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What a Way to Go! (1964)

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Average Rating: 4.1/10
Reviews Counted: 5
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 5

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 2

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Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 366

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Movie Info

This lavishly produced, big-budget comedy (it cost $20 million in 1964 dollars) stars Shirley MacLaine as Louisa, a widow who is worth $200 million dollars. However, she's convinced that her fortune is cursed, and she wants to give all her money to the IRS. As she explains her sad tale to her psychiatrist, Dr. Stephanson (Robert Cummings), it seems that when Louisa was young she had the choice of marrying rich playboy Leonard Crawley (Dean Martin) or poor but decent Edgar Hopper (Dick Van Dyke).

Unrated, 1 hr. 51 min.

Classics, Comedy

Directed By: J. Lee Thompson

In Theaters: May 12, 1964 Wide

On DVD: Jan 11, 2005

Cast

Shirley MacLaine
Louisa
Paul Newman
Larry Flint
Robert Mitchum
Rod Anderson
Dean Martin
Leonard Crawley
Gene Kelly
Jerry Benson
Dick Van Dyke
Edgar Hopper
Reginald Gardiner
Painter
Margaret Dumont
Mrs. Foster
Lou Nova
Tentino
Fifi D'Orsay
Baroness
Maurice Marsac
Rene
Wally Vernon
Agent
Jane Wald
Polly
Larry Kent
Hollywood Lawyer
Army Archerd
TV Announcer
Phil Arnold
Publicity/Press Agent
Marjorie Bennett
Mrs. Freeman
Eugene Borden
Neighbor
Lynn Borden
Barbara Bouchet
Girl on Plane
Christopher Connelly
Ned
Tom Conway
Lord Kensington
Robert Cummings
Dr. Stephanson
Anthony Eustrel
Willard
Pamelyn Ferdin
Geraldine Crawley at Ag...
Milton Frome
Lawyer
Teri Garr
Roy Gordon
Minister
Marcel Hillaire
French Lawyer
Lenny Kent
Hollywood Lawyer
Queenie Leonard
Lady Kensington
Burt Mustin
Crawleyville Lawyer
Pat O'Moore
Justin Smith
Dick Wilson
Driscoll
Helene Winston
Doris
Billy Corcoran
Leonard Crawley at Age ...
Sid Gould
Movie Executive
Tracy Butler
Movie Star
Jack Greening
Chester

Critic Reviews for What a Way to Go!

All Critics (5) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (0) | Rotten (5)

J. Lee Thompson's direction has failed to coalesce a good, firm farce. It lets the whole thing flap wildly -- and that's no way to make a film.

June 17, 2008 Full Review Source: New York Times

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Top Critic

A big, gaudy, gimmicky comedy which continually promises more than it delivers by way of wit and/or bellylaffs.

June 17, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

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Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

A star vehicle for Shirley MacLaine, Thompson's film is a tediously episodic black comedy about a wealthy widow and her five husbands; Newman, Mitchum, and Martin are all wasted.

June 11, 2010 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

The fact was that it simply wasn't very funny.

June 17, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

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TV Guide's Movie Guide

An unappealing episodic black comedy that gets stuck in its own silliness.

February 9, 2005 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Audience Reviews for What a Way to Go!

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A delightful confection of a movie made primarily to showcase Edith Head's sumptuous outfits. It's really an experience to see all these big stars having a grand old time f-cking each other in a big glass of champagne. A satire of sorts, but the main purpose of seeing this movie is to have FUN, because you're never gonna see anything like this again.

November 19, 2008

Jennifer Xu

Super Reviewer

She is Like a PINK Widow Spider, She Marries, they make a Fortune & Die.Over & Over .She thinks it is a Curse, so she tries to give her Money to the IRS, but they won't take it.She can't give her Money away, & she doesn't dare Marry Again a Poor Man cause he'll get Rich & Die.It's Very Funny.

June 16, 2011

Marilee Aschwanden

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