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Wednesday, 13 November 2013

PENELOPE (1966) WEB SITE

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CRITICA EN EL PERIÓDICO "LA VANGUARDIA" (29-3-1967)

El principal atractivo de "Penélope" radica en la labor personal de Natalie Wood. La bonita, picante y original belleza de esta joven actriz, es como una llamarada que hace resplandecer toda la película. Por lo demás, "Penélope" "título que no encierra ninguna alusión mitológica, ni ningún oscuro simbolismo" no pasa de ser una alegre y divertida comedia de corte hollywoodiano, sin grandes novedades. La protagonista es una guapisima señora aquejada de un raro complejo: le gusta robar a las personas que la fastidian o que directa o indirectamente le molestan o hieren. Entre estos últimos se encuentra su propio marido, el cual no le presta la debida atención porque sus muchas ocupaciones de banquero importante se lo impiden. Entonces "Penélope" comete un atraco en el banco que su propio marido es director. Y lo comete con la serenidad y la pericia de un "gangster" consumado. De igual modo despoja de valiosas joyas a las amigas de su esposo. "Penélope" no roba sin embargo, para aprovecharse del producto del robo. Muy al contrario, el botín la embaraza y estorba, y el problema consiste luego en ir liberándose de él sin infundir sospechas. Una parte de estas aventuras de la sin par "Penélope" la vemos pasar por la pantalla en tiempo presente. Otras, en secuencias que reproducen hechos retrospectivos. Como "Penélope" se encuentra primera de un raro complejo, pretende alejar esta obsesión morbosa sometiéndose al tratamiento de un psicoanalista. Las sesiones terapéuticas en casa de éste, resultan una especie de parodia picante y divertida. El psicoanalismo nunca ha sido tomado demasiado en serio por el cine. En esta ocasión lo es todavía un poco menos. Las cosas se complican, y un día es acusada del atraco al banco, una muchacha, que nada tiene que ver con el robo. Entonces "Penélope" se ve obligada a confesar toda la verdad. Pero nadie la cree. ¿Cómo puede nadie imaginar que la bonita dama, tan frágil y frívola, cometa fechorías de esta índole y mucho más en el banco de su propio marido?. La comedia es muy entretenida, aun cuando a ratos resulte un poco reiterada. No llega sin embargo, a asese pesada ni aburrida. Los "strip-tease" que prodiga Natalie Wood, bastan para mantener siempre muy abiertos los ojos de los espectadores, sobre todo los masculinos. en cuanto a las mujeres es de suponer que sigan con interés parejo los alardes de indumentaria que luce la ardiente e insinuante actriz. La señora Wood cambia de vestidos y de abrigos, diez o doce veces y siempre se nos aparece ataviada con suntuasidad y exquisito gusto. pero es evidente que cuando prescinde de estas piezas o las reduce al mínimo, aún aparece mucho más atractiva. El film es en sumo, Natalie Wood. Los restantes intérpretes palidecen ante la gran "estrella", a bien cumplen muy concientemente su misión. A. MARTÍNEZ TOMAS.
 
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a surprisingly delightful, witty, funny film! 
 
This film is highly underrated. I have heard of how "Penelope" was a flop from other sources. I saw it on TCM today as one of the birthday tributes to Natalie Wood. To my surprise, I found this film highly entertaining. The dialogue was witty and funny. Love the humor. This is one of the comedic best of Natalie Wood! Dick Shawn, Peter Falk, and Ian Bannen, who played her analyst, a police detective, and her husband respectively, did a fantastic job as the three men who fell in love with Penelope. A very funny film, brilliant, brilliant film! I was not very fond of 60's humor, but I still found this film hilarious. Whether you are a fan of 60's comedies or not, I assure that you will enjoy it as much as I do.
 
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Natalie Wood's most undervalued piece! 
 
This was the first flick of Natalie's that I ever laid my eyes on, and, well, what can i say?... I was bedazzled, captivated, and why?, simply because it was Natalie. What is good about this movie?, 1-the cute little 60s outfits she wears!, you have to give her that. She embodied the true meaning of 60's style. 2-All the witty and light-headed arguments between Penelope and her therapist. 3-The persona created by Natalie as her Alterego Penelope seems to me now (with a wider knowledge of Natalie's Cinema) one of the finer representations of the charming and charismatic self that she in fact was, and well.... The movie in its wholesomeness turns to eye-candy before you can finish quoting it's title.
 
