I've loved this movie for years- it's lighthearted without being too arch, manages swipes at both the op-art free-love crowd and the staid stick-in-the-mud aristocracy, and is very well acted by everyone on screen. There's not a false note struck in this one- I can only hope that it comes out on DVD soon

As a side note, this is based on the true story of Dolly Oesterreich, who kept lover Otto Sanhuber living in her attic through four or five houses in Milwaukee and Los Angeles. Happily, the movie has a far happier ending than the real story.

Movie Review: Don't make 'em like that anymore!
Summary: 5 Stars

The basic plot is simple and allows for much imagination and fantasy. Bored, artistic housewife Shirley MacLaine is married to workaholic bra manufacturer Richard Attenborough and takes an oddball lover, James Booth, who takes up residence in the attic. In addition to sex, each character has their own obsessions. For MacLaine, it is art and fashion; for Booth it is learning how to do just about everything through "how to" books. Attenborough gets two obsessions: conducting music and a lifelong quest to create the ultimate bra, which explains his neglect of the fetching and seductive MacLaine. Throw into the mix the campest of camp police inspectors, an equally over the top shrink, and a parade of eccentric bit parts and you get a collection of characters who are totally unreal, but leave you wishing that there really were people like that.

Plot and subplot are episodic with frequent detours into fantasy, all of which makes about as much sense as the music of the day. But it is the humour and the performances that make this such a wonderfully quirky film. MacLaine has seldom been better and this is easily the best of her Sixties weirdo films that included misfires like Woman Times Seven and What A Way To Go. Richard Attenborough is surprisingly good considering what a limited actor he seemed to be in other films. But James Booth is the best of the three leads. He seems to have grasped the mood of the piece better than anyone else. Why stardom eluded Booth is a minor mystery. Perhaps he just never got the right vehicle.

The rest of the cast is filled with people who were, or were about to be, popular British television comedy stars. Such as John Cleese (in a bit part as a postal clerk), Clive Dunn (an eccentric inventor - is there another kind?), Willie Rushton (a long suffering policeman), Bob Monkhouse (the shrink), Patricia Routledge (Attenborough's secretary) etc. But stealing scene after scene from everybody is Freddie Jones in one of his first roles. His performance as a police inspector raised (or lowered)camp to an art form of its own. Most of his lines are not funny in themselves. But the way he says them...

Some viewers may not like the very Sixties-esque camera work or the overblown music, but the film would suffer without them. It is a film of excess made in an era that thrived on excess. A museum piece it may appear now, but an extremely funny one. But the film is more than funny - it is that rarest of things these days - charming.

Movie Review: Funny enough to Make a WOLF HOWL! with Laughter.
Summary: 5 Stars

All is well and good till Hubby starts loosing his grip on the business then it gets really funny. If you love 60's camp sex farce fun then you will love this movie. Watching the Bliss of Mrs. Blossom is like taking the most potent mind altering drugs without having done a thing illegal. The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom plainly stated is one of the most totally wild weird insanely wacked out stone cold freaky mind trips you will ever go on and be sober as a demented judge. Best of all its funny too, without being in your face vulgar or nasty at any time like todays show it all, say anything gross movies.

Best bit part players are the fabulously gay cheif inspector and his mild mannered sidekick who come to make inquiries of Mrs Blossom regarding the, "Missing sewing machine repair man". Of course we know the good inspector is missing Mr. Tuttle but Mrs Blossom sure ain't!. Also Binky the dog was just plain cute. As the movie ends you realize both men loved the housewife and maybe always will. How does a movie about a husband and wife become a movie about wild sexual fantasy sharing, lovers in the attic, puppy dogs, policemen, stocks bonds and Universal Bra's for the world that conform to every womans sexual whim. Well looks like for that answer you will just have to buy the movie and Amazon.com has it.

After this movie do not be suprised if you want to go check your attic just a little more often.

Movie Review: A sixties time-capsule
Summary: 5 Stars

Richard Attenborough (Mr. Bliss) portrays a Britsh bra manufacturer...Shirley is the lonely housewife (Mrs. Blossom) who adopts a love interest who moves into the Blossom's attic!

A great comedy you are sure to enjoy.

1960-1969 Video

• Genres > Comedy > By Year
• British
• By Theme > Love & Romance > Infidelity
• Comedy Stars > John Cleese
• Art House & International > By Country > United Kingdom > Comedy