A Very Special Favor (1965)

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

I am reviewing the DVD I saw, which combined two "Rock Hudson" movies under the heading "Rock Hudson collection". 2 movies for the price of 1? Bring'em on! The first film: "Any Body Seen My Gal", is a Douglas Sirk comedy I had never heard of. Yet…I found this film to be a pleasure from beginning to the end! It is 1952 and Rock Hudson is very handsome and so young, and the whole movie (story, 1930s setting, colors, the ensemble cast of actors) is a delight to watch. What an enchanting piece of movie-making, with dark existential realities behind the apparent lightness. The second film ("A Very Special Favor") is a mixed bag. Because it was made in 1965, its first 30 minutes are a must-see priceless candy bordering on parody (except it is the real stuff, ah ah!): 60s decor, 60s orchestral music, Pink Panther-style opening credits, rear view projections in "Paris" or "New York", sexual banter, witty dialogue, split screens, Yves Saint Laurent dresses. After these first 30 minutes, however, the story line veers off into a war of the sexes theme that makes a modern viewer cringe, even though the film still has some very funny scenes. Rock Hudson, Charles Boyer and Walter Slezak are excellent. Leslie Caron is probably miscast.

How could a cast with Rock Hudson, Leslie Caron, Charles Boyer and others produce such a stinker of a film?Some of this reminded me of the old Doris Day and Rock Hudson films. Hudson was always at his best when he tried to fool Day into thinking that he was someone else.We see some of that hear but the dialogue and writing produced a rather poor film.Caron looks much older than the 30 year old she is supposed to portray. A psychologist with an extremely even life, Caron is made to go wild when her father, played with humor comedy by Boyer, introduces her to Hudson-who is his usual Casanova type guy.The ending must have had the audience in stitches when Hudson tried to get Caron thinking that he was dating another guy.

This is a flick that will definitely not leave a bad taste in your mouth. There are lots and lots of slapstick laughter. The casting is perfect: Rock Hudson, Leslie Caron, Charles Boyer, Walter Slezak & Dick Shawn among others that are all long gone. What makes me so upset is it is the only Rock Hudson Romantic Comedy that hasn't been put on video. Posters & movie stills are floating around for people to purchase, but the video is positively not available. If all of this memorabilia is available, then why not the video? Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back, Send Me No Flowers & Man's Favorite Sport have all been made available. These are often shown on television too. This hysterical romantic comedy has only been at the theaters and shown only on television just ONE time. It is a feel good story that will most certainly warm everyone's hearts. We need more happiness today to be able to feel good. It will most assuredly make you split your sides laughing to the point of tears. I have been looking for the video forever. Fortunely I was able to find the book; which is the next best thing to being able to see the movie. So the book will have to do until they decide to come out with the video.

Rock Hudson is at his best when it comes to romantic comedy. Their is excellent chemistry with the cast of this film. This movie should be on everyone's agenda to see if ever it becomes available. There are a lot of enjoyable laughs and you come away from it feeling good. It will definitely lift your spirits.