Dear Brigitte (1965)

reviewed by
Brian Koller


Dear Brigitte (1965)
Grade: 40

"Dear Brigitte" is a harmless family movie and comedy that passes time agreeable enough, but is rarely funny and has a storyline that lacks credibility.

James Stewart plays an irascible college professor, a poet who mocks science while promoting liberal arts. His dutiful wife is Glynis Johns. He has an attractive but stupid daughter, who is dating an attractive but stupid man (Fabian, who somehow got second billing for his minor role). Also about is eccentric "captain" Ed Wynn. Stewart has a pre-teen son Erasmus, who proves to be a math prodigy and the world's greatest racetrack handicapper.

The film centers around Stewart and his son. Stewart wants to make an artist of him, but instead the kid, who is tone deaf and color blind, suddenly develops math abilities far beyond anyone who has ever lived (but is otherwise completely normal). He can also pick the winner of any horse race. Stewart at first wants to protect the child, but later sacrifices his values and gambles large amounts of money recklessly.

Brigitte Bardot, the title subject and apparent mother substitute for young Erasmus, has a cameo near the end of the movie.

One thing that annoyed me about this film is that the various pretty young women are all stupid. Glynis Johns isn't, so the writer apparently believes women gain thirty I.Q. points as they age. Speaking of age, Stewart would be better cast as the prodigy's grandfather.

"Dear Brigitte" is watchable despite its flaws. Still, it too often surrenders plot and character development in an attempt for a laugh that doesn't arrive.

http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html


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