Young English poet Dennis Barlow (Robert Morse) arrives in California to visit his distant uncle Sir Francis Hinsley (John Gielgud), who works for a big film studio.
When the uncle is fired by the studio producer (Roddy McDowall) on cut-back orders from an unseen father, Sir Francis kills himself.
Dennis is directed by fellow Brit Sir Ambrose Abercrombie (Robert Morley) to the swank Whispering Glades cemetery park – a vast tract of Beverly Hills real estate devoted to bomb-proof mausoleums, exquisitely landscaped, ridiculously high-priced burial sites and pornographic statuary – to make arrangements for his uncle.
Also kicked out of the studio is Harry Glenworthy (Jonathan Winters), who falls back on his brother, the mysterious quasi-clergyman ‘Beloved Reverend’ Wilbur Glenworthy (also Jonathan Winters), the founder and head of the fabulous Whispering Glades project, who gives his unfortunate brother one more chance, putting him in charge of the pet burial division of the cemetery, known as ‘the Happier Hunting Ground’.
Later, Dennis is hired to work with Harry and falls for dark-haired and lovely Whispering Glades cosmetician Aimee Thanatogenos (Anjanette Comer), who (while aware of Dennis) finds the work of chief embalmer Mr Joyboy (a shudderingly awful Rod Steiger in bleached blond curls), a work of art.
Meanwhile, Joyboy’s devotion to his obese and gluttonous mother (Ayllene Gibbons) – who attacks a whole pig in one scene – will disgust you.
Dennis pursues Aimee while Joyboy tries to woo her with food and by gaining for her the title of first lady embalmer.
Later, distraught when she discovers the love advice columnist in whom she had confided (Lionel Stander) is nothing more than a drunk, she commits suicide, using the gruesome methods of embalming to bring her hurried departure.
Meanwhile, the Blessed Reverend convinces his greedy board of directors that Whispering Glades can go no further, profit-wise, as a burial sanctuary, declaring that the land must be converted into a retirement community for senior citizens.
Taking a clue from a kid who wanders into the property in pursuit of his runaway homemade rocket, Harry Glenworthy sees a way to dispose of the bodies in the cemetery to free up the land – shoot the inhabitants off into space to an early resurrection via rocket.
The Beloved Reverend calls in the Army (Dana Andrews plays a guzzling visiting general), and arrangements are made to elevate a deceased war hero into the heavens via an Atlas missile.
But just before the big event – and behind the backs of the visiting dignitaries assembled for the rocket shooting ceremonies – Dennis substitutes the body of Aimee, the girl he loved, in place of the war hero.
The rocket soars into the heavens for “an orbit of eternal grace”, and the wacky poet is on his way back to England.
This scathing black comedy about the business of death and life in Southern California, a hip adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s 1948 novel, is sick humour at its best.
There are spot-on cameos from James Coburn, Liberace (pictured at right) as a marvellously unctuous casket salesman, Margaret Leighton and Milton Berle, and singer/songwriter Paul Williams (pictured below right) plays a boy genius – despite being 24.
Dennis Barlow Robert Morse Beloved Reverend Wilbur Glenworthy/Harry Glenworthy
Jonathan Winters Mr Joyboy
Rod Steiger Aimee Thanatogenos
Anjanette Comer General Brinkman
Dana Andrews Mr Kenton
Milton Berle Sir Francis Hinsley
John Gielgud Immigration Officer
James Coburn DJ Jnr
Roddy McDowall Guide
Tab Hunter Mr Starker
Liberace Sir Ambrose Abercrombie
Robert Morley Mrs Kenton
Margaret Leighton Sadie Blodgett
Barbara Nichols Guru Brahmin/Hump
Lionel Stander Joyboy’s mother
Ayllene Gibbons DJ Jnr’s secretary
Asa Maynor Gunther Fry
Paul H. Williams Lorenzo Medici
Martin Ransohoff Mr Bogaloff
John Bleifer Mrs Bogaloff
Bella Bruck
Director
Tony Richardson
Video
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When the uncle is fired by the studio producer (Roddy McDowall) on cut-back orders from an unseen father, Sir Francis kills himself.
Meanwhile, Joyboy’s devotion to his obese and gluttonous mother (Ayllene Gibbons) – who attacks a whole pig in one scene – will disgust you.
The Beloved Reverend calls in the Army (Dana Andrews plays a guzzling visiting general), and arrangements are made to elevate a deceased war hero into the heavens via an Atlas missile.
There are spot-on cameos from James Coburn, Liberace (pictured at right) as a marvellously unctuous casket salesman, Margaret Leighton and Milton Berle, and singer/songwriter Paul Williams (pictured below right) plays a boy genius – despite being 24.
Mr Joyboy
Mr Starker
