Finally got to see this...if you're a Culp fan, be patient, as he doesn't show up until the 2nd hour, really, but does then have a substantial supporting role. It's one of those old play adaptions where they add a few sequences on exteriors, but most of the film plays on one set, with 2 or 3 people talking...like a play. Nice to see the young Jane Fonda, and Rod Taylor and Cliff Robertson are both good actors as well, so it's certainly pleasant enough, although it's outdated view on sex showed why the production code had to end' these people are trapped in a "cute" world where a 22 year old female virgin can't believe her older airline pilot brother who lives in New York City gets around...
Culp is kind of hyper as her fiancee from Albany, although it is nice that they don't make his character a total creep despite us knowing she will choose Taylor over Culp....the film actually is sympathetic to his plight and Culp plays him as a fairly reasonable guy....just a bit caffinated!
I enjoyed your mini-review of " Sunday in New York .... you must have been up late the other night, because I caught most it, too, while flipping channels in the wee hours.
We had briefly discussed this movie last fall ... and Cate (and several others of our female contingent along the way) expressed dismay and disbelief that Jane would choose Rod Taylor over our Bob. But they did paint Rod's character to be a most appealing guy, and Bob's "Russ"- well, to borrow Jim's phrase was - "just a bit caffeinated."
As I wrote before ... "I TOTALLY forgot about Bob and Cliff Robertson being in Sunday in New York (1963) together ... it wasn't a great film, but it "was" a sweet one (that is, for all of us who grew up on Rock Hudson and virginal Doris Day movies - and James Garner and virginal Doris Day movies - and Cary Grant and virginal Doris Day movies - you get the idea .... just substitute Jane Fonda in this one)!!"
You needed a healthy helping of "disbelief" to follow this storyline, but that's part of the charm of those light and sweet "Doris Day"-type comedies of that time.
AND what perfect timing, Jim ... because someone just put up the movie trailer Sunday in New York on YouTube - here's a little taste of what Jim was talking about - if you've never seen the movie.
And I even stayed up after "Sunday in New York" and watched Jane's brother Peter in "Easy Rider" (1969) with Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson (must have been a "Fonda Night at the Movies" or something) ... definitely one of the classics "cool dudes, cool movie, and cool music." Groovy, man! It's really something seeing Dennis Hopper's current commercial running these days (for investments and financial securities for retirement), set on the same sort of open road as "Easy Rider." Hopper is still way cool, but he looks a "tad bit" different than his "Easy Rider" days - and is definitely going with a "tad bit" different philosophy than the movie.
While I have no romantic horse in this race, I'm a little surprised by the vehemence of the I-can't-believe-she-chose-Taylor vibe!!! isn't Rod Taylor just as appealing as Mr. Culp in the world of women? He seems well-built and handsome enough, and, you know, Australian, so his accent would seem to hold some additional charm. I even noticed that while Culp's character was a boxer, I thought Taylor (in this and other flicks) seems like a pretty big guy, and would question Taylor's nervous response to Culp's feigned punches -- I mean, c'mon, isn't Taylor, while a little shorter, kind of, err, thicker than our hero?
Take it from “the female contingent,” as Tatia refers to us—nobody, but NOBODY, is as attractive as Culp. Someone else may be equally good-looking (or better looking). Another man might be just as intelligent, or well-spoken, or have as much charm. But no one on a screen (or, alas, in real life!) can touch Culp for sheer magnetism to females. Period.
We can’t explain it. We can’t define it. There’s no way to convey this to the male of the species. But if he could bottle Essence of Culp and put it on the market, women around the world would be queuing up to buy him.
Trust me on this. I’d be at the head of the line.
Regards—
This message has been edited by BulwerLytton from IP address 76.191.192.53 on Mar 26, 2008 4:27 PM
Ummm ... this IS the "I SPY FORUM" ... home of the brave and the true - and the loyal aficionados of The Culp, himself!!
Whatever he's got, Jim, he's never lost it!!
I think Bulwer-Lytton summed things up quite nicely and tied it with a bow, and I am sure Mona will jump in there when she returns from her trip. And maybe a few others, also??
Now, I will definitely concede that Rod Taylor was one handsome and appealing guy - especially during his prime-time in the early 60s.
