Alex and the Gypsy ** (1976, Jack Lemmon, Geneviève Bujold, James Woods) – Classic Movie Review 8795

John Korty’s 1976 Alex and the Gypsy is an unusual, sentimental romantic drama, with the excellent stars stuck in unpersuasive roles but making the best of it.

Jack Lemmon stars as Alex Main, a world-weary, middle-aged, conservative-minded bail bondsman who bails out the pretty, free-living young gypsy woman Maritza (Geneviève Bujold), who is accused of trying to murder her lover. Alex (Lemmon) prefers the wayward Maritza (Bujold) to his life of petty crime, but she feels the need to escape. Maritza (Bujold) runs away and Alex (Lemmon) becomes obsessed with finding her.

Korty’s hesitant direction is a problem and he cannot sort out the confusions and weaknesses arising from the adaptation from Stanley Elkin’s novel The Bailbondsman. This thin, tired-seeming effort is a mistaken choice for Lemmon, and is a bit of a disappointment all round. Henry Mancini’s score is an asset.

It was originally R-rated in America before it was cut to a PG.

It is written by Lawrence B Marcus, based on the story The Bailbondsman by Stanley Elkin.

Also in the cast are James Woods, Gino Ardito, Robert Emhardt, Titos Vandis, Joseph X Flaherty, Todd Martin, Bill Court and Frank Doubleday.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8795

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