Movie Movie -1978
Director
Stanley Donen

Writers
Larry Gelbart
Sheldon Keller

Cast
George C. Scott
Trish Van Devere
Red Buttons

Review by Wayne Malin

Enjoyable,

Fun parody of 30s movies showing two “movies” (they’re actually only 50 minutes each) done by Warren Bros. (ha ha)

The first is “Dynamite Hands” with Harry Hamlin (so young and full of life) playing a boxer to save money to…well, the plot is familar…VERY familar. Every single boxing movie cliche is hit head on with sledgehammer subtlety and the dialogue is way over the top. It’s not half as clever as it thinks it is but it still works. It’s quick and so energetic it’s impossible to dislike. Also Hamlin is obviously enjoying himself. George C. Scott (who’s in both) is in it briefly and Red Buttons (also in both) lends strong support. It was in black and white up the theatres in 1978, but it’s in color on cable. Why?

“Baxter’s Beauties of 1933″ is a parody of those big, splashy colorful musicals. The plot is basically a combination of every cliche from musicals back then. Barry Bostwick is in it and he’s just “swell” as a Dick Powell type and Rebecca York is just great as a Ruby Keeler type. The music and lyrics are just OK but this is lots of fun–beautiful sets, great singing and dancing, impressive production numbers and full of fun.

As said before, George C. Scott is in both but is (surprisingly) bad–he looks bored and unsure of his lines. Buttons is great in both but Trish Van Devere is just terrible. She’s very good-looking but a horrible actress.

No great film but worth catching–a must for movie buffs.