HONEYMOON HOTEL

(director: Henry Levin; screenwriters: R.S. Allen/Harvey Bullock; cinematographer: Harold Lipstein; editor: Rita Roland; music: James Van Heusan; cast: Robert Morse (Jay Menlow), Robert Goulet (Ross Kingsley), Nancy Kwan (Lynn Hope), Jill St. John (Sherry), Keenan Wynn (Mr. Sampson), Dale Malone (Fatso), Bernard Fox (Room Clerk), Anne Helm (Cynthia), Elsa Lanchester (Chambermaid), Elvia Allman (Mrs. Sampson), Sandra Gould (Mabel), David Lewis (Mr. Hampton), Chris Noel (Nancy Penrose); Runtime: 89; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Pandro S. Berman; Warner Archive; 1964)

“The launching of Broadway musical stars Robert Goulet & Robert Morse as film stars didn’t work out in this turkey.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

The launching of Broadway musical stars Robert Goulet & Robert Morse as film stars didn’t work out in this turkey. Under the inept direction of Henry Levin (“Run For The Roses”/”Genghis Khan”) and the inadequate screenplay by Harvey Bullock & R.S. Allen, the lumbering film never got anchored.

Two bachelor roommates from Manhattan, the bridegroom Jay (Robert Morsel) and the best man Ross (Robert Goulet), go to a fancy Caribbean resort after Jay is jilted at the altar by the bossy Cynthia (Anne Helm) after they had a spat. The boys decide to go on the prepaid honeymoon that caters to newlyweds. At the resort Ross dates the hotel’s only single girl, Lynn (Nancy Kwan).Soon Sampson (Keenan Wynn), Ross’s boss, arrives at the hotel with a beautiful girl, Sherry (Jill St. John), followed shortly by Mrs. Sampson (Elvia Allman), seeking to find out about hubby’s business trips, and then Cynthia. The mix up over Sampson on his business trip gives Ross a chance to win over Lynn and Jay to forget about Cynthia in favor Sherry. The boys also manage to beat the Boca Roca Hotel’s “no bachelors allowed” stipulation.

More ludicrous than funny despite such a solid cast.

REVIEWED ON 1/1/2019 GRADE: C+  https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/