Anthony Newley’s sprawling musical fantasy, a Fellini-esque hotch-potch of dream-like sequences and irreverent whimsy, is a film that could only have been made in the 1960s.
Heironymus Merkin sits on a beach surrounded by the flotsam and jetsam of his life, including a film biography which he projects to his family. We learn his story from the vignettes contained in the film-within-the-film.
Meanwhile, back in the present, the film company expresses its concern that his movie still has no ending.
In addition to being the star and collaborating on the screenplay, Newley wrote nine songs for the film.
Playboy centrefold Connie Kreski plays the person Newley is trying not to forget – Mercy Humppe – while Joan Collins, Newley’s wife at the time, shows off her assets.
There’s also a rare feature film appearance from Bruce Forsyth. Nice to see him, to see him nice . . .
Heironymus Merkin
Anthony Newley
Polyester Poontang
Joan Collins
Good Time Eddie Filth
Milton Berle
The Presence
George Jessel
Fat Writer
Stubby Kaye
Uncle Limelight
Bruce Forsyth
Grandma
Patricia Hayes
Sharpnose
Victor Spinetti
Producer Ron
Tom Stern
Mercy Humppe
Connie Kreski
Filigree Fondle
Judy Cornwell
Penelope
Rosalind Knight
Thumbelina
Tara Newley
Thaxted
Alexander Newley
Director
Anthony Newley