Entertaining Mr Sloane Review

Entertaining Mr Sloane

Director: Douglas Hickox

Stars: Peter McEnery, Beryl Reid, Harry Andrews & Alan Webb

Running Time: 94 mins

Release: 27 July 1970

Kath (Reid) takes in a new lodger Sloane (McEnery) a handsome and amoral and immoral young man who begins to manipulate (both mentally and sexually) her and her brother Ed (Andrews). Though Kath's father Kemp 'Dada' (Webb) recognises him as the murderer of his former employer.

I've never heard of Peter McEnery before let alone any of his work and I was really surprised by his performance in this film. I never suspected him to have a northern accent either, he delivers an incredible performance as the jack the lad wide boy Sloane who's immoral, amoral, cruel, bitter, often funny and somewhat sympathetic and incredibly charismatic and a absolute charmer. He really knows how to turn the screws and manipulate Kath and Ed and bullies Dada. He sexually toys with Kath and Ed with how he dresses and what he does and and has a way of words to get them around. He can be viscous of which is shown in a few instances of the film, they are brief but they show what he's really capable of. McEnery acted in a lot of films during the 70's his amount of work has died down a lot.

Beryl Reid an actress whom I know to be a character actress though i've never seen her in anything before, she really steals the film in this as a ageing nymphomaniac who toys and seduces with Sloane. The character has a lot of depth to her I think she's the most fleshed out of the cast and it seems that she has dual personalities and can flip just like that. She's playful, manipulative, cunning and incredibly intelligent, though at some points in the film she seems a bit dopey, you don't really know what she's like towards the end of the film. She's meant to be 42 but she in fact looks 10 years older and roughly she was when she did this film. You could tell she was having a fantastic time in the role.

Harry Andrews plays Kath's brother Ed, he's also the son of Kemp and has fallen out with him. He's a businessman and drives around in a roofless pink car with far too much suspension which makes it hilarious to watch when it's moving !. He's gay and Sloane knows how to toy with him as indicated in their first scene. I find him to be the best character in this film as he's incredibly vile, bitter and cruel but not as much as Sloane and he has a stormy relationship with his sister. The dialog between them is absolutely wonderful and a joy to hear. He undoubtedly has some of the best lines in the film. Andrews inhabits the role very well and does a stellar job at it making you believe that such a character is real. It's also how he looks too and mannerisms that helps his performance, he's a really good character actor and I am really keen to see him in The Ruling Class which has Peter O'Toole in.

Alan Webb plays Kemp also known as Dada and I really have to say watching him reminded me of Albert Steptoe from Steptoe and Son with the way he dresses, looks, acts and says reminded of me of him so much I just kept thinking to myself Albert Steptoe would of said/done that !. I would go as far to say Wilfrid Brambell would of played him perfect too. He's the most sympathetic of the characters and like Reid and Andrews he's a character actor and he's brilliant in the role.

I cannot write this review without mentioning Joe Orton's terrific tact for writing. He was a play writer who had some of his work adapted to films; well this and Loot. Known for black comedies this film in particular has a dark unexpected twist. Also his dialog is brilliantly written I had no faults with it the characters barbs at each other are sharp and memorable. I should also mention the dialog is basically about the plot there's no diversion from it at all.

As it's based on a play there's minimal locations; the graveyard and caretaker of the church house which is suitably & beautifully gothic and a brief scene at a pool and down the shops which is perfect for the film. The sets are brilliant and slightly claustrophobic which helps with the atmosphere of the film Hickox has done a outstanding job directing this film.

The music is done by George Fame who also sung the catchy theme tune which plays in some instances of the film. He also uses music for visual cues which I found rather unusual as they were quite loud. I should also mention that Behold, thou hast made me my days by Orlando Gibbons, that plays in the intro of the film is beautiful in the title sequence of which is tragic as this film was made a few years after Orton's untimely death.

If you love well acted, black comedies with brilliant dialog you could not do much better watching this film. it's simply fantastic.