Caprice (1967)

Pretty Good

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

As a production, "Caprice" is slick and colorful. As a film, it is muddled; the characters seems to be changing sides every five minutes or so, and the tone wavers clumsily from (relatively) serious spy thriller to slapstick comedy. Films like "Charade" have gotten that balance right, but "Caprice" misses the target. And at the risk of sounding unoriginal, I also have to point out that Richard Harris is miscast in the Cary Grant / Rock Hudson type of role. On the other hand, the film (which predates "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" by two years) does have a good ski chase, and one mind-bendingly "meta" sequence in which Doris Day goes to a movie theater to watch...."Caprice", with Doris Day and Richard Harris! ** out of 4.

It's pleasing to note that after the disappointing Spy in Lace Panties, director-writer Frank Tashlin has now returned to form with this madcap, screwball comedy-thriller about industrial espionage in the cosmetic business. Doris Day's efforts to cut off a lock of Chinese hair, her inspired attempts to sabotage a listening device and her being the subject of an unwanted attention in a cinema are three of the funniest scenes I've seen in any movie. To have all three together as here, is value for money indeed. Yet in addition to these outstanding comedy sequences, Tashlin presents a triple climax of thrills rivaling those of Hitchcock himself. The superb aerial photography by Nelson Tyler also deserves commendation here! As for the acting, it is never less than excellent. Ray Walston in particular imparts a delightful edge to his performance. Available on an excellent 20th Century Fox DVD.

It's amazing sometimes how certain films get made and reading in both books about Doris Day and Richard Harris, how Caprice was made just might be a subject for a film itself. Ironically the motive for both these stars was economical.According to a recent biography of Richard Harris by Michael Feeney Callan, Caprice came between two big budget epics for Harris, Hawaii and Camelot both of which are better films. He and his then wife Elizabeth were living in the high end gated community of Bel Air and Harris was feeling squeezed. What to do, but take a film offer strictly for the money. As for Day this was one of many film offers negotiated by her Svengali of a husband Martin Melcher which she hated but as she later learned Melcher had depleted their savings with horrible investments.Also according to Harris since this film was about espionage, Day thought she was getting Sean Connery as her leading man. She plays an industrial spy who is double dealing a pair of cosmetics tycoons played by Edward Mulhare and Jack Kruschen. But she has another mission agenda. Her father was killed because he had found a narcotics smuggling ring working inside one of the firms. She's out to find the guy behind the ring who may have personally killed her father who was an Interpol Agent.Enter Richard Harris who plays a mysterious agent himself and keeps pulling Doris out of harm's way. Doris upon signing for the film had the parts switched so that she was the industrial spy, that was to be a male role originally. The film is the only one that calls for her to be an action hero.Caprice's biggest problem is that it can't seem to make it's mind up whether it is a spoof or somewhat serious. I can see why Doris would have wanted Sean Connery in the role, who better than the screen's James Bond for a spy film. Connery might have had the good sense to pass on this, but Harris needed the money.They did not like each other these two, but then again Harris got along with very few of his colleagues during his early hell raising days. He was quoted in the book as saying kissing Day was like kissing his old maiden aunt. Frank Tashlin who certainly did a lot better stuff in his career directed Caprice. The whole project reeks of indifference from its director and its stars.

Due to the convoluted nature of the plot, this film really holds one's attention as they try to figure out what in the world is going on.Miss Day makes the film with her bright screen presence. Richard Harris, although a fine actor, was not the best choice for playing opposite Miss Day in this particular role.Ray Walston overacts a bit and uses an acting style that would be better suited for a television show.But the film is not trying to cure cancer, is just an entertaining diversion and works well as such.To notch are the music and cinematography. The overall feeling of the film, however, is that is it is trying too hard to be "mod". You get this feeling from the onset, when Doris first appears on the screen dressed in an outfit designed for a nineteen year old, not a grown adult.The plot suffers from too many rewrites and becomes muddled. However once you start watching it, you can't break away.Several scenes provide real "belly laughs" and it is worth viewing the entire film just for these.It does have flaws, but it's still worth watching. It could have been better and Doris Miss Day should have been more assertive to her husband, Marty Melcher, in demanding some changes in the plot, costume design and casting. We can only wish that Doris had continued to make films. Few actresses can match her range, ability, screen presence and charm. Miss Day, we miss you greatly.