(Here's a link to "The Complete Rod Taylor" site ... with photos galore that span the years.)
.... BUT when it comes to that unique and individual mix of charisma, intelligence, and superb talent in a wide-ranging variety of roles, our Mr. Culp is definitely one of a kind. As B-L perfectly described it - a "magnetism," an "appeal" if you will - un-definable, un-quantifiable, and un-explainable, but definitely there none the less. (Well, personally, I think we can say the same for Chuang-Tzu, too. )
When I first stumbled across the FORUM, Scotty and Kelly were just conversing about the action and adventure aspects of I SPY. I felt "compelled" to enter these discussions, and point out that they were missing a major source of appeal of the show, besides the action, adventure, intrigue, music and locations - there were the allure and charms of both Mr. Cs ... and the reason why the female members of the audience were tuning in. This started a long series of Mars vs. Venus discussions about the appeal of I SPY and the SPY genre, in general, to both the female and male variety of the species.
And back to "Sunday in New York" .....
Now Culp's character "Russ Wilson" wasn't written to be the most appealing of suitors, but Culp managed to add a certain manic charm to him. And even though you know Eileen is going to end up with Rod Taylor - you felt Russ's hurt and betrayal when Eileen decided to finally tell him the truth ... And he handled it all in a most "gentlemanly" manner. And though the audience is set-up to root for the Fonda / Taylor twosome, Russ is the good guy who has been betrayed here!
And there is no denying the appeal of both men either - just ask Ms. Nuyen ....
But to your question, Jim " isn't Rod Taylor just as appealing as Mr. Culp in the world of women?
The answer is NO! .... at least not to the women of the "I SPY FORUM"!!
Ahh, dangerous web you weave, "just ask Ms. Nuyen" -- I bet at this point in time she might have better things to say about Mr. Taylor!
Hey, if you want to be drawn to a, what, five-times-married officially cranky (if not just downright angry)guy who thinks he always knows what's right, well, no wonder so many women wind up with broken hearts!
I mean, Mr. Taylor's only been married three times (!) That means he's almost twice as trustworthy a romantic fantasy figure, heh heh!
"I mean, Mr. Taylor's only been married three times (!) That means he's almost twice as trustworthy a romantic fantasy figure, heh heh!"
Gee thanks Jim for sharing the mathematical formula for figuring out the "trustworthiness of a romantic fantasy figure."
ENQUIRING minds really wanted to know!
As always,
Tatia
( I think I did a term paper on "trustworthiness" once for one of Col. Benkovski's SPY classes, or was it for Russ Conway?? )
Well, knowing Culp has had an impressive marriage track record, I felt safe in assuming Mr. Taylor would of course be married to his childhood sweetheart, with eleven children in tow. But the IMDB showed me his marriage record isn't all that great, so I had to turn to math to still make the case! That being said, Mr. Culp's fifth marriage has lasted an impressive amount of time, so kudos to him. Of course, it helps having a wife who allows you to hang at the Playboy mansion -- my wife wouldn't put up with that sort of tomfoolery (and perhaps wives one through four weren't thrilled with it either!)
That being said, my wife does like Mr. Culp (not as much as the young Cosby, though!), and has never offered an opinion on Mr. Taylor, so our hero does seem to have a certain "it" factor..
This message has been edited by jimken from IP address 24.90.218.94 on Mar 28, 2008 8:04 AM
I'm back from Israel and sicker than a dog. I now know exactly how Kelly was feeling in "Home To Judgment"; why WON'T the fever break?
However, I felt compelled to comment on this production especially when the topic of Taylor (blech!) vs. Culp (Hubba-Hubba) came up.
This was by no means my favorite Culp show, except that Culp was the star overall!
This was a movie adaptation of a stage play, and I found the dialogue at times to be incredibly stilted, and very much straight from the stage, which doesn't always transfer over in movies. At least, in a few scenes, especially early on, the flow of dialogue was very awkward and hard for me to watch. The screenplay was written by the play author, so obviously he simply repeated lines, but I didn't really feel the flow was right at times.
