Lucky Lady (1975)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Stanley Donen

Writers:

Willard Huyck (writer)
Gloria Katz (writer)

Release Date:

25 December 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A trio of rum-runners during prohibition in the 1930s engage in a menage-a-trios after business hours. |

Plot Keywords:

Business | 1930s | Prohibition | Violence | Competition

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Gene Hackman	...	Kibby Womack
Liza Minnelli	...	Claire
Burt Reynolds	...	Walker Ellis
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Capt. Mosely
John Hillerman	...	McTeague
Robby Benson	...	Billy
Michael Hordern	...	Capt. Rockwell
Anthony Holland	...	Mr. Tully
John McLiam	...	Rass Huggins
Val Avery	...	Dolph
Louis Guss	...	Bernie
William Bassett	...	Charley
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marjorie Battles	...	Redhead
Roger Cudney	...	Hotel clerk
Joe Estevez	...	American Kid
Emilio Fernández	...	Ybarra
Basil Hoffman	...	Auctioneer's assistant
Milt Kogan	...	Supercargo
Ron Masak	...	(voice)
Duncan McLeod	...	Auctioneer
Steve Shaw	...	Gunner on CG 101
Paul Stader	...	McTeague henchman
Frank Tallman	...	Aviator
Susanne Zenor	...	Brunette

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:16 (1976) | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Circus Circus Casino - 2880 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Gruskoff/Venture Films

Trivia:

'Robby Benson (I)' had to wear a wig on this film because he had shaved his head for a previous film, Death Be Not Proud (1975) (TV) and his hair had not grown back yet.

Quotes:

Claire: Gee, it's so quiet in here you could hear a fish fart.

Soundtrack:

Lucky Lady Montage

Grade A Hollywood dud

Sometimes you just have to scratch your head. All the ingredients are in place for a great movie. In this case you have a cast headed by Burt Reynolds, Gene Hackman, and Liza Minnelli, and a top director in Stanley Donen who made the classic "Singing in the Rain." So what went wrong?

In a word it's the script. When ideas run out an action sequence is implanted to try and throw the viewer off. Nice try fellas but it didn't work.

Even the main story is just brushed over. An often intimated threesome with the main leads is just a tease. It's never explored and only serves to wet our appetite for something that might liven this mess up. Alas, it never comes.

Released at Christmas in 1975 "Lucky Lady" proved to be a major box office flop. It's easy to see why. I'm sure no one connected with the film is too pleased to be reminded of it.