What's New Pussycat (1965)

Very happy

The movie is an old favorite, so I knew what to expect. The copy I received was in new condition, and arrived promptly, and was at a very fair price. I am very happy. August 5, 2008

What's New Pussycat, What's new?

I love Woody Allen. While I am currently in my mid-20s, I often say I grew up on Woody Allen films, often renting old ones on VHS and always seeing new ones in the theaters. However, the bottom line is that I was not particularly happy with this one.

This is Woody's film debut and he is not the director, however he is the writer and there is no doubt of that as this movie feels like a something only the mind of Woody Allen can conjure up. In this sense, Woody Allen fans should enjoy it, I did in this respect. I also enjoyed the fact that Sellers and O'Toole were in this film, however I did not think much of Sellers' performance. I was also surprised to see how young and handsome O'Toole was. I hate to say it (and this has nothing to do with the film itself) but as I saw O'Toole in his recent film, "Venus", I thought he must of been in his 80's. It seems he is actually 75, only three years older than Allen, who by the way looks great.

This film feels more like a play at times, which is actually quite endearing. I do admit I wholeheartedly enjoyed Sellers and O'Toole's as drunkards, Woody Allen fighting off a giant, the psychoanalysis get-togethers, Burt Bacharach's score...boy, it seems the more I discuss the film the more I realize how much I actually liked it.

Well, perhaps one more sour note to even things out. "What's New Pussycat?" is choppy in its cuts creating an all together skittish film experience...so I do not know who to thank for that: the director? editor?

April 13, 2008

Ridiculous. Ridiculous and Enchanting.

This film is RI-DICULOUS and yes, doesn't contain much substance and goes off the deep end at the end and is impossibly silly. BUT... I really love it. I'm a devoted fan of Romy Schneider and quite like Peter O'Toole. And I had heard of some of the other actors but while watching this movie, was introduced to a slew of '60s actors, all handsome and all talented.

When I first saw this movie, I was very disappointed. I thought it was interminable and only marginally funny. But since some cinematic works require more than one viewing to properly ascertain how you feel about them, I watched it again. I caught some bits of dialogue I'd missed before (and so caught more of the humour). The spiral into absurdity at the end became charming rather than annoying. Some time later, I watched it a third time... and loved it! With the proper mentality and some patience, this film became quite enthralling. All the silliness turned into delightful fun and now I'd watch it anytime.

So, patience is what I recommend to those who've watched this film once and hated it. If it doesn't grow on you after 2 or 3 views, then it's not for you. But since the '60s mentality is so different from our present concerns and way of life, you have to welcome this movie and let it grow on you, rather than demand it to meet your expectations. You're more than likely to be rewarded! February 2, 2008

Peter O'Toole,Sex Symbol

"What's new,Pussycat?" is from back in the day when sex comedies had some brains to them, relying more on double entendres than anything graphic. Forget the crudeness of the American Pie&head to France in the '60s instead! This movie is indeed trippin'. You'll have to suspend your disbelief. It was the '60s.

From its opening,"What's new Pussycat?" has a very psychedelic sense. Peter Sellers stars as a German psychiatrist who's a proto-Austin Powers. Somehow he manages to be a womanizer,dress in maroon velvet like Prince,and wear a wig that's--impressive. Peter O'Toole stars as Michael James,an astoundingly heterosexual editor of a women's fashion magazine&exudes an aura of such sex appeal that women pursue him relentlessly. After the success of "Lawrence of Arabia",O'Toole was almost a sex symbol. This movie attempted to capitalize on it. A tall,nervous,frequently drunk Irishman as a sex god-well,it was the '60s. His frequent shirtlessness gives this movie three stars rather than two. Finally,Woody Allen stars as a nebbish man working in a strip club.

The plot to "What's new Pussycat?" can be described as trippin' at best. Peter Sellers is a psychiatrist cheating on his wife. Michael James has a fiancee,but wants to "experiment" and frequents strip clubs to find love (Richard Burton also makes a cameo appearance) James recounts his amorous conquests from the age of 12 onward. Sellers tries to seduce a lady (only to be chased by gendarmes) James finds himself with a virginal stripper who reads poetry. And so on..... The plot (along with the scenery&costumes) is psychedelic&meant to be that way.

"What's up Pussycat?" is a sex comedy that's actually quite funny,in its own bizarre way. It's deemed politically incorrect now,and back when it first opened American movie critics lambasted it as immoral&decadent. Not much has changed. Still,it's an opportunity to see Lawrence of Arabia,Ladies' Man! Enjoy! It was the '60s. January 28, 2008

Paula Prentiss Steals The Show

WHAT'S NEW, PUSSYCAT? was a popular ticket in 1965--but when seen outside the context of its era it emerges as a slightly choppy, slightly slapdash film long on froth and short on actual amusement.

Originally written by Woody Allen as a vehicle for Warren Beatty, both script and cast underwent a mighty change before it reached the screen, so much so that the experience prompted Allen to swear he'd never allow any one but himself to direct one of his scripts in the future. The story revolves around Michael James (Peter O'Toole), a handsome man who wants to marry Carol (Romy Schneider) but can't stop sleeping around long enough to make a commitment. He accordingly goes to psychiatrist Dr. Fritz Fassbender (Peter Sellers)--who is a sex-crazed nut in pursuit of patient Renee (Capucine.) Before the dust settles Woody Allen, Paula Prentiss, Ursla Andress, and Edra Gale are added to the mix.

O'Toole and Sellers are hardly challenged by the material and Allen introduces his "I'm a New York neurotic" screen persona for the first time--but it is really the abundance of supporting actresses that give the film what little zing it still retains. Romy Schnieder was among Europe's greatest stars and finest actresses of her era; although the script offers her little, she is charming indeed. Much the same can be said of the legendary Capucine in the role of a world-weary nymphomaniac; Ursula Andress, who arrives in the film via parachute, and bovine Edra Gale, who runs riot in Wagnerian attire. But the real scene stealer is Paula Prentiss.

Although extremely attractive, Prentiss was originally typed as a "second lead" of the Eve Arden type--but she quickly graduated to neurotic comedy roles for which she had a truly unique flair. WHAT'S NEW, PUSSYCAT? finds her at the top of her form as the interestingly-named Liz Bien, who writes bad poetry, has a tendency to overdose on pills everytime she goes to the bathroom, and who attaches herself to the much-harrassed Peter O'Toole. It really is a performance that transcends the material and which lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.

The DVD release is third rate, with mediocre visual elements and sound so uneven that I constantly adjusted the volume as I watched. When all is said and done, this is really a film for hardcore fans of its various stars--and especially for Paula Prentiss. If for no other reason, the film is worth watching for her alone.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer
January 25, 2008

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