Caprice

Trailer—Caprice

Doris's manager-husband was not anywhere as nice as most of her leading men, treating her so bad, their son just about disowned him, wisely siding with mom. Harris enjoyed working with her, but ditzed the pic; She was less than thrilled with it. Maybe all concerned grumbled their way through it, but the end result was quite satisfactory. The tense moments were wonderful cliff-hangers, and the comedy moments, particularly the crazy apartment chase were real laugh getters. One critic described the plot as convoluted. Fie on him. It was complex, but did not require a ton of gray matter to keep up with it. Overall, it was a couple of hours very well spent, a little known film with a lot going for it. One more thing. Michael J. Pollard was on the screen for only a few moments, but he dominated his time marvelously. Let me add one more, one more thing. I would watch Day any day.

So many people hate Caprice, including Doris Day herself, that I was quite surprised, when I finally saw it, to find how enjoyable it was. Admittedly, it is not high art or even subtle, but it is an engaging spy romp, in true '60's fashion, with Doris and Richard Harris exhibiting nicely judged performances. They make an excellent team and look well together. Richard Harris is, admittedly, not renowned for comedy roles, but the character of Christopher is surely meant to be rather sinister. The script makes certain that we don't know whether to trust him or not. I think his is a very underrated performance. The fashions and make-up are truly of the period, and there are some very exciting and funny set-pieces. I'm all in favour of films like Caprice, which set out to entertain, and I will certainly watch this film again and again.

Someone mentioned that Doris Day looked every bit of 42 in this picture ("Caprice"). So, what's wrong with being 42 and looking great? How many ordinary women can look as great as movie goddess Doris and have THAT BODY besides Miss Day (who owned the BEST figure in Hollywood)? If you look at some of her later TV episodes where Doris wears tight-fitting jeans and pants, women all over the world would give anything to have a figure like her's. She's built like a brick sh**house! Ladies, don't be jealous! I understand from good sources that now in her 80s, her figure is STILL better than anything you'll see on the modern screen.

As a production, "Caprice" is slick and colorful. As a film, it is muddled; the characters seems to be changing sides every five minutes or so, and the tone wavers clumsily from (relatively) serious spy thriller to slapstick comedy. Films like "Charade" have gotten that balance right, but "Caprice" misses the target. And at the risk of sounding unoriginal, I also have to point out that Richard Harris is miscast in the Cary Grant / Rock Hudson type of role. On the other hand, the film (which predates "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" by two years) does have a good ski chase, and one mind-bendingly "meta" sequence in which Doris Day goes to a movie theater to watch...."Caprice", with Doris Day and Richard Harris! ** out of 4.

Drug smuggling in the cosmetics industry, with Doris Day and Richard Harris as industrial spies. Wild Frank Tashlin slapstick--funny gadgets, double agents--mixes curiously with serious action sequences involving a sniper; there's also a transvestite reveal (!) and at least one movie in-joke (Day's father, seen in a photograph, is Arthur Godfrey, who played her dad in Tashlin's "The Glass Bottom Boat"). Certainly an odd choice for Day, who later claimed her manager-husband signed her to the project before she could read the script (it was later tailored to her--and very well). She's dryly sarcastic throughout, and very appealing in her scenes with Harris. Incredible Leon Shamroy cinematography, terrific locations, plus a hilarious bit by Michael J. Pollard as a hippie. A strange one, indeed, but fun. *** from ****