For Pete's Sake (1974)

This romantic comedy from 1974 features Barbra Streisand as she was reaching her stride as an acting and comedy talent. Her husband is 1970's star Michael Sarazzin as the tall, long-haired, bell bottomed jeans taxi driver who fills the role as the romantic interest. The other talent on display is Estelle Parsons as the social climbing sister-in-law who delivers a long list of catty remarks aimed at putting the couple down; no doubt resulting from jealousy over their hot sex life. The 1970's produced a lot of great movies, including comedies, and this is certainly one of them. It is full of belly laughs from start to finish. Streisand is the harried housewife trying to make ends meet in the inflationary 1970's. Her interactions with her friends and business people in her Brooklyn neighbourhood will delight viewers. When she gets involved in a crazy scheme to raise money for her husband's foray in the futures market, the gags come in rapid succession. Lots of fun, it's a look back at the 1970's with anxieties that now seem somewhat homespun by today's standards. I saw it when it first came out and seeing it again was well worth the time.

FOLLOWING THE GREAT success, box office and critical acclaim of Director Peter Bogdanovich's WHAT'S UP, DOC? (Warner Brothers/Saticoy Productions, 1972), the World took notice of Miss Barbara Streisand, not only as a singer, but also as a comedienne. Her teaming with Ryan O'Neal, Madeline Kahn,Kenneth Mars, Sorrell and Austin Pendelton (among others) under the auspices of Mr. Bogdanovich proved to be a game changer.NOT THAT THIS feature film of a couple of years later was quite on the same level, nor was it done in the same genre. Whereas WHAT'S UP, DOC? was true 'Screwball' in the 1930's sense, FOR PETE'S SAKE was more along the lines of situational, or 'Sit Com', as we would call it today.THE STORY LINE, such as it is, concerns a rather contrived plot in which Pete Robbins(Sarrazin), Husband, drives a cab in order to support himself and Henrietta (Streisand), wife; while at the same time that he is attending college, seeking his sheepskin. The Mrs. is suddenly overcome with guilt and decides to help out by seeking fund$ to invest in the Commodities Market to purchase futures in Pork Bellies. (Do you get that, Schultz?) AMONG THE SCAMSS that Henrietta (Henry for short) explored was that of prostitution. Great comic situations are created in scenes involving the 'Madame', Mrs. Cherry (Molly Picon).OTHER LITTLE VIGNETTES of inspired comic interactions are fairly well distributed throughout the film. Our favourite is a parody and homage to the then recent film, THE FRENCH CONNECTION (D'Antoni/Schine-Moore/20th Century-Fox, 1971).,It involved Barbara, a very tenacious Police Dog/German Shepard and interplay with the opening and closing of subway train doors.ONE OTHER QUALITY wort mentioning is that the movie is very New York specific; both in locale and feel. That makes for some 'attitude', eh Schultz?

Struggling financially, a young couple needs quick cash to invest in pork bellies, prompting the wife to concoct a series of wild schemes to raise the cash. This is basically a vehicle for Streisand to engage in some zaniness, trying to duplicate the success of "What's Up, Doc?" a couple of years earlier. Unlike the latter film, however, this one does not have a particularly inspired script. Babs tries hard, but is unable to raise the material beyond a level of mild amusement. To pay off loan sharks, she goes through a series of jobs, including prostitution (taken rather lightly), each meant to setup hilarious situations but the payoff isn't there.

Lightweight romantic comedy featuring the always delightful Babs as the put upon housewife who goes all out to put hubby into a higher tax bracket. Fairly funny in spots, dull in most: the slapstick was a tad overdone for my tastes. She did a better job in "What's Up Doc?"