The Honey Pot

Mank of course is almost always good value and if he never really equalled let alone eclipsed A Letter To Three Wives and All About Eve he certainly gave it the old college try and this late entry is streets ahead of the disappointing swanner There Was A Crooked Man. Rex Harrison actually contrives to appear vulpine in the quasi dance steps he affects at a couple of points in the action and it's interesting that no attempt is made to portray Venice in a seductive light, rather the sombre, muted tones add a distinctive flavour to the proceedings. The casting tends towards the bizarre and I can't think off hand of any one let alone any casting director who who automatically throw such diverse performers as Harrison, Hayward, Robertson, Smith, Capucine and Adams into the same project. Somehow one endures this and keeps watching Mank's literate screenplay unfold like a blossom struggling to overcome blight.

This is Mankiewitz? The master of witty dialogue? This movie is not only a waste of talent in front and behind the camera, it is boring and moves slower than molasses. Harrison is a tiresome gasbag, Robertson is wooden and charmless, Maggie Smith is given nothing to do, Capucine looks ill, Susan Hayward is beyond obnoxious and Edie Adams is way past her short shelf life as a third rate, third lead Hollywood bimbo.

Excellent Movie! Terrific Suspense! It kept me guessing and thrilled up to the last minute, something that is rare in movies made today (2006). Rex Harrison in his finest. His dancing was superb! Maggie Smith as Nurse (Moth brain) almost stole the show and Cliff Robertson was especially convincing as an actor and a lawyer. I adored Adolpho Celi who played the Inspector. He was so smooth and gentle almost to lead us to believe he was not very bright but to the contrary. I've always enjoyed Susan Hayward, she gave them movie some spark and gave it life and as Cecil commented after she was gone that things would be dull from now on. Yet it wasn't and the script kept the viewers moving right along. Was there a cameo by Jack Benny playing a street musician?

From the opening scene, with Rex Harrison's lead character watching a private performance of Ben Jonson's "Volpone"in the elegant, neoclassical surrounds of Venice's La Fenice, to the final scene amid the acqua alta in the Piazza San Marco, this sly murder mystery is pretty much note perfect. The script is drily witty, delivered by principally Harrison, Cliff Robertson, with Maggie Smith demonstrating that she was a first-rate comic actress even four decades ago, all played in the matchless surrounds of Venice. Capucine as the Princess, and Adolfo Celi as the police inspector are excellent in their smaller, supporting roles.

The Honey Pot is a delightful comedy mystery that seems destined to be under-appreciated. On the surface, an updating of Ben Jonson's Volpone, the plot twists in unexpected directions, confounding the viewer until the very end. While the mystery itself takes some time to get started, I found the film thoroughly entertaining due in great part to the witty dialogue of masterful Jospeh L. Mankiewicz and the colorful characterizations delivered by a wonderful cast led by Rex Harrison, Cliff Robertson and Maggie Smith. The dialogue also reaches some interesting depths towards the end of the film when Harrison's character makes some thoughtful reflections about time. As others have pointed out, the plot involves a lot of talking and takes its time to unfold, but this is part of the charm of the story. It is perhaps less about the mystery itself than the amusing interactions among a set of opportunistic and sly characters plotting against each-other. Performances are all around superb. Rex Harrison is exquisite as the cunning and charming orchestrator of the intrigue. Cliff Robertston is flawless as the quick-witted McFly/Mosca, executing his master's plan with intelligence and humorous servility. Just as delightful are Maggie Smith as the not-so-innocent nurse bringing a moral conscience to the story, Susan Hayward as a brash and aging American millionairess and Edie Adams as a rather crude Monroesque movie star. Perhaps a little too slow and not exciting enough for most audiences, The Honey Pot is neverthess worth the time of those interested in sophisticated and humourous dialogue, unusually creative mystery, and engaging performances.

