Entertaining Mr Sloane

(UK)

Canterbury. Director Douglas Hickox; Producer Douglas Kentis; Screenplay Clive Exton; Camera Wolfgang Suschitzky; Editor John Trumper; Music Georgie Fame; Art Director Michael Seymour

Beryl Reid
Peter McEnery
Harry Andrews
Alan Webb

The sacred cow of 'good taste' is in for a battering with Entertaining Mr Sloane, based on Joe Orton's play. Sloane blends morbid humor, an obsession with sex, and an underlying pathos and result is interest that is always held.

It's no detraction from the rest of the cast to say that it is firmly Beryl Reid's picture. She gives a memorable study of a middle-aged, flabby, arch 'nymphette', hazily pining for a lost love.

Her brother (Harry Andrews) also falls for Sloane's superficial charm and makes him his chauffeur, clearly with more furtive and kinky motives.

Director Douglas Hickox, who does an astute job, though sometimes his direction meanders slightly, has opened up the play a little, though not at the expense of the claustrophobic atmosphere.

(Color) Available on VHS. Extract of a review from 1970. Running time: 94 MIN.

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