Petulia
- Director: Richard Lester
- Writer: Lawrence B. Marcus; John Haase
- Producer: Don Devlin; Raymond Wagner
CGiii Comment
Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the worst films ever made...
Yet, because of its pedigree, there are those that profess this to be a masterpiece. Steady on babies!
Yes, it has even been compared to Last Year at Marienbad - now, that's just pushing it too far.
The timeline is as erratic as the editing...the plot, what plot? Oooooh that plot...a tissue of flimsiness.
Obviously, it's dated...but not with affectionate nostalgia...it's a grotesque, jumbled metaphor for materialism. It's only problem is...it wallows in a quagmire of self-importance and pretension that makes it nigh on impossible to be appreciated.
A masterpiece? Not in a month of Sundays.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
When she sees him at a hospital fund-raiser, newlywed San Francisco socialite Petulia Danner, who has been married to naval engineer David Danner for six months, seems determined to have an affair with soon to be divorced physician Dr. Archie Bollen, who has been married to his wife Polo for close to ten years, their marriage which many saw as being perfect. Archie doesn't even know Petulia's name, but only knows her as the woman who brought in a young Mexican boy into the hospital with serious injuries. Petulia's pursuit of Archie is relentless - she even declaring that they will someday be married - even as Archie dates another woman named May. Archie eventually learns part of the reason why Petulia is so determined to cheat on David as her relationship to David and David's wealthy father are brought to light. Archie also learns that getting involved with Petulia in any regard has its consequences, both for Petulia herself and for him, most specifically in his relationship to Polo.
Cast & Characters
Julie Christie as Petulia Danner;
George C. Scott as Dr. Archie Bollen;
Richard Chamberlain as David Danner;
Arthur Hill as Barney;
Shirley Knight as Polo;
Pippa Scott as May;
Kathleen Widdoes as Wilma;
Roger Bowen as Warren;
Richard Dysart as Motel Receptionist;
Ruth Kobart as Nun;
Ellen Geer as Nun;
Lou Gilbert as Mr. Howard;
Nate Esformes as Mr. Mendoza;
Maria Val as Mrs. Mendoza;
Vincent Arias as Oliver