The Honey Pot

Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Overview

Cecil Fox (Rex Harrison) summons his three former mistresses to his deathbed for a final visit in this engaging crime comedy. Princess Dominique (Capucine), fading movie star Merle McGill (Edie Adams), and Texas millionairess Mrs. Sheridan (Susan Hayward) all travel to pay their respects to the supposedly dying Fox. William McFly (Cliff Robertson) is the personal secretary and gigolo employed by Fox to lure the women to his estate. When Mrs. Sheridan is found murdered, Inspector Rizzi (Adolfo Celi) investigates her mysterious death in this feature highlighted by several twists and turns. Alternate titles are Mr. Fox Of Venice and Anyone For Venice?.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/15/2011
UPC:	0883904219385
Original Release:	1967
Source:	Mgm Mod
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	2:11:00
Sales rank:	49,683

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Rex Harrison	Cecil Fox
Susan Hayward	Mrs. Lone-Star Crockett Sheridan
Cliff Robertson	William McFly
Maggie Smith	Sarah Watkins
Capucine	Princess Dominique
Edie Adams	Merle McGill
Adolfo Celi	Inspector Rizzi
Herschel Bernardi	Oscar Ludwig
Cy Grant	Revenue Agent
Frank Latimore	Revenue Agent
Luigi Scavran	Massimo
Mimmo Poli	Cook
Antonio Corevi	Tailor
Carlos Valles	Assistant Tailor
Hugh Manning	Volpone
David Dodimead	Mosca
John Addison	Composer

Technical Credits

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Joseph L. Mankiewicz	Director,Screenwriter,Producer
Charles K. Feldman	Producer
Len Shilton	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Based upon a play that was based upon a book that was based upon Ben Jonson's classic play Volpone, The Honey Pot was writer/director Joseph L. Mankiewicz's follow-up to the ill-fated Cleopatra. Although considerably shorter than that 1963 marathon, The Honey Pot suffers from being at least a half hour too long, and Mankiewicz too often allows the film to slip into neutral when it needs to be moving forward. All of this makes the film seem somewhat labored rather than the smooth and frothy farce that it needs to be. That said, the screenplay is well plotted (if occasionally confusing), and although the dialogue lacks the snap and flare associated with classic Mankiewicz, it still has a fair share of good one-liners, and when one of his zingers hits its mark, it really scores. Rex Harrison is in fine, smooth form; he is slyly, devilishly charming, and his unique way with sophisticated comedy is showcased to excellent effect. Maggie Smith gives a lovely, understated performance that contrasts beautifully with Harrison's, and Edie Adams is a great deal of fun as the supposedly devil-may-care film star. Of the others, Capucine is a little bland and Susan Hayward a little much. Visually, the film is gorgeous, with a mansion that must be seen to be believed and exceptional Gianni Di Venanzo cinematography that beautifully captures the look and feel of Venice.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler