On B List of Movie Reviews
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Bedtime Story (1964)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
3/24
3/24:
Move over, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels...this is the original: Bedtime Story.
David Niven is Michael Caine, and Marlon Brando is Steve Martin. The story is the same except for the ending
which is completely different. Having seen the 1988 version three or four times but not the other one until now, I have
to go with the latter big time because it's such a well-made movie.
The script is genius, that's for sure. Far better than Steve Martin, Marlon Brando is funny while his acting is somewhere
between On the Waterfront and The Godfather.
Do you know why? It's because he mastered the art of comedic timing.
Unfortunately, David Niven isn't much of a funnyman which is the reason why he got upstaged by Peter Sellers in
The Pink Panther. As a matter of fact, if it was instead Michael Caine just as he was in 1988,
the results might have been interesting. On the other hand, Aram Stephan is good as Jameson's partner in crime.
What hurts the film the most is the rear projection effect. It cheapens the whole thing. Obviously, none of the stars
was ever on the French Riveria but the sound stage. Had it been the other way around, it would change the perceptive.
All in all, Bedtime Story has to be seen for Marlon Brando.