Picture aging (41) ingenue Ali MacGraw slugging comedian Alan King with her purse in New York's elegant Bergdorf Goodman's. It's an unlikely scene, much less duo, but in this case the casting is perfect. King plays a power-mad Jewish magnate, MacGraw his ambitious gentile mistress, and together they are a delightfully funny team. Considerable credit must—obviously—go to director Sidney Lumet for making King a touch endearing and MacGraw (after her most recent travesty, Players) more than a bit convincing. The two wage a romantic battle royal with a cast of admirable supporting performers, notably Myrna Loy as the businessman's faithful secretary and Dina Merrill as his faithless wife. All proceeds according to the magnate's plan until MacGraw falls in love with a young off-Broadway playwright (Peter Weller). Weller is appealing in his first major movie role, hanging in there in a tug-of-war over Ali. Who wins? Never mind, but in real life she's now with Weller. (R)
Your Reaction
