40 Carats (1973)

The Worst Film Ever

Excellent but underrated film

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

After all that sturm und drang for Ingmar Bergman, Liv Ullmann tackled a comedy, Forty Carats, based on the hit Broadway play. It originally starred Julie Harris (succeeded by June Allyson, Joan Fontaine and Zsa Zsa Gabor), with Gretchen Corbett as her daughter, and Glenda Farrell as her mother. It later became a summer stock vehicle for actresses such as Lana Turner, Ginger Rogers, June Lockhart, and others.Forty year old Norwegian-American divorcée Ann Stanley (Ullmann) is a successful real estate broker. She lives with her mother (Binnie Barnes) and her daughter (Deborah Raffin). Ann's ex-husband is an actor, Billy Boylan (Gene Kelly) and she hasn't had any romance since their breakup.While in Greece, she meets a 22-year-old young man, Peter Latham (Edward Albert) and the two sleep together on the beach one night. Embarrassed, Ann leaves without saying goodbye. When she meets him again in New York, he still wants to be with her. Ann is not able to deal with the age difference, and her mother wants her to take up with a wealthy southerner who is after her, J.D. Rogers.When it was to be directed by William Wyler, many top stars, such as Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor, were up for the role. For me, Liv Ullmann, as likable, lovely, and beautiful as she is here, was not quite right for this role. For one thing, I had trouble understanding her English. For another, she is not adept at comedy. They say a great comedian can do drama but not vice versa. Also, there was not much chemistry between Ullmann and Albert. Both he and Deborah Raffin died too young. Albert only a year after his father. He is very good and at the peak of his career here. The stunning Deborah Raffin is a good Trina. This was Binnie Barnes' last film, and she and Raffin played well off one another.Gene Kelly was over the top. I think this could have been directed with a stronger hand.Nowadays, 40-year-old women sometimes do date younger men so it's not such a big deal, and Ullmann looked like 40-year-olds look today, meaning she looked younger than what we used to think of as 40. This is a sweet film about the heart wanting what the heart wants, and that love can sneak up on you when you least expect it under less than ideal conditions.

Beautiful 36, no… 38, no… 39, no… 40-year-old Liv Ullmann (as Ann Stanley) from Norway originally is driving through gorgeous Greece when her car overheats. Along comes handsome 22-year-old Edward Albert (as Peter Latham) from Pittsburgh, USA on a motorcycle. Believing herself too old to ride a motor bike, Ms. Ullmann instead strips down to her underwear for a swim with Mr. Albert. One thing leads to another and they have sex on the beach. Perhaps feeling a little old and out of sorts after the act, Ullmann leaves Albert while he sleeps...Back home in New York, guess who arrives to pick up Ullmann's daughter for a date? At first this seemed like it was going to be a drama, but it's obviously a comedy by the time Ullmann and Albert meet in New York. It probably would have been funnier if a woman more experienced in situation comedy played Ullmann's part, but the film does garner some chuckles. Although Albert does look like the younger of the two, the age difference seems more like ten than twenty years. Ullmann appears closer to Albert's age than she does to ex-husband Gene Kelly (as Billy Boylan). Respected elder Binnie Barnes (as Maud Ericson) does well in her last feature.****** 40 Carats (6/28/73) Milton Katselas ~ Liv Ullmann, Edward Albert, Gene Kelly, Binnie Barnes

When I was 20 and first read this story I loved it. Then I saw the movie and was charmed by Liv Ullman, Edward Albert, and the rest of the cast. (Binnie Barnes was a Ziegfield Girl! Gene Kelly dances the twist!) Now, over 30 years later, I have watched it more times than I can count.OK, so you know the story from the plot synopsis. Whoever says there is no chemistry between the two leads doesn't have the same nervous system that I have. However, there is one glaring problem: for a 40-year-old woman to be interested in a 22-year-old, he must be a pretty incredible and "mature" guy. But Albert's character consistently descends into childish argument and even name-calling when Ullman disappoints him. ("You don't know what you want." and "You are a silly, helpless woman...") This would be an unbeatable romance if there was more depth to his character and more development of their relationship. It's not chemistry that's missing, it's any evidence of true intimacy. And that is a flaw of the script, not the casting.Still, with a "willing suspension of disbelief", it is a charming romance and a chance to see Liv Ullman be happy.

I first saw this movie when I was in high school in the 70's. I love old movies and have an extensive DVD library. This movie takes me back to high school memories. I took a movie class in high school and this was the first movie I ever saw with this actress. I collect all kinds of movies and this one will soon be in my collection. This is my first writing of any comment on movies that I have seen or would like to see. I saw an article in a book about Liv Ullman and got to thinking of movies I have seen her in in the past. 40 carats was one of them. I just wanted to say thanks for the opportunity to let me write to you and tell you this.