Customer Reviews

Kaleidoscope [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A great opening hook and some solid plot twists (maybe a bit reminiscent of the novel Casino Royale) and only one curious lull where the action stops dead for a long introduction of the villain of the piece. Great swinging 60s London and Paris locales -- and cars! And the whole thing is fueled by Beatty and angel-faced York's having actual romantic chemistry! They make a terrific pair. (Less convincing is the relationship between York and her "father" -- Clive Revill -- who's only 9 years older than the actress.)

In Kaladeoscope,Warren Beatty does a superb job portraying a gambling scam artist in this 1966 cult classic and as always co-star Susannah York looks breathtakingly beautiful.It's a must see movie!!

The first half of this film is riveting, and Warren Beatty is perfectly cast in his role as a rich gambler who stacks his card decks in a way we've never seen on screen before. He's breathlessly cool, suave and debonair, with just the right amount of jaded sarcasm thrown in to be believable. (I personally believe that the TV series 'It Takes A Thief' was modeled after this film, in the same way that 'Mission Impossible' was forged from 'Topkapi').

Now Susannah York, well, she's a bit of a problem for me, as she's annoyingly two-dimensional in a 60's sort of way that's both irritating and unrealistically simple. None of the fashions from the era do her a bit of justice either, which is difficult to believe, as stylings from that era were made to highlight a female form like no decade since. She comes off as a ditzy, 60's Meg Ryan (as if Meg wasn't ditzy enough) - not my cup of tea at all.

The second half of the flick gets too mired down in the card game, and while it does promote tension and suspense, it drags on for too long; especially since you kind of know what the outcome will be long before it arrives. It is a good film, but I'd never call it great as other reviewers have. The picture is splendid, though it does have its fair share of blemishes for a WB Archive flick at these Criterion prices, but the kaleidoscopic effects and title sequence by Maurice Binder (who did all the James Bond title sequences) are thoroughly entertaining in a smashing 60's way.

All things considered, I enjoyed this cult film a good bit, just couldn't love it the way I wanted to. Maybe you will...

An interesting bit of trivia about this film is that model Pattie Boyd, then wife of Beatle George Harrison, had a small walk-on part as a model in a trendy London boutique. Hopefully this film will become available on DVD soon!

I totally agree with these reviewers: "Kaleidoscope" needs to be on DVD because the writing is on the wall and that is: Movies on CD's are here to stay. My estimation is that it will come out sometime next year as part of a Warren Beatty box set that Warner Brothers has been doing the last two years since as you know "Bonnie and Clyde" is most likely to be re-released on DVD to celebrate its 40th anniversary (yikes!) and be in that set. Let's wait and see.

THIS MOVIE SHOULD BE ON DVD. I HAVE TOLD YOU BEFORE!!!!!In Kaleidoscope,Warren Beatty does an excellent job portraying a gambling scam artist in this 1966 cult classic. You gotta see this movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!