This is a very good film adaptation of a story that has had a number of permutations. The original source of the story dates to British poet and playwright Ben Jonson's (1572-1637) satirical play, "Volpone." Thomas Sterling's "Evil of the Day" was a 1955 novel, and playwright Frederick Knott then adapted that source into the play, "Mr. Fox of Venice." The theme of the original work is carried through all the renditions of the story. It's a biting satire on greed, with a complex staged practical joke as the main plot. The comedy isn't of the rollicking laughter type, but in the exaggerations with the drama and the characters themselves. Most of the characters of the Ben Jonson play are carried through all renditions, except that in the 20th century story the three characters of avarice are women instead of men. Director Joseph Mankiewicz does a masterly job of adapting and then directing the story, with an introduction and closing comments in voice over by the main character, Cecil Fox. He uses this technique very subtly for one other character toward the end. Another reviewer delighted in what he called the "Maltese Falcon" ending. It is fantastic in itself. The film was made mostly in Rome, with some canal scenes shot in Venice. The producers assembled a first-rate cast to play the diverse roles. All give performances worthy of academy award nominations. Rex Harrison is superb as Cecil Fox, and Susan Hayward dominates her scenes as Mrs. Sheridan - Fox's "Lone Star" mistress from the past. Cliff Robertson adds enough mystery to his dutiful and slyly charming role as William McFly. A nearly 40 Capucine still radiates the sophisticated beauty for which she was known, here playing Princess Dominique. And Maggie Smith shows for the first time on film her deftness for deadpan humor. Her nurse Sarah Watkins is both demure, suspicious and slightly sly. Adolfo Celi is very good as Inspector Rizzi, who plays some scenarios superbly for comedy. The scenes in his home are hilarious where his family members are glued to the TV watching a Perry Mason mystery show. The Italian voice-over for Raymond Burr's Mason is hilarious - a high-pitched male voice coming out of the tube when Perry speaks. But the star who provides most of the laughter in "The Honey Pot" is Edie Adams. She plays Merle McGill, an otherwise attractive movie star who, underneath, is little more than a ditzy blonde and opportunist. She was someone Fox picked up off the street years before and turned into a movie icon. Here are some favorite lines form this film. Inspector Rizzi, "Miss McGill, I understand the necessity of you to arrive in Venice incognito." Merle McGill, "I wouldn't go anywhere (sic) uninvited." Inspector Rizzi, "I must have used the wrong word. My English is uh...." Merle McGill, "It must be hard for you to imagine, inspector - a man like Cecil Fox and I." Inspector Rizzi, "Not hard at all." McGill, "How can I say it, inspector? He was my first... man. Somehow, you just never forget your first man." Rizzi, "I remember mine, vividly. He also got away." Merle McGill, "OK, shamus, so what's on your mind? Or, to be exact, on both your minds?" Inspector Rizzi, "Shamus? You use too many American idioms I do not know." Merle McGill, "When you do talk to Princess Dominique, you know what she's gonna tell ya?" Inspector Rizzi, "If I had such capability, I would never get out of bed." McGill, "She's gonna say that she and I were here, in my room, all night, playing gin rummy together. That'll be a lie. For one thing, she can't even play gin rummy." Rizzi, "Fascinating! Now why would she choose a game she could not play?" McGill, with a "caught" look on her face, "Yeah, that was stupid of her, but the name of the game isn't important." Princess Dominique, "I have no need for Mr. Fox's money." Inspector Rizzi, "That is what truly baffles me. This incredible wealth which nobody needs and everybody wants."

This film centers on an extremely wealthy man named "Cecil Sheridan Fox" (Rex Harrison) who is living in Venice and wants to play a joke on three attractive women: "Lone Star Sheridan" (Susan Hayward), "Princess Dominique" (Capucine) and "Merle McGill" (Edie Adams). So he sends them letters telling them he is dying and that he has a huge fortune to pass on to one of them--just to see how far each of them will go to prove their love for him. He enlists the aid of "William McFly" (Cliff Robertson) to assist him. But things don't exactly go according to plan. At any rate, rather than disclose any of the secrets that unfold I will just say that this film turns out to be both a comedy and a mystery. Now, while I thought both Cliff Robertson and Rex Harrison performed well enough, I must say that I especially liked Adolfo Celi as "Inspector Rizzi". I also didn't mind having such beautiful and talented actresses like the aforementioned Capucine, Susan Hayward and Edie Adams either. At any rate, this is an enjoyable comedy but be warned-there are a lot of twists and turns along the way.

