Pretty Poison (1968)

	Directed by: Noel Black	COUNTRY USA GENRE Thriller/Black comedy NORWEGIAN TITLE Livsfarlig uskyld RUNNING TIME 89 minutes
	Produced by: Lawrence Turman Marshal Backlar Noel Black
	Written by (based on a novel by Stephen Geller): Lorenzo Semple Jr.

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Dennis Pitt	Anthony Perkins	½
Sue Ann Stepanek	Tuesday Weld
Mrs. Stepanek	Bevery Garland
Morton Azenauer	John Randolph
Bud Munsch	Dick O'Neill	½
Mrs. Bronson	Clarice Blackburn	-
Pete	Joseph Bova	-
Harry Jackson	Ken Kercheval	-

Review

An attractive, mildly perverse and playful tale about a former mental patient and pathological liar (Anthony Perkins) who seduces a high-school cheerleader (Tuesday Weld) under the guise of being a secret agent, but then ends up in more of a pickle than he bargained for. Stephen Geller's novel "She Let Him Continue" was adapted by veteran Hollywood penner Lorenzo Semple Jr. (Papillon, The Parallax View) into a clever little screenplay, but it is Noel Black's fun, spirited direction which gives Pretty Poison its distinction. He finds humour and parables around every corner and in the bleakest of situations, something which provides the understructure for Anthony Perkins' wonderful Dennis Pitt – a true invention of a character. And despite its entertaining, seditious nature, the film demonstrates a not unsubstantial understanding of the human psyche as well. A sexy Tuesday Weld just about pulls off her role as a high schooler, despite being too old for the part. And Beverly Garland is spunky as her mother. The score is by Johnny Mandel (M*A*S*H).