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Worth checking out for "Johnny" Williams score! 

Alright so it's not the greatest film in the world BUT I must recommend it anyway especially to those fans of the fabulously fun era of the late 60's. That 60's vibe is evident throughout the film. And I was surprised to hear "Johnny" Williams aprapos and quality score complete with Penelope theme song. Natalie Wood as Penelope is stunning and is also featured on a vocal number at the local "beatnik" club (now you don't want to miss that do you?) Peter Falk is the detective on Penelope's trail previewing his future role as Columbo and there are also many recognizable actors of that era in the film as well. Natalie Wood was very depressed over the lack of appreciation for this film but regained her career momentum with the success of "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" 3 years later.
 
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Natalie Looks Great In This Insipid Comedy 
 
Made in 1966 during the heigth of her starpower, PENELOPE is not one of Natalie Wood's better pictures, although she looks beautiful throughout and is adorable. Natalie was dating Arthur Lowe Jr around this time and he coincidentally produced this film. Natalie was also savvy enough to surround herself with an exceptionally strong supporting cast: Peter Falk, Dick Shawn, the one note Lila Kedrova, and small parts by Jonathan Winters, and the overlooked Amzie Strickland( who still does commercials today ). STORYLINE: Natalie as PENELOPE is a gorgeous rich young wife who feels neglected by her handsome banker hubby, so she robs his bank while wearing an expensive "Givenchy" suit and spends the majority of the film either trying to get rid of or retrieve the suit ! Neither plausible, nor side splittingly funny, it is however, standard 60's lite fare. TRIVIA: The film bombed at the box office and Natalie attempted suicide not long after. Natalie didn't make another movie for 3 years after this one, returning in the smash hit BOB,CAROL,TED & ALICE. Edith Evanson, who played the look a like bank robber died exactly 1 year before Natalie on 11/29/81.
 
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wish it was on DVD 
 
okay, it's not perfect. it's a 60's screwball comedy filled with color, humor and silliness. Natalie Wood is great in it, very funny and she wears great clothes. Peter Falk must have been practicing for Columbo and the guy who plays her husband is acceptable if a bit boring sometimes. but then, i guess he's meant to be viewed that way. Wood plays a bored housewife who steals things whenever she feels like her husband isn't paying attention to her due to his work. so she robs his colleagues. Now this is all well and good but she also robs her husbands bank of $60,000. thats the plot, absurd and silly but fun and very funny. i can't understand why it bombed at the box office, never mind, at least it was a good bomb. don't forget that some of the best movies out there bombed at the box office. this isn't one of the best movies out there but it's great fun and i can think of worse way for you to spend your time. 7/10. this movie would be nothing without the always great Natalie Wood, who didn't show her flare for comedy that often.
 
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Silly comedy but Natalie looks fantastic 

When "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" was on television starring Laurence Olivier, Maureen Stapleton, Natalie Wood, and Robert Wagner, I was working in the office. The next day every guy in the place was swooning over Natalie Wood. She certainly was beautiful.
This film was made when she was on top of the world and also dating Arthur Loew, the producer, (and my good friend's stepfather).
She plays the eponymous Penelope, the stunning wife of a bank officer (Ian Bannen). Feeling neglected, she robs his bank, disguised as an old lady. She runs into the ladies room and becomes Penelope and walks out with $60,000.
Eventually, the detective assigned to the case, Lt. Bixbee (Peter Falk), looking at the robbery film and figures out it's the young woman leaving the bank. She's wearing a yellow Givenchy suit, which she promptly donates to a thrift shop.
She sees her psychiatrist (Dick Shawn), who is madly in love with her, and he totally freaks out when he realizes she's telling him the truth -- she's a robber!
He convinces her that the suit will be a problem, so she returns to the thrift shop to buy it back.
This is typical of '60s comedies -- not laugh out loud material, but featuring some glamour and a flimsy story.
It is a good and very capable cast, with funnymen Shawn and Jonathan Winters, Peter Falk, and Ian Bannen as her husband.
Sadly this movie failed miserably, and some time later, Wood attempted suicide and didn't make another film for three years. So while you might think having guys drooling all over you, money, success, and a powerful boyfriend are the keys to happiness, in her case, they weren't.
 
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MY WEB PAGE TO NATALIE WOOD

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