Loosely based on "Volpone," a play by Ben Johnson, Joseph L. Mankiewicz's literate, yet complex film, "The Honey Pot," is an often overlooked gem from the 1960's. Ensconced in his lavish Venetian palazzo, Cecil Fox devises an elaborately staged game to play on three of his former paramours. Hiring a handsome stage manager named McFly, he writes a letter to each woman telling her that he is on his death bed and she could be heiress to his estate. Needless to say, each arrives in Venice with an expensive gift and a desire to rekindle the fire with Fox. Each woman brings a time piece, and the theme of passing time is woven throughout the film. The film was the second successful collaboration between Mankiewicz and Rex Harrison, the first producing Harrison's Oscar-nominated performance in "Cleopatra." Harrison is a sly delight as Fox, a devious, manipulative schemer, whose dreams of being a dancer send him flitting flamboyantly around his bed chamber; in keeping with the film's theme, he even cavorts to "The Dance of the Hours." Cliff Robertson is McFly, a man with a checkered past, who stages the deception with ambiguous motives of his own. The three objects of Fox's deceit are played by Susan Hayward, Capucine, and Edie Adams. Hayward's Mrs. Lone Star Crockett Sheridan is the most colorful, and her tough-talking Texan character is missed when she is off-screen. Capucine's Princess Dominque is properly cool and regal, and Adams's Merle McGill is crass and common. In a role that resembles her work in "The V.I.P's," Maggie Smith is the under-estimated brains among the group; as Sarah Watkins, nurse-companion to Mrs. Sheridan, Smith is described by Fox as "the bouncy one," and she is indeed. "The Honey Pot" may be too slow and wordy for those nursed on Marvel Comics super heroes, but patient viewers have much to relish. Mankiewicz won Oscars for his biting screenplays for "All About Eve" and "A Letter to Three Wives," and also won nominations for writing "Skippy," "No Way Out," and "The Barefoot Contessa." His sharp and witty dialog is deliciously delivered by Harrison and Hayward in particular, who have the best lines; however, the entire cast, which includes four Oscar winners, does well, and each has his or her moments. Gianni Di Venanzo's well rendered cinematography of Venice and of the rich interiors of Fox's palace is colorful, and John Addison's score enhances the proceedings. Boasting excellent technical credits, a sterling cast, and a script and direction by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, "The Honey Pot" offers solid entertainment for discerning viewers and a few twists and surprises to keep everyone attentive until the end.

An over-talkative comedy-drama-murder mystery, disappointingly directed in a rather bland style by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. In fact, the movie lacks the very essential wit and flair that everyone – from producer Charles K. Feldman on down – expected that Mankiewicz would certainly bring to this venture. Solid performances from just about everyone in the cast – particularly Rex Harrison, Susan Hayward, Maggie Smith, Edie Adams and Capucine – plus the movie's A- 1 technical credits certainly help, but the movie seems far too ponderous and slow-moving – mostly because Mankiewicz has unwisely chosen to add dialogue of his own invention to that of Frederick Knott's stage play, "Mr. Fox of Venice", which was itself based on a novel by Thomas Sterling based on a play by Ben Jonson. Thus, The Honey Pot is awash with dialogue. If this were not off-putting enough, Mankiewicz has chosen to direct the movie mostly in super-boring, TV-style close-ups. The above is my view of the 131 minutes version. At 150 minutes the movie would surely be unwatchable.

I must admit when I saw this movie I it felt that it was not complete. Sure enough the back story of this film is that United Artists -then an independent film company that was a haven for great independent film makers such as Stanley Kramer, Robert Wise, Billy Wilder, William Wyler made serious cuts to the finished film that reportedly upset both Joseph Mankiewicz and star Susan Hayward. I do not know if Susan's long absences from Production tending to her dying husband in the USA resulted in her role being cut or what. The cinematographer died during production too. Years later Joseph Mankiewicz restored all of his cuts and it is said to be a brilliant film. Mankiewicz films are noted for great dialogue, and this film is missing some of the usual quips made so famous in Mankiewicz films. However the DVD version is the UA version not the Mankiewicz version. Susan Hayward- always an exciting woman to watch on the screen has little to do, but makes every scene she is in worth watching, however Hawyard's character "Lone Star" ends up dead early in the movie. There is not even one "Hayward scene" where the usually fiery star would dominate a sequence. Capucine, Edie Adams, Maggie Smith and Cliff Robertson give fine support to Rex Harrison and Ms. Hayward. This movie has 4 Oscar winners Hayward, Harrison, Smith and Robertson. This is the last Susan Hayward movie that allowed Hayward to be considered a superstar, what would follow would be cameos in Valley Of The Dolls and The Revengers,, and two TV movies Heat of Anger and Say Goodbye Maggie Cole before dying of brain cancer at a relatively early age of 57. Years later Rex Harrison would be quoted as saying He and the rest of the Company respected Ms. Hayward who dealt with the loss of her hsuband and carried on so professionally in her role.