The Knack... and How to Get It

WARNING: SPOILER. I was a college student when I saw this movie in 1967 and again in 1968. Its irreverent and crazy look at male-female relationships was intoxicating. Aside from the general theme about "getting the girl," the only thing I remember is the hilarious opening scene in which hundreds of pretty girls, all dressed alike, are standing in a long line, waiting for the opportunity to interact with the guy who "had the knack (with women)." As the camera follows the long line of beauties around the block, into an apartment building, and up the stairs, the viewer wonders what's going on. Finally the camera reaches the head of the line, and we see what every girl has waited hours for: meeting the cool guy and signing his guest book. Priceless!

"The Knack" (from 1965) is definitely a film whose humor isn't gonna appeal to everyone. But, with that said - I found "The Knack" (and its quirky comedy) to be a fairly entertaining view (for the most part). Directed by Richard Lester - I think that this picture is historically relevant as it was filmed in between Lester's 2 other films, "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!" which, of course, were vehicles for promoting the Beatles.

One of my 10 favorite films. An aimless, fantastical collection of site gags and non-sequiturs, punctuated by verbal graffiti in the comments of onlookers. What makes it so great is the charming spirit of youthful innocence throughout and the captivating soundtrack.

Cool and sophisticated Tolen (Ray Brooks) has a monopoly on womanizing - with a long list of conquests to prove it - while the naive and awkward Colin (Michael Crawford) desperately wants a piece of it... This is very strange. We start with a creepy womanizer and a man who looks up to him. This seems about right for the 1960s, and still comes off as sleazy without ever having any nudity. Well done, Richard Lester. But then it takes a turn where the creepy guy gets even creepier and is accused of rape. While his methods are very much putting people under duress, the film decides to make a joke of rape rather than take any of it seriously. I don't know how to feel about any of this. Is anyone in this film worth looking up to?

This is a manic Richard Lester comedy very similar to "A Hard Days Night," and if you liked that movie you'll like this one. It's a somewhat rambling froth-of-life tale about an awkward young man (Michael Crawford) who wants to learn how to pick up girls from his popular housemate (Ray Brooks). Brooks' attempt to instruct Crawford in the mysteries of the knack go hilariously awry when the pair encounter the flighty Rita Tushingham. I'm a little surprised that this won a Palme d'Or, but it IS very funny in a not-too over-the-top way. It's dramatically superior to contemporary early '60's comedy, and the principals turn in wonderful performances. If you like it, be sure to check out Lester's sunny nonsense "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and the distinctly darker "How I Won the War."

A young and sexually frustrated school teacher rents out a room in his old house to a hip drummer with a motorcycle who is an expert at seduction in the hope of learning how he does it. Crazy editing and a haphazard style make it a challenge for those of us brought up on westerns and film noirs. A youth movie for the 60's with Rita Tushingham who seemed to embody that period of youthful British cinema, with a decidedly British humor and a take on society and sex, all wrapped up in the anarchy of free form movie making. Similar in style to Lester's "Hard Day's Night" but without the Beatles to carry it, this film relies more on the patience of the viewer, as it has a nice little story within the chaos.