Memorable, crazy movie

Good concept, poorly executed.

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

After all that sturm und drang for Ingmar Bergman, Liv Ullmann tackled a comedy, Forty Carats, based on the hit Broadway play. It originally starred Julie Harris (succeeded by June Allyson, Joan Fontaine and Zsa Zsa Gabor), with Gretchen Corbett as her daughter, and Glenda Farrell as her mother. It later became a summer stock vehicle for actresses such as Lana Turner, Ginger Rogers, June Lockhart, and others.Forty year old Norwegian-American divorcée Ann Stanley (Ullmann) is a successful real estate broker. She lives with her mother (Binnie Barnes) and her daughter (Deborah Raffin). Ann's ex-husband is an actor, Billy Boylan (Gene Kelly) and she hasn't had any romance since their breakup.While in Greece, she meets a 22-year-old young man, Peter Latham (Edward Albert) and the two sleep together on the beach one night. Embarrassed, Ann leaves without saying goodbye. When she meets him again in New York, he still wants to be with her. Ann is not able to deal with the age difference, and her mother wants her to take up with a wealthy southerner who is after her, J.D. Rogers.When it was to be directed by William Wyler, many top stars, such as Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor, were up for the role. For me, Liv Ullmann, as likable, lovely, and beautiful as she is here, was not quite right for this role. For one thing, I had trouble understanding her English. For another, she is not adept at comedy. They say a great comedian can do drama but not vice versa. Also, there was not much chemistry between Ullmann and Albert. Both he and Deborah Raffin died too young. Albert only a year after his father. He is very good and at the peak of his career here. The stunning Deborah Raffin is a good Trina. This was Binnie Barnes' last film, and she and Raffin played well off one another.Gene Kelly was over the top. I think this could have been directed with a stronger hand.Nowadays, 40-year-old women sometimes do date younger men so it's not such a big deal, and Ullmann looked like 40-year-olds look today, meaning she looked younger than what we used to think of as 40. This is a sweet film about the heart wanting what the heart wants, and that love can sneak up on you when you least expect it under less than ideal conditions.

I do love this little film. I also think Edward Albert is the only actor is this film who isn't overacting. Or miscast. I could watch this film all day, just to watch Edward. He has to be about the most beautiful young man ever put on the planet. In this film he is charming and a complete breath of fresh air, however quaint that may sound. The premise of a woman old enough to be the man's mother become romantically involved was BIG at the time. When the scene is relaxed and the acting natural, it's a lovely film to watch. In scenes of awkward overacting, Edward stands out as a natural, his uniqueness, talent and intelligence radiate from his face. I am not so sure of the comedy rating of this film. It's actually quite serious part of the time. I wish he had been given more excellent parts to play throughout his career.

"40 Carats" - a light and cheerful comedy is the only comedy I've seen Liv Ullmann in. She plays Ann Stanley, forty years old Manhattan Real Estate agent divorcée who lives with her mother and 16 years old daughter. On her vacation in Greece, she meets 22 years old Peter Latham (Edward Albert), and they spend the night together. Ann quietly disappears into the early morning hours, leaving him with the memories of the night and nothing else - no address or telephone number. Peter later returns to New York, where one evening he arrives to pick up a date for the evening. Guess, who his date's mother is? What follows is, IMO, funny and charming romantic comedy with wonderful supporting performances from Gene Kelly (as Ann's first annoying husband), Binnie Barnes and Deborah Raffin. I've read some comments that Liv was miscast and was not comfortable playing such a light comedy after all the profound and tragic characters she had played for Bergman. I don't think so. For me, one of the most memorable scenes of the film is the one after Liv (Ann) returns home from her vacation and is asked what Greece was like? Ann turns to face a camera, smiles, and says, "Greece glows under the sun" - but it is her face, her smile, her eyes that glow. If ever the saying, the eyes are the soul's mirror, is true, it is about Liv's eyes. There are kindness, tenderness, strength, and something even more attractive than beauty itself in them - the goodness of her soul."40 Carats" was a very pleasant surprise for me. I hope that it will be released on DVD soon and become available for all admirers of Liv Ullmann and of funny and clever romantic comedies.

After "Butterflies are Free" and "40 carats" it seems a mystery that Edward Albert Jr didn't continue to make such good films. This film is what "The Graduate" should have been, a sympathetic study of inter-generational relationships.