Fitzwilly (1967) has good pacing, good acting, a charming lead who shows grace under pressure, and it took me – literally – a year to watch. This movie about a ring of thieves who thieve, at least partially, to support an old lady whose money has run out without her knowledge seems a bit too much like meringue to really be worth the time. It’s only in the end, when it’s revealed that her dictionary, which her butler, Fitzwilliam, had regarded as nothing more than time-passing foolishness, is a runaway bestseller, does she receive her first of two bits of cleverness.
The second is when she, and not Fitzwilly, blackmails an assistant D.A. into not pressing charges against one of Fitzwilly’s cohorts, who also happens to work for old lady, caught during their final caper. She’s really quite delightful as the young man gradually caves to the pressure.
Perhaps the theme here is never trust the demeanour of old ladies. If so, this sure was a snoozer, despite the plethora of fine actors and good pacing. I just could never stay awake.
