Comments on: The White Sheik http://www.thefifiorganization.net/janus/the-white-sheik/ Sat, 14 Aug 2010 13:34:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jeff http://www.thefifiorganization.net/janus/the-white-sheik/comment-page-1/#comment-792 Jeff Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:45:19 +0000 http://www.thefifiorganization.net/?p=1954#comment-792 Oh my ... guilty pleasures ... Oh my … guilty pleasures …

]]> By: Jason http://www.thefifiorganization.net/janus/the-white-sheik/comment-page-1/#comment-789 Jason Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:19:35 +0000 http://www.thefifiorganization.net/?p=1954#comment-789 I keep watching this and drumming on my desk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQAIPhuUU2Y I keep watching this and drumming on my desk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQAIPhuUU2Y

]]> By: Jeff http://www.thefifiorganization.net/janus/the-white-sheik/comment-page-1/#comment-788 Jeff Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:29:20 +0000 http://www.thefifiorganization.net/?p=1954#comment-788 Jason, I believe I have that Honeymoon Suite song on 7 inch vinyl ... must get back to you on this. Jeff Jason, I believe I have that Honeymoon Suite song on 7 inch vinyl … must get back to you on this. Jeff

]]> By: Matt http://www.thefifiorganization.net/janus/the-white-sheik/comment-page-1/#comment-787 Matt Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:12:59 +0000 http://www.thefifiorganization.net/?p=1954#comment-787 In the 1970's Gene Wilder made a film entitled "The World's Greatest Lover" - that film is a remake (of sorts) of "The White Sheik." In that film, Carol Kane - playing Gene's young bride, has fallen in love with Rudolph Valentino. On a trip to California, she becomes obsessed with meeting Rudy and goes to the film studio, eventually getting put on screen. Meanwhile a fraught Gene is dealing with her missing and dealing with family members. To make a long story short, Rudy finally beds Carol but it's actually Gene in disguise - all is right in the end. Having seen "TWGL" a couple times (and it's a cute film) I had a sense of déjà-vu with "TWS" (though, of course, "TWS" came first). Also, Jason and I do not discuss the films we see before hand but a chance phone call with Jason he announced to me that he felt the film was "fluff." Fluff is a good word for it. What we find in "TWS" is a young couple, newly married, ready to get started with their lives and honeymooning in Rome. Seems the husband has an uncle who is in with the pope and he's arranged a meeting for him and his new bride (and a couple dozen other couples - I assume). But...your newlywed gal knows that there's a movie studio or TV studio near by and a gentleman only known as "TWS" stars in these films. So she sneaks off to visit the star to confess that she has sent him 3 letters. Through a couple misunderstandings the next thing you know, she's on the set 45 km away from Rome. Back in Rome the new husband doesn't know what to do. Seems he's a bit anal retentive and has scheduled out their day down to the letter (plus what of the pope?). So he makes excuses to his family and frets quite a bit (and, I noticed, looked a lot like an Italian Gene Wilder). While he panics, Wanda, the girl, is meeting her star and she's enamored with him. Honestly there's nothing about him that is even partially that attractive. He's overweight, not dashing and, well, kind of a dick. As in "The Worlds Greatest Lover" - Carol Kane realizes that fantasy is not as good as reality - so does Wanda. Her dreams/fantasy dashed, she returns to Rome, finally, in the evening. Threatens to kill herself but then realizes that she loves her husband (or something) and returns to him. The next day all is well and they go see the pope and get free Vatican coasters (okay, I'm kidding about the last part). WHAT IS STAR-MAKING The acting is quite good all around. The husband does well in his role of harried, confused, slightly mad self. The actress playing Wanda does a fine job as do all the rest. Plus she's as cute as can be. The film is, definitely, cute. WHAT IS STAR-DESTROYING The casting of the actor playing "The White Sheik" is just kind of confusing. They couldn't find a more handsome debonair actor to play the role? Also, I didn't understand if this was a film, a television show, a movie serial (having read Jason's review - I now realize it's just a photo-shoot but, still...feh). I wasn't buying the attraction to this guy. IS IT POPE-ALICIOUS? The film was good and cute and funny, in moments. But it was, as Jason described, fluff. Not enough to recommend. In the 1970′s Gene Wilder made a film entitled “The World’s Greatest Lover” – that film is a remake (of sorts) of “The White Sheik.” In that film, Carol Kane – playing Gene’s young bride, has fallen in love with Rudolph Valentino. On a trip to California, she becomes obsessed with meeting Rudy and goes to the film studio, eventually getting put on screen. Meanwhile a fraught Gene is dealing with her missing and dealing with family members. To make a long story short, Rudy finally beds Carol but it’s actually Gene in disguise – all is right in the end.

Having seen “TWGL” a couple times (and it’s a cute film) I had a sense of déjà-vu with “TWS” (though, of course, “TWS” came first).

Also, Jason and I do not discuss the films we see before hand but a chance phone call with Jason he announced to me that he felt the film was “fluff.” Fluff is a good word for it.

What we find in “TWS” is a young couple, newly married, ready to get started with their lives and honeymooning in Rome. Seems the husband has an uncle who is in with the pope and he’s arranged a meeting for him and his new bride (and a couple dozen other couples – I assume).

But…your newlywed gal knows that there’s a movie studio or TV studio near by and a gentleman only known as “TWS” stars in these films. So she sneaks off to visit the star to confess that she has sent him 3 letters. Through a couple misunderstandings the next thing you know, she’s on the set 45 km away from Rome.

Back in Rome the new husband doesn’t know what to do. Seems he’s a bit anal retentive and has scheduled out their day down to the letter (plus what of the pope?). So he makes excuses to his family and frets quite a bit (and, I noticed, looked a lot like an Italian Gene Wilder).

While he panics, Wanda, the girl, is meeting her star and she’s enamored with him. Honestly there’s nothing about him that is even partially that attractive. He’s overweight, not dashing and, well, kind of a dick.

As in “The Worlds Greatest Lover” – Carol Kane realizes that fantasy is not as good as reality – so does Wanda. Her dreams/fantasy dashed, she returns to Rome, finally, in the evening. Threatens to kill herself but then realizes that she loves her husband (or something) and returns to him.

The next day all is well and they go see the pope and get free Vatican coasters (okay, I’m kidding about the last part).

WHAT IS STAR-MAKING

The acting is quite good all around. The husband does well in his role of harried, confused, slightly mad self. The actress playing Wanda does a fine job as do all the rest. Plus she’s as cute as can be.

The film is, definitely, cute.

WHAT IS STAR-DESTROYING

The casting of the actor playing “The White Sheik” is just kind of confusing. They couldn’t find a more handsome debonair actor to play the role? Also, I didn’t understand if this was a film, a television show, a movie serial (having read Jason’s review – I now realize it’s just a photo-shoot but, still…feh). I wasn’t buying the attraction to this guy.

IS IT POPE-ALICIOUS?

The film was good and cute and funny, in moments. But it was, as Jason described, fluff. Not enough to recommend.

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