beer bottles begin to explode, the boys save the brew in the only way they know how--drinking the lot. High on giggle water, the pair cut a path of mayhem and destruction through town, eventually leading to Lloyd catching up with his somnambulistic sweetie and taking an unintended walk on the ledge of a high-rise hotel.

Today, if Harold Lloyd is remembered at all, it is for the image of the bespectacled comedian hanging from the face of a clock several stories above the ground. In truth, only a handful of Lloyd’s dozens of movies were acrophobic thrill comedies, but those particular films are remembered for good reason. The real human stunt work adds an extra dimension to Lloyd’s already clever humor (in the same way that one can’t help but be impressed with Buster Keaton’s superhuman acrobatic skills). Adding alcohol to the mix just adds a little extra kick to the brew.

Drinks Consumed--Homebrewed beer

Intoxicating Effects--Sneaking sips, staggering, stumbling, public disturbance, brawling, destruction of property, double vision, and passing out

Potent Quotables--TITLE CARD: One hour and forty-four pints later. They saved the brew, but…

Video Availability--DVD, as part of The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection Vol. 2 (New Line)

Similarly Sauced Cinema--In his last feature film, The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947), Harold Lloyd plays a bookkeeper who takes his first drink and wakes up two days later to discover he’s bought a circus.

The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection Vols. 1-3 (DVD Set)
Harold Lloyd: Master Comedian (Hardcover)

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