I just saw the musical theater production of "No Way to Treat a Lady" last week. When I found out that there was a 1968 film that preceded this musical version (with music, book and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen) which debuted in 1987, I wanted to see and compare how the film and theater versions interpreted the story. Both movie and play were based on a well-reviewed 1968 novel by William Goldman (who also wrote "The Princess Bride").
The two versions had the same story of course. There was a failed actor named Kit Gill who had an oppressive relationship with his Broadway diva mother. Upon her death, his twisted mind turned to killing senior women who reminded him of his mother, wearing various disguises to gain their trust. On his tail was a NYC detective Mo Brummell, who was still tied to his overbearing mother's apron strings. There is a side plot of Mo meeting and falling in love with pretty museum hostess.
While the theater version was a musical and had a heftier amount of lighthearted comedy, this film was definitely a more serious telling, with the comedy so much darker in tone. I noted that the play echoed a lot of situations and lines from the film, especially those that involved the female characters. I felt the play actually told the story much better. The ending of the movie felt very contrived and relied too much on coincidence, unlike the play when the resolution was a lot more logical.
Rod Steiger really played Kit Gill very sinisterly. He was excellent in his various disguises, quite over the top, especially the plumber and wig-maker. George Segal does well as the mama's boy Jewish cop. He played it quite laid back. The stereotypical annoying Jewish mom was played with glee by Eileen Heckart. Mo's love interest in the film was named Kate Palmer (played by Lee Remick), while in the play the name was Sarah Stone. The musical version had an additional conceit that all the victims of the killer were all played by the one actress who also played the mother! This of course brings to fore that these victims reminded Kit of his mom.
Now I want to read the book!
By the way, as a bonus, this film version also features a young David Doyle (of the Charlie's Angels TV series) playing a cop! It was good to see him here.
The two versions had the same story of course. There was a failed actor named Kit Gill who had an oppressive relationship with his Broadway diva mother. Upon her death, his twisted mind turned to killing senior women who reminded him of his mother, wearing various disguises to gain their trust. On his tail was a NYC detective Mo Brummell, who was still tied to his overbearing mother's apron strings. There is a side plot of Mo meeting and falling in love with pretty museum hostess.
While the theater version was a musical and had a heftier amount of lighthearted comedy, this film was definitely a more serious telling, with the comedy so much darker in tone. I noted that the play echoed a lot of situations and lines from the film, especially those that involved the female characters. I felt the play actually told the story much better. The ending of the movie felt very contrived and relied too much on coincidence, unlike the play when the resolution was a lot more logical.
Rod Steiger really played Kit Gill very sinisterly. He was excellent in his various disguises, quite over the top, especially the plumber and wig-maker. George Segal does well as the mama's boy Jewish cop. He played it quite laid back. The stereotypical annoying Jewish mom was played with glee by Eileen Heckart. Mo's love interest in the film was named Kate Palmer (played by Lee Remick), while in the play the name was Sarah Stone. The musical version had an additional conceit that all the victims of the killer were all played by the one actress who also played the mother! This of course brings to fore that these victims reminded Kit of his mom.
Now I want to read the book!
By the way, as a bonus, this film version also features a young David Doyle (of the Charlie's Angels TV series) playing a cop! It was good to see him here.