What a Way to Go!

Silly, tragic love storyline. Loved this movie since I was a child.

Depending on the angle you view it from, this film deserves anywhere from 1 to 10 stars. It's MacLaine and Maclaine alone who rescues this bizarre-yet-entertaining hodge-podge from embarrassment. In reality, she rescued the film itself from oblivion, since it was originally created as a Monroe vehicle and was supposed to be plenty darker. One can imagine, given the basics of the plot, just how dark it could have become. In its original form, with Marilyn Monroe starring, this could have been one of her best films.No worry, this flick is an entirely different story. Briefly: nice, sincere, simple gal--against wishes of mom, marries series of simple-life guys who strike it rich and die--with a variation or two on that theme. The plot lacks a Pilgrim's Progress quality which makes the MacLaine character seem more like she's caught in a crazy pointless time loop than advancing spiritually (a possible reading of the movie!). Weirdly, she doesn't need to advance spiritually; she knows exactly what she wants and what she wants is good. This makes her character extremely appealing and the rest of the movie awkward and lumpy. The good bits, and there are many, clearly belong to Compden and Green who were brought in to kick this up a bit. Good choice.It doesn't help me personally that 3--count 'em--3 of my least favorite male actors from that era play various husbands. Dean Martin is always unpleasant to watch; a minute of him and I've got hair grease and slime all over everything in my living room. Dick Van Dyke was one of the un-funniest comedians of all time (he should have been shot for his work on Mary Poppins), a complete ham, yet he puts in a forgivable, even fine, performance in this flick as a Thoreau-reading unambitious shop-owner who overnight turns into workaholic Mr. Wal Mart. Actually, this might be the funniest I've ever seen him be. That segment should be shown in every business school in the nation.Worst of all is Gene Kelly, another ham, possibly King of Hams (who should have been shot for his inability to act in Inherit the Wind--nearly single-handedly wrecking an otherwise terrific movie), who seems barely aware that anyone is on camera with him (there is absolutely no electricity between him and Maclaine) and then transforms into a superstar egomaniac in the story. What might have been ironic with another actor is just annoying with this chump. Kelly existed solely to prove to the world what an amazing and classy actor/dancer/comedian/entertainer Fred Astaire was and Astaire would have been far more believable in this part. Astaire lampoons himself in "Bandwagon" and it's charming and endearing.Paul Newman also hams it up way too much as an wacko artist one reviewer thinks is based on Jackson Pollock. Wrongo. A sign of the weird hip-ness of this movie is he's based on junk artist Jean Tinguley and as if to prove this, a character resembling Tinguley's girlfriend--artist Nicki de St.Phalle--is seen creating a painting by shooting at balloons filled with paint-- just as de St. Phalle once did. Newman's only tolerable--his is a bad parody of a modern artist and it's also hopelessly out-of-date for 1964. Robert Mitchum fills in for the too-expensive Sinatra and it shows. Ive never gotten the impression that Mitchum even tried to act. It's disturbing--all these men (characters and actors) in the MacLaine character's life and she outshines every one in every respect.That, then, gets to the point. this is her film and it was designed to showcase all her talent and charm. She does everything from song and dance, to high and low comedy. At one point she walks into a swimming pool scene wearing an outrageous backless bikini and looks breathtaking--demonstrating for all time that sex appeal does not have to rely on vamping or pneumatics (an ironic point given who she replaced). The script uses every opportunity to get her out of her clothes and she doesn't seem to mind. Feminists could have an international conference on this film and post-modern readings should abound. Her character is strong and willful, self-confident and sexually healthy, but she keeps meeting these "great guys" (played by jerks) who, over and over, shove her in the kitchen or treat her as a trophy wife (Maybe it's not just coincidence that so many vile male actors are in this?). They all die, as they should, except one, and the jury could be out for months on what that's all about. As lumpy and itchy as this film is, it's absolutely fascinating. Visually, it's a stunner with terrific sets and props. It's worth the price just to see the mansion where everything, inside and out, is painted pink.With all that said, I heartily recommend it but be ready for a strange experience. I expect over time this movie might clarify as a vaguely subversive film (Compden and Greene had that bomb-throwing anarchist streak in them) and I look forward to repeat viewings. Shirley Maclaine is just spectacular from beginning to end and for that alone this film is worth the price.

