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
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