Fantastic!

I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

(I'm not sure if my comments really are a spoiler but just in case, I included a warning.)I saw this movie on TV by accident years ago. It was one of those times when I was just wanted something to watch and this was on. SERENDIPITY!!! It turned out to be one of my all time favorite movies. I've been waiting for it to repeat or come out on DVD ever since. I got so excited when I thought it was on TV tonight but it was another movie with the title,"The Public Eye." It wasn't even a remake, just a rip-off of the title.It's a simple story but it works on so many levels. A stuffy British businessman marries a young, lively, beautiful American (Mia Farrow) and then starts to distrust her. Is he angry at her for what he once fell in love with? Does he not believe that she could love him? Is she cheating on him? He hires a private detective (Topol) to find out what she is doing when she goes out all day. The detective is the complete opposite of the husband. He's sloppy, unrefined and emotional but hilarious. It doesn't take the wife long to discover that she is being followed and what follows is one of the most interesting relationship studies I've ever seen. She starts playing a game with him and taking him to places she loves but they never speak. I've thought about this story for years. I wanted to experience that with someone but someone who wasn't a creep. If they made this movie now Topol would probably turn out to be a creepy stalker or Mia Farrow would be psychopath who lures him to his death. Nothing like that happens here. If it was on DVD, I'd buy it in a minute. If you ever get a chance, you must see this film. I've always wanted to find someone else who'd seen it just to know if they loved it as much as I did. No car chases or exploding bodies but what a sweet, funny, insightful movie.

Everything the two previous viewers have said about this film is on the mark. The direction, the performances, the photography and editing, the subtle score, and the play / screenplay by Peter Shaffer--all are superb. I would add only one point: Shaffer has done a clever variation / reversal on the Orpheus-Eurydice myth, with Jayston as Orpheus, Farrow as Eurydice, and funniest of all, Topol as Pluto, private eye, public eye, king of London, king of the underworld, and, and, and.... That the detective's raincoat is "white" is indicative of Shaffer's sense of humor. I suspect that this is one of those films that will reveal something new to the viewer each time s(he) views it. It is now being shown on the Sundance TV Channel, where I came upon it by accident.

I just saw this film a few months ago in a state run "art" cinema in Bucharest, Romania. I had nothing better to do and I saw some decent reviews in IMDb so I decided to see this movie. Plus, I'm a big fan of director Carol Reed.The print was quite poor but the acting, especially by Topol, who I loved in Fiddler on the Roof (one my favorite movies) was good. 70's London was well photographed and the music was perfect. The film was quite moderately funny as well. In the first scene where he introduced himself, I felt Topol was quite irritating. But as we slowly get to know the character and his free-spirited nature, he begins to become likable, especially when he starts leading Mia in the streets of London with funny 'edible' names which is a highlight of the movie. This film was supposed to launch Topol as a male romantic lead. Instead, it fizzled and he continued to sing "If I were a rich man..". I think there was something missing in the movie but I can't point out exactly what it was - its an eccentric, moody little film.Wouldn't it be nice if Hollywood remade this instead of well established classics like Psycho and Italian Job. This film never made it to the big league. Most film buff's would never have heard of it and the premise is quite interesting. The idea deserves a second chance with a better known cast (and packaging) although the original music theme should remain.

I saw the film a couple of times at the Town Theatre in Highland, IN, which still caters to foreign film and indies. It was hilarious. Topol, from Fiddler on the Roof Played a private eye hired to follow a man's wife. He falls in love with her and there are some laugh out loud moments. One that involved a gumball machine. Ring any bells with anyone? It's hard to find. It's generally not listed under his films. Probably because it wasn't in wide release, and isn't on video. I'd love to see it again, too. It left you feeling good after seeing it - we need more of that!