"What a Way to Go!" is such an entertaining showcase of vivacious star Shirley MacLaine's talents as a comedienne, dancer, and singer that it's hard to believe that the original script was far darker, and intended for Marilyn Monroe!A tale of an innocent who dreams of a 'simple life', marrying progressively richer men who leave her an ever richer widow, is the kind of tongue-in-cheek farce that European filmmakers relish, but was unfamiliar to American audiences of the early sixties. Writer Gwen Davis' original story was written to satirically echo Monroe's own marital misadventures, and might have provided the star her best vehicle since "Bus Stop". But Monroe's career took a tragic nosedive, culminating with her death, at 36, in 1962, leaving Fox with a script, a director (J. Lee Thompson), and a film in preproduction.Gifted songwriting team Betty Comden and Adolph Green, fresh from transferring their B'way hit, "Bells Are Ringing" to the screen, saw the script, and were invited to rework it as a comic vehicle for MacLaine. The talented actress, who had achieved major stardom in "The Apartment", was being given a major build-up by Fox, who wanted to showcase her untapped skills as singer/dancer, as well as in comedy. Thus a lighter, more dazzling "What a Way to Go!" was born.Fox spared no expense on the production, with over 70 Edith Head costumes, choreography by Gene Kelly, and a new song by Jule Styne...but they balked over Frank Sinatra's salary demands, to play one of the husbands (he was replaced by Robert Mitchum). For MacLaine, it was a joy, working with two ex-lovers (Mitchum and Dean Martin), dancing with Kelly, doing comedy with Dick Van Dyke, Bob Cummings, and a surprisingly deft Paul Newman, and working with legendary Marx Brothers' foil, Margaret Dumont, in her last film.The end result, while a 'mixed bag', has memorable moments; Newman's French sequence, with a chimp and a murderous painting machine, captures the 'essence' of the material very well; the spoof of Fox multi-costume extravaganzas, with Mitchum, is dazzling (and his death is the funniest); best of all, the giant musical production number with Kelly and MacLaine is a total joy, a homage to both Kelly and Busby Berkeley. While the Van Dyke and Martin sequences lack the same sparkle, and Cumming's scenes appear more contrived than funny, the overall result is wonderful eye candy, with MacLaine never sexier, or more energetic. That the film failed to become a big hit when released was certainly not due to it's star.The new DVD edition deserves a commentary and 'making of' documentary (neither of which it has), but does offer some entertaining newsreel footage from the 1964 World's Fair premiere, as well as an amusing newsreel of the casting of the chimp for the Newman sequence."What a Way to Go!" may not be 'classic' cinema, but it is fun, and if you're a MacLaine fan, you'll be in for a treat!

I'm a film nerd and not sure how I made it through this lifetime without seeing this until I was 53- but this movie is a trippy, psychedelic blast! Colorful, thought provoking with all the mid-century technicolor and Shirley McLaine's acting abilities ON POINT. This one will go into the hard copy collection.

Fun to watch with wonderful songs, costumes, and cast. Must see!

In principle, I guess this works, since the videos sold me. These things are way too bulky underneath clothing and definitely not worth the money. Good try though.

A film of it's time, a bit silly and not very p.c. but not offensive. Worth watching if like 'glorious technicolor'

This is wonderful and great comedy movie with seven great movie stars,Shirley MacLaine is also great dancer and all her movies are wonderful she is also great spiritual person and I always enjoy seeing her movies.

Just as I remembered it good clean fun lots of cameos by now legends and worth viewing just to see how good Shirley McLaine looks in the most outrageous outfits. A good popcorn tongue in cheek.

nice recording but storyline a bit dated. unlike modern films, the speech is very clear and easy for listening and the colour is good

A lovely Old fashioned film . Wonderful actors and dancers