“The Loved One” is a satirical black comedy about the funeral industry. The plot follows a young British poet who becomes entangled in the bizarre world of Hollywood funeral homes, pet cemeteries and embalmers. The film uses irony and biting humor to poke fun at American culture’s obsession with death and mournful rituals. It is a sharp commentary on the commodification of death and the absurdity of our attempts to sanitize mortality. Overall, “The Loved One” is a darkly humorous examination of how we deal with death in modern society.
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Review
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you one of Hollywood’s hidden gems – “The Loved One.” Directed by Tony Richardson, this black comedy film is based on a novel written by Evelyn Waugh, and just like the book, the movie is a satire of the American funeral industry.
Set in Los Angeles in the 1960s, this twisted tale follows the journey of a British poet named Dennis Barlow (played by Robert Morse) who travels to California to pursue his writing career. However, little did he know that his journey would take him into the dark and bizarre world of death.
The story kicks off with Dennis getting fired from his job at a British poetry society. With no prospects back home, he decides to visit his uncle Sir Francis Hinsley (John Gielgud) who works as a funeral director in LA. From here on out, things start to get weirder and weirder.
Dennis meets Aimee Thanatogenos (Anjanette Comer), an innocent cosmetologist who works at Whispering Glades Memorial Park – Francis’ place of work. The two fall for each other but their love affair gets complicated when Aimee’s boss Mr. Joyboy (Rod Steiger), a creepy embalmer who has feelings for her as well, intervenes.
Meanwhile, Francis is having his own issues at work when Mr. Joyboy goes behind his back and starts selling off caskets for cheap prices – leading to some hilarious encounters with customers who are looking for bargains.
This movie is filled with unforgettable scenes that will leave you laughing out loud and cringing at the same time. One such scene involves Sir Francis’ extravagant funeral which includes live animals and exotic dancers.
The performances in this film are outstanding – Robert Morse captures the essence of an innocent man caught up in a world where he doesn’t belong while Anjanette Comer flawlessly plays the role of a naive girl who’s trying to find her place in the world.
The movie also features some iconic cameos such as Liberace, Paul Williams, and Milton Berle who all add to the absurdity of the story. The dialogue is witty and cleverly written, making this movie a must-watch for fans of dark comedies.
However, “The Loved One” wasn’t always received with open arms. Upon its release, it faced censorship controversies due to its graphic death-themed scenes. But despite this, the movie has managed to gain a cult-like following over the years and is considered a classic in its own right.
The film’s score was composed by John Addison and offers a perfect mix of whimsy and satire. It complements the film’s tone perfectly while still standing out on its own.
The cinematography is another standout feature – capturing the colorful and eclectic scenery of Los Angeles in the 1960s. The sets and costumes are also noteworthy – adding to the craziness of this story and enhancing its overall aesthetic.
In conclusion, “The Loved One” is an underrated masterpiece that deserves more recognition than it gets. Its exploration of death and consumerism may not be for everyone but it’s definitely worth giving a chance if you’re a fan of dark comedies or simply want to see something unique.
So go ahead, grab some popcorn, sit back, and let yourself be immersed in this bizarre yet fascinating world created by Waugh and Richardson. And remember – “Always look on the bright side of death.”
Technical Data
- Runtime : 122
- Release : 1965-10-11
- Genre : Comedy
- Cast : Robert Morse as Dennis Barlow, Jonathan Winters as Wilbur Glenworthy / Harry Glenworthy, Anjanette Comer as Aimee Thanatogenos, Rod Steiger as Mr. Joyboy, Dana Andrews as Gen. Buck Brinkman
- Crew : Lynn Stalmaster as Casting, Martin Ransohoff as Executive Producer, Hal Ashby as Editor, Haskell Wexler as Director of Photography, Haskell Wexler as Producer
- Popularity 6.199
- Budget : 0
- Revenue : 0
- Company : Filmways Pictures
- Summary : Newly arrived in Hollywood from England, Dennis Barlow finds he has to arrange his uncle’s interment at the highly-organised and very profitable Whispering Glades funeral parlour. His fancy is caught by one of their cosmeticians, Aimee Thanatogenos. But he has three problems – the strict rules of owner Blessed Reverand Glenworthy, the rivalry of embalmer Mr Joyboy, and the shame of now working himself at The Happy Hunting Ground pets’ memorial home.
- Tagline : The motion picture with something to offend everyone!
