Petulia 1968

      When she sees him at a hospital fund-raiser, newlywed San Francisco socialite Petulia Danner seems determined to have an affair with soon to be divorced physician Dr. Archie Bollen.  He has been married to his wife Polo for nearly ten years and their marriage is seen by many as being perfect?  Archie doesn't even know Petulia's name and he only knows her as the woman who brought in a young Mexican boy to the hospital with serious injuries.  Petulia's pursuit of Archie is relentless and she declares that they will someday be married?  

     Archie is dating another woman named May.  Archie eventually learns part of the reason why Petulia is so determined to cheat on her husband David.  Her relationship to David and David's wealthy father are discovered.  Archie also learns that getting involved with Petulia in any regard has its consequences.  Both for Petulia and for Archie specifically in his relationship to Polo.

     The use of San Francisco locations feels fresh compared to other films shot there around the same time.  It is a meet-cute moment straight out of the late 1960's.  Almost nothing about this film or its characters fits or makes sense but some how it comes together?  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

105 min, Drama directed by Richard Lester and written by Lawrence B. Marcus, John Haase and Barbara Turner with Julie Christie, George C. Scott, Richard Chamberlain, Arthur Hill, Shirley Knight, Pippa Scott, Kathleen Widdoes, Roger Bowen, Richard Dysart, Ruth Kobart, Ellen Geer, Lou Gilbert Maria Val.

Note:  Imdb 7.1* out of 10* with 1896 reviews, Roger Ebert 4*, Rotten Tomatoes 86% with 14 critic reviews 1% with 500+ audience scores, Letterboxd 3.7* out of 5* with 19 fans, 

Special Note:  This is Austin Pendleton’s first film.  Originally, Richard Lester wanted Lee Marvin for the George C. Scott role.  In the opening scene, the singer in the band Big Brother and the Holding Company is Janis Joplin before the launch of her solo career.  Also in the film is Jerry Garcia of Grateful Dead.  The setting is during the psychedelic rock era from 1965 to 1971.  This type of rock originated on the west coast out of the hippie movement of the mid-to-late 1960's.