(Peter Bodganovich, US 1972, 94 min., 35mm)
“Once upon a time, there was a plaid overnight case…” Actually, in this film there are four: one with secret government documents, one with a fortune in jewels, one holding igneous rocks belonging to archaeo-musicologist Howard Bannister (Ryan O’Neal), and one containing the underwear of a flibbertigibbet (Barbra Streisand) Howard runs into in the gift shop. Writer-director Peter Bogdanovich’s homage to Howard Hawks, Buster Keaton and the Looney Tunes is a fast-paced, clever, breakneck whirlwind of espionage, thievery, mistaken identity, hotel fires, food fights, and one thrilling chase through the streets of San Francisco. Proving that she was much more than her musical roots, Streisand was never better than as the well-educated, quick-thinking troublemaker in this film.
This series is community sponsored by The Louis S. Wolk JCC of Greater Rochester.
