After surviving my second, and hopefully final, viewing of Devil Story (available on Blu Ray on Amazon for a bargain price of $35), we moved on to one of my picks, Matilda. Not the Danny Devito film from the 90s, but the boxing kangeroo film from 1978, with big stars like Elliot Gould and (groan) the occasionally featured Robert Mitchum. Apparently the studio thought this was going to be a big hit, perhaps because it had a McDonalds tie-in. Gould apparently was offered hundreds of thousands of dollars for his point, and much to his later regret, kept them.
The film includes some kid-friendly elements like a subplot about getting a boxing commission to allow the final fight between the world champ and the kangeroo. Fun! Oh, and the scene where Gould forces his way into the heroine’s apartment, kisses her very much against her will three or four times (she tosses a glass of water in his face at one point) and then when he finally leaves, instead of calling the police, she (surprise) smiles to herself, thinking “Oh, what a scamp.”
The highlight is the suit, which NEVER ceases to be funny and appalling. Seriously, it’s a wonder. Matilda is available for viewing on Amazon Prime for Shout Factory subscribers, but you can sign for a week for free and watch it and drop the subscription without paying anything. Or keep it for a month to watch other stuff for $3.
