University of Virginia Library

Overdone On Screen

Everything goes smoothly in
"Entertaining Mr. Sloane" until
that ending. What may have made
an interesting and subtle tableau on
stage is overdone on the screen.
This scene is the only one which
really gives away the film's
theatrical origins, and that's not a
criticism but a compliment for the
film.

Douglas Hickox's direction
occasionally makes one feel like a
Peeping Tom, especially in the
opening scene. The bulk of the film
is rather straightforward in
technique and focuses on the
players and the story. Mr. Hickox is
to be congratulated on the restraint
he used in not having flashy
sensational or violent scenes, as
Robert Aldrich did in "The Killing
of Sister George." Such use of
sensationalism adds little, and in
this film would have been a serious
drawback.

The cast is exceptional and has a
field day with Orton's situations
and dialog. Beryl Reid makes a
delightfully charming dirty old lady
— much more appealing than
"Sister George" — as she wickedly
seduces Mr. Sloane. Alan Webb who
has the least lines has the best part
as Dada. He is a perfect senile old
man, mumbling behind the scenes
while eating pickled onions. Peter
McEnery tends to overact while the
rest of the cast, especially Harry
Andrews as Ed, have finely etched
the portrayal of their characters.