University of Virginia Library

Film Review

Funt's 'Naked Lady'

By Steve Wells
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

In "What Do You Say To A
Naked Lady?," which opened
yesterday at the Barracks Road
Theatre, Allen Funt turns his
candid camera on sex and, more
specifically, on attitudes of
unsuspecting Americans concerning
that subject of universal interest.

Although the film contains full
male and female nudity, it can't
really be called a "skin flick," for
you are continually given the
impression that Funt has a purpose
in his cinematic trickery which
extends beyond making people
laugh.

The film's format is basically the
same as Funt's famous television
show. The idea, of course, is to
catch people off-guard and to
record their reactions to unusual
situations on a hidden camera.
While many of the episodes are no
more than ostentatious, others
emerge as honest and serious
discussions about American sex
morals.

When Funt deals with sex
related topics which are
commonplace in today's society,
his film is quite interesting. In one
sequence, he has an interracial
couple kissing in public and he asks
various onlookers what they think
about this. The bit works for the
simple reason that this is a part of
our society. In other words, it isn't
contrived.

Two other sequences which also
succeed along these lines concern
an interview Funt has with an
actress about playing, a scene nude
and a conversation with three
college girls about sex in their
dormitory. He has also included
excerpts of what preview audiences
of different ages had to say about
the film, a device which is often
effective.

Where the movie falters is in the
scenes which are either too obvious,
such as the ones in which people
peep through a large keyhole and
admire themselves in a mirror, or
too unreal. I mean, how many
times have you seen a naked girl
hitchhiking? Or how many times
has a statue of a nude male asked
you for a fig leaf?

Thus, "What Do You Say To A
Naked Lady?" is ultimately (and
perhaps unavoidably) an uneven
film. This is not to say it is boring,
or categorically bad. How much
you like it will depend upon how
much you liked "Candid Camera"
and how tolerant you are when the
proceedings shift from sincerity to
absurdity.