i must have seen a different film!!

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Canadian film producer Robert Lantos has basically proclaimed himself the savior of English-Canadian filmmaking, though if you look at his filmography you'll see that he has set many of his films in other countries as well as using Canadian taxpayers' money as funding for these foreign-set films, this movie included. An early effort by Lantos, this movie has subsequently been almost totally forgotten, with good reason. The central story isn't much of one, being somewhat short but stretched out to 91 minutes. The movie also has some unintentionally amusing moments, from dialogue that has lines like, "Don't underestimate the value of a partial erection", to goofy sequences of a sexual nature. Though speaking of those sexual scenes, it does give Richard Harris the opportunity to take off his clothes and get into sweaty sex sequences, so if you've ever wanted to see Harris do that, this is the film to watch.

If only they'd had Viagra in 1981--then we would have been spared the male midlife angst of Your Ticket is No Longer Valid. Beyond the preoccupation with priapism, however, there are a few things to recommend regarding this unusual Canadian film. Richard Harris is quite good as businessman Jason, whose financial fortunes seem to be failing him concurrent with the advent of his plumbing problems, and George Peppard excellent as randy best bud Jim. The female leads aren't quite as lucky, with colourless Jennifer Dale offering little as Jason's vapid lover Laura, and Jeanne Moreau is given too little screen time. Soundtrack mavens should note that Michel Legrand's score has its moments--including a completely wacky cue composed for sitar which accompanies a scene of domestic burglary! Side effects from watching Your Ticket is No Longer Valid include dry mouth, dizziness, and weight loss, but on the other hand, it will work wonders for some insomniacs. Is this the best film ever made about erectile dysfunction? I don't know, but if you spend more than four hours pondering that question, consult a physician.

Your Ticket Is No Longer Valid is a strange title for a film, but it works as a metaphor. The ticket is Richard Harris's penis, and the reason it is no longer valid is that he can no longer get an erection.The film is about a business mogul named Jason (Harris) who has a younger lover called Laura (Dale). As the pressures of his deteriorating business begin to tell on him, Jason discovers that his sex life is also affected. He is losing his ability to get an erection and satisfy her in bed. To make matters worse, he begins to have dreams about a gypsy stud having sex with her, and finds himself shamefully excited by these dreams. In the end, he contemplates suicide in order to spare his lovely lady the unhappiness of a sexless relationship.It's a bizarre and often tasteless film, with the most unusual cast you could ever hope to find in such a project. However, the performances are pretty good, especially Harris who somehow manages to convince in one of the most near-unplayable roles of his career. George Peppard is good too as a racist rival banker, who uses dirty language like "f@ck" and "c*nt" as if it's going out of fashion. Beyond the performances, there isn't that much to recommend the film. It tries to deal with its themes seriously and meaningfully, but it ends up playing like a campy sleazefest, mixed in with some fake overtones of tragedy.

I totally recommend this movie if you are a Richard Harris fan (who isn't?), if you don't dig him, nix this as it is somewhat shameless. Once again, Richard is being his usual exhibitionist self...the way I like it. He is so utterly not self-conscious about his shameless parading, he becomes attractive for that very reason. Too bad there was no full monty a girl can be curious, right ).