THE SWINGER

(director: George Sidney; screenwriter: Lawrence Roman; cinematographer: Joseph Biroc; editor: Frank Santillo; music: Marty Paich; cast: Ann-Magaret (Kelly Olsson), Barbara Nichols (Blossom LaTour), Bert Freed (Police Captain), Horace McMahon (Detective Sergeant Hooker), Yvonne Romain (Karen Charles), Robert Coote (Sir Hubert Charles), Anthony Franciosa (Ric Colby), Nydia Westman (Aunt Cora); Runtime: 81; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: George Sidney; Paramount; 1966)

“The witless and crude comedy seems even more brutal when seen in modern-times.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

A one-joke premise tasteless pop-culture comedy on loose-living directed by George Sidney (“Viva Las Vegas”/”Pal Joey”) and written by Lawrence Roman. Aspiring romantic story writer Kelly Olsson (Ann-Magaret), from Minnesota, tries to publish her wholesome love stories in the Playboy-like magazine “Girl Lure” but is rejected because they’re too tame for the men’s magazine. The writer tries again, but this time turning in lurid prose lifted from various adult sex books. The prose is passed off as supposedly semi-autobiographical. These steamy stories get the attention of the editor, Ric Colby (Anthony Franciosa), and the aging lecherous publisher, Sir Hubert Charles (Robert Coote). Thereby The Saga of a Depraved Young Lady, a sleazy paperback book by Kelly,is published by Sir Charles and becomes a best-seller. The editor becomes smitten over Kelly, and acts to reform her. The witless and crude comedy seems even more brutal when seen in modern-times. The film is dated and akin to those garbage sitcom TV shows that flood the airwaves these days. The costumes are by Edith Head. The songs are by Andre Previn. The sexy Ann-Margaret dance scenes were choreographed by David Winters and were the highlight of the film.

REVIEWED ON 8/7/2016 GRADE: C