Venedig sehen – und erben… (1967)

Venedig sehen – und erben…: Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. With Rex Harrison, Susan Hayward, Cliff Robertson, Capucine. In Venice, a millionaire hires an actor to help him prank three greedy ex-girlfriends into thinking he’s dying and leaving his fortune to one of them.

“I must admit when I saw this movie I it felt that it was not complete. Sure enough the back story of this film is that United Artists -then an independent film company that was a haven for great independent film makers such as Stanley Kramer, Robert Wise, Billy Wilder, William Wyler made serious cuts to the finished film that reportedly upset both Joseph Mankiewicz and star Susan Hayward. I do not know if Susanu0026#39;s long absences from Production tending to her dying husband in the USA resulted in her role being cut or what. The cinematographer died during production too. Years later Joseph Mankiewicz restored all of his cuts and it is said to be a brilliant film. Mankiewicz films are noted for great dialogue, and this film is missing some of the usual quips made so famous in Mankiewicz films. However the DVD version is the UA version not the Mankiewicz version.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSusan Hayward- always an exciting woman to watch on the screen has little to do, but makes every scene she is in worth watching, however Hawyardu0026#39;s character u0026quot;Lone Staru0026quot; ends up dead early in the movie. There is not even one u0026quot;Hayward sceneu0026quot; where the usually fiery star would dominate a sequence. Capucine, Edie Adams, Maggie Smith and Cliff Robertson give fine support to Rex Harrison and Ms. Hayward. This movie has 4 Oscar winners Hayward, Harrison, Smith and Robertson.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is the last Susan Hayward movie that allowed Hayward to be considered a superstar, what would follow would be cameos in Valley Of The Dolls and The Revengers,, and two TV movies Heat of Anger and Say Goodbye Maggie Cole before dying of brain cancer at a relatively early age of 57. Years later Rex Harrison would be quoted as saying He and the rest of the Company respected Ms. Hayward who dealt with the loss of her hsuband and carried on so professionally in her role.”