Love
at First Bite (1979)
Director
- Stan Dragoti
Writer - Robert Kaufman
Starring - George Hamilton, Susan St James, Richard Benjamin,
Dick Shawn, Arte Johnson, Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sandford,
Barry Gordon, Ronnie Schell
Review by Noel Baily
A
rarity...a film with nary a distasteful moment!
Quite incredible this was made the same year as ALIEN. Seems
a couple of generations earlier - a real throwback to 50's
and 60's "family" movies.
Totally
watchable and entertaining flick (which is somewhat MORE than
can be said for Hamilton's follow-up, ZORRO THE GAY BLADE).
The strength of the film lies in its principals. Hamilton
as suave and out-of-the-20th-century-loop Count Vladimir Dracula,
Susan St James in what was inarguably her best screen role
as NY super model Cindy Sondheim, and ever-funny Richard Benjamin
as Dr Jeffrey Rosenberg..a distant relation of Dr Van Helsing
no less!
Both
are in love with Cindy who is torn every which way emotionally,
even allowing for her understandable concern as to the restrictive
life of a bat in general. The interplay between Hamilton and
Benjamin is often priceless. The film never really aims to
be anything more than what it is - a lightweight romantic
comedy with bite, and this becomes it well. Particularly cheerful
little ending which adds pep!
Always
to be remembered for the disco sequence and I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE
which still conjures up for me so vividly those dance-floor
scenes. No way a masterpiece - simply a film which holds very
pleasant memories for many people I imagine.
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