Also, Fonda's characterization was quite moronic. She is a virgin, who refuses to sleep with the really decent, rich, handsome man whom she really believes she loves. That causes a momentary rift in the relationship, so she comes to NYC. There, figuring out that her brother sleeps around, she decides it's best for her to lose her virginity to essentially a complete stranger--instead of going back to her beloved fiancee.....HUH? The illogical rationale is so incredibly stupid, one cannot fathom it. I need at least a semblance of intelligence to get into the story. Finally we learn that for no reason explained to us, she doesn't REALLY love Culp, but instead Rod Taylor, even though Culp is presented to us as truly an ideal man who selflessly dotes on her.
True, this was meant to be a sort of movie of the "theatre absurd" genre, which sometimes works for me and sometimes doesn't. Overall it was a pleasant film, but I wanted to see Culp, not Taylor, of whom I am no fan--in fact, I could not care less about him--so you can imagine my impatience to get through the movie. Seeing Culp show up was the proverbial breath of fresh air! Yes, he was energetic, but he was in love, he was healthy, he was wealthy, he was in the prime of life, he was sexy, he was lean and incredibly gorgeous (vs. Taylor's chubbiness and okay face).
And, if Fonda doesn't want him, I'll take him, even if it simply ends up being marriage # 6...
Geez, I realize we gotta bunch of Culp obsessives on this page (me too), but let's not denigrate Mr. Taylor, who (don't hit me) certainly had a better run as a film lead than our hero ever had! I mean THE TIME MACHINE, THE VIPS, Hitchcock's THE BIRDS, err, uhh...did I mention THE BIRDS? But seriously, if you watch the film, it was inferred that Fonda's personality was better suited for Taylor than for Culp, whose family was the richest in Albany (or something like that, and I think this line was meant as a dig), inferring he didn't even create his own wealth, and who doesn't share interest in Fonda's intellectual interests like Taylor does in their short time together. Plus, he's some kind of boxer, so I'd be nervous marrying someone with fists of steel! Culp definitely worked overtime to make his character a decent guy, but I think the film's overall intent wasn't so much that she didn't want to sleep with Culp as perhaps she realized at some level she didn't want to marry the character at all.
But the film ain't worthy of all this deep psychoanalysis anyhow!
Never heard of "The Vips", and yes, I agree that we were supposed to see Fonda falling more for Taylor's personality than Culp's, ergo she was drawn to have sex with Taylor instead, however mystifying that is to me.
But, to infer Taylor is as handsome or as attractive as Culp!! Never!
Ahh, VIPs is actually a good movie -- Richard Burton, Liz Taylor, Orson Welles, Taylor and a young Maggie Smith in a soap opera taking place at an airport. Taylor and Smith, as his loyal secretary secretly in love with him, have the best scenes,actually.
Not trying to make any converts, but if you like old school widescreen Hollywood melodrama, VIPs is pretty darn good. Would be better if they found a role for our man Culp, of course!
I had out-of-town company for a few days and am just catching up on the FORUM.
Welcome back Mona, so sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Sounds like you should definitely be consulting a colleague. Perhaps you can avail yourself of the services of one of Kelly's doctors?
Oh, one tiny word of advice, borrowing from the Lost Knight in Indiana Jones - "Choose wisely!!" (And perhaps avoid any doctor wearing a tie ... )
O.K. you I SPY experts .... can you identify which episode each of these doctors appeared in ... AND for you "expert" experts out there - what were their names??
Of course, come to think of it Mona, I think you would definitely prefer (despite his minor flaws) the smoking, drinking, acerbic, lawsuit-shy, horn-rimmed glasses wearing, doubt-filled Dr. Jesse Hartwood, who was "cured" of his uncertainties by the earnest Dr. Kildare and Dr. Gillespie in "Do You Trust Your Doctor?" Wish I had a photo of him, but he looked a good deal like this .....
Calling for an appointment? ...
Feel better, Mona (and maybe just stick with chicken soup and rest up with "I SPY" re-runs for the time being.... )
All my best,
Tatia
~ ~
This message has been edited by tatialoringnw from IP address 69.138.253.23 on Apr 10, 2008 3:32 AM
I did watch "Turnabout For Traitors" and felt VERY VERY good after that! I hate to make folks groan, but it was a strong dose of an Antispyotic!! Chased those mean old bacteria away!
