![]() ![]() "Because I thought it was a classier movie than to have Sandra Dee in it. "I had a considerable amount to do with it," confessed Smight in Suzanne Finstad's biography of Warren Beatty. Just prior to the start of filming, however, Dee bowed out of the movie due to a schedule conflict but was paid her full salary anyway. Smight eventually learned that Beatty had pushed for Dee in the lead because he had always wanted to "score" with her. He thought she was all wrong for the part of a sharp witted, independent British girl. Literally knelt down in front of it, and pounded on it, and begged me to do the movie." Smight agreed but wasn't very happy about the selection of the film's female lead, Sandra Dee. In fact, he later said Beatty came to his home and "knelt down in front of my ottoman. Jack Smight, who had just directed the well-received Paul Newman vehicle Harper (1966), was approached by Beatty to direct Kaleidoscope. Luring Dominion, a compulsive gambler, into a high stakes poker game proves easy but when Barney trumps him with every hand, he places himself and Angel in a dangerous situation. When confronted with his crimes, Barney agrees to help the police capture Harry Dominion (Eric Porter), a notorious criminal and drug smuggler, in exchange for his freedom. ![]() At first, he makes a fortune but his consistent good luck arouses the suspicions of his girlfriend Angel (Susannah York) who alerts her father (Clive Revill), a Scotland Yard detective, to investigate. After breaking into the Kaleidoscope card factory which supplies all the casinos in Europe, he etches telltale marks on the printing plates that appear as codes to him alone on the backs of the cards. Written by the screenwriting team of Robert and Jane-Howard Carrington, who would adapt the play Wait Until Dark (1967) as their next project, Kaleidoscope follows the hip adventures of Barney Lincoln (Beatty), a professional gambler and ladies man who has figured out a way to beat the European gambling casinos at their own game. Another equally important reason why Beatty possibly chose to do Kaleidoscope was because it was not a particularly challenging role or time-consuming production and would allow him to concentrate in his off-hours on the project that was really important to him - Bonnie and Clyde. ![]() Beatty was still romantically involved with Leslie Caron at the time and the filming of Kaleidoscope in England would allow Caron to remain near her children and still see Warren. Always calculated in his choice of film offers, Beatty chose to do this jet-set caper romance because he felt it had the potential to be a commercial hit. Made between the unsuccessful romantic comedy Promise Her Anything (1965) with Leslie Caron and Bonnie and Clyde (1967), the movie that transformed Warren Beatty into a major player in Hollywood as a star and producer, Kaleidoscope (1966) marks a turning point in the actor's career. But Manny and his men from Scotland Yard arrive in time to break up the dope ring and rescue Barney and Angel. Barney and Angel attempt to escape and are almost run down by Dominion's henchmen. Not accustomed to losing, Dominion uses Angel as bait to lure Barney to his country estate, where he gets back his money by force. Accompanied by Angel, Barney sits in on a game with Dominion and wins every hand-even one played with an unmarked deck. Manny then reveals that in return for his freedom Barney must assist in capturing Harry Dominion, a narcotics smuggler with a weakness for poker. To his dismay he learns that while they were in Monte Carlo, Angel became suspicious and alerted her father Manny, a Scotland Yard detective, who now knows all about Barney's deception. After a tour of other European casinos, where he continues to win more money, Barney returns to London with Angel. He then goes to Monte Carlo, is reunited with Angel, and makes a fortune because of the marks on the backs of the cards. Once there he breaks into the Kaleidoscope card factory and etches secret marks on the printing plates used in making playing cards for all the European gambling casinos. Barney Lincoln, a wealthy American playboy, has one exciting date in London with an attractive dress designer named Angel McGinnis and then leaves for Geneva. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |