Big Fat Movie Reviews: Nickelodeon

Big Fat Movie Reviews: Nickelodeon: "Ryan O'Neal, Burt Reynolds, Tatum O'Neal, Brian Keith Dir: Peter Bogdanovich Running Time: 116 mins Certificate: PG Release date: 21st ..."

Nickelodeon

Ryan O'Neal, Burt Reynolds, Tatum O'Neal, Brian Keith
Dir: Peter Bogdanovich
Running Time: 116 mins
Certificate: PG
Release date: 21st December 1976

The 70s brought a series of movies set at the turn of the century, or during the depression (far too many to mention here). Peter Bogdanovich was responsible for one of the greatest, Paper Moon with Ryan and Tatum O'Neal. He re teamed them here with this delightful tribute to the start of cinema.

Leo Harrigan is a failed lawyer who stumbles into the world of H.H. Cobb, a big, brash movie mogul who takes him under his wing as a writer, even though Leo steals his ideas from stories in the newspaper. Dumped in the middle of nowhere to negotiate with a film crew, their director fleeing with all their money. Leo is told to take over the reins and he soon has to deal with the egos of the actors, a young girl who is far more intelligent than everyone else and falling in love with a short-sighted woman who is torn between the director and the handsome leading man. Plus protecting their work from the Patent Group who don't like independent film makers.

So much story crammed into under two hours but don't fret. This is a film full of fun that it doesn't matter if the plot gets bogged down. Bogdanovich is such a fan of the early years of Hollywood that he does steal from the greats of the silent comedy work but it's done with affection.

We tend to forget that Ryan O'Neal was a huge star in the 70s. Ever since Love Story, he made a big splash with films like Paper Moon, What's Up, Doc? and Driver. His quiet understated performance fits perfectly here as the accident-prone man who is thrown into a world he never fully understands while looking love-lorn for a woman he can never have. He is ably supported by Burt Reynolds putting on his best smug star act as the leading man who steals the girl. Reynolds was always a watchable star (and one of the biggest names of the 70s).

Tatum O'Neal delivers another deadpan performance that made her a star in Paper Moon. This could quite easily be Addie Loggins' sister.

The question that most ask is whatever happened to Jane Hitchcock, the pretty yet clumsy leading lady. This was her movie debut and yet she turned her back on Hollywood to concentrate on her modelling career, which she is still doing today. She fits in very well with the rest of the cast too.

This is a delightful comedy with some terrific set pieces (the balloon scene and filming with ostriches still make me chuckle). Not one of Bogdanovich's best film but certainly a very personal film and it still makes you smile throughout.