The Pleasure Seekers

1964 "They're Out to Make the Most of Madrid!"
5.6| 1h47m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 25 December 1964 Released
Producted By: 20th Century Fox
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

A trio of gorgeous American tourists hope to find love while vacationing in Spain. Secretary Maggie Williams falls hard for a married newsman named Paul Barton while fighting off the advances of one of his employees. Singer Fran Hobson sets her sights on a handsome European doctor. And coed Susie Higgins receives an unexpected proposal from smooth-talking womanizer Emilio Lacaya.

Genre

Drama, Comedy, Music

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Director

Jean Negulesco

Production Companies

20th Century Fox

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The Pleasure Seekers Audience Reviews

AboveDeepBuggy Some things I liked some I did not.
Ploydsge just watch it!
Twilightfa Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.
Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.
JohnHowardReid Copyright 1 January 1965 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at Loew's State and other theaters: 25 December 1964. U.S. release: 25 December 1964. U.K. release: 22 February 1965. 9,620 feet. 107 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Art student Susie Higgins (Pamela Tiffin) arrives in Madrid to join her college classmate, Maggie Williams (Carol Lynley), secretary in an American news agency. Susie moves in with Maggie and her room-mate, Fran Hobson (Ann-Margret), a singer- dancer. The girls breakfast together, and in the course of conversation, the subject of men is raised. Fran says that rich Spaniards marry in their own class, and the poor ones are too proud to marry rich American girls. During this discussion it is clear that Fran is a bit disillusioned with love, that Maggie's romantic concepts are having a struggle with reality, and that Susie's emotions are stirring but untried.NOTES: This is a re-make of Secondari's 1952 novel, "Coins in the Fountain". And although some reference books list this one as Negulesco's final film before retiring, he popped up in 1970 with no less than two releases: "The Invincible Six" and "Hello—Goodbye".COMMENT: The formula as before, but with the location moved from Rome to Madrid. Plus the added pleasure of four numbers for singer- dancer Ann-Margret. Madrid (with an aside to Toledo) comes across just as spectacularly as Rome — love the scenes inside the Prado Museum — but the players and the story, alas, do not.All the same, CinemaScope is right in its element in this superbly photographed travelogue of Madrid and Toledo, where it's nice to see and hear Ann-Margret too. Lynley and Tiffin are also fetching enough. But the boys — strictly for the birds!
DarylKMiddlebrook Frivolous, silly, unrealistic, take your pick, any of those adjectives could fit The Pleasure Seekers (20th Century Fox, 1964). However, if you like escapist fare, if you like films that offer nothing more than pure entertainment, and if you like films that feature incredibly beautiful actresses, then this film is definitely for you, and for me. I've probably seen The Pleasure Seeker at least ten times; it's truly one of my cinematic guilty pleasures. However, this is the kind of film that made me love movies. Its Hollywood at it's superficial best. It's mesmerizing Ann-Margret breaking out in song and dance accompanied by that invisible orchestra. It's beautiful cinematography, capturing magnificent Spanish landscapes and romantic old towns. It's gorgeous people having sex, without taking off their clothes.What it's not is a great movie; don't get me wrong it's not a bad movie, far from it. It's just pretty predictable, and slightly unbelievable, yes, a little sexist, but it's fun to watch and well, it has Ann-Margret breaking out in song and dance in bikinis and tight dresses. But I digress. So what is the movie about? It's about the romantic adventures of three delectable girls who share an apartment one summer in Madrid, Spain. Ann-Margret plays a struggling nightclub singer and dancer, who's been unlucky in love. Her roommate, super sexy Carol Lynley is the efficient and smart secretary her boss can't do without, literally, They are joined by the scrumptious Pamela Tiffin, who plays Lynley's naive but adorable friend visiting from America, and on the prowl for a husband. The film progresses through each girl's roller coaster relationship with their prospective love interest. Ann-Margret falls head-over-heels for a Spanish doctor (handsome Andre Lawrence) whose dedication to providing medical care for the people of his village threatens their relationship. Tiffin's adorable dingbat character falls for a smooth talking gigolo (Tony Franciosa, Hollywood's favorite 1960s cad) who of course, manages to break her heart, and finally, Lynley has the most-complicated situation of the three, as she finds herself in a love triangle between her boss (older gray fox Brian Keith) and a slacker journalist (Gardner McKay). If she chooses Keith, she could find herself as his permanent mistress, but if she chooses McKay, does she really love him, or is she merely settling? Thanks to cinematographer Daniel L. Fapp (West Side Story, Let's Make Love, Our Man Flint among many others) The Pleasure Seekers is a vivid feast, and the three gorgeous actresses are the main course. There is one particularly awesome shot, where the girl's entire apartment can be seen, as they frolic about in various stages of undress going from one bedroom to another (sort of reminiscent of Jerry Lewis' revolutionary open apartment shots in 1961's The Ladies Man).Veteran director Jean Negulesco (How to Marry A Millionaire, Johnny Belinda, three Coins in The Fountain, of which this film is a remake) takes the simple plot and creates an enjoyable quickly paced film that takes advantage of the witty dialog, and his stars, (male stars included), good locks and sex appeal. One-time screen heartthrob Gene Tierney has a cameo role as Brian Keith's neglected wife. Still a beauty, this would be Ms. Tierney final film as she was suffering through the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. I'm so glad vintage film channels such as Turner Classic and Fox Movie Channel have resurrected this film Its a slice of American film history, and an example of how movies don't always have to teach a lesson, or expose the dark side of life. Sometimes we just want to escape into our fantasies, our dreams of romance, and that's where The Pleasure Seekers succeeds. Oh, and did I mention that Ann-Margret dances and sings in a bikini?
Poseidon-3 A tried and true formula (three girls living together and loving various men) gets a Spanish-flavored, musical treatment here from a director who had a clear affinity for the genre. Negulesco had already directed "How to Marry a Millionaire," "Three Coins in a Fountain" and "The Best of Everything" prior to this film! In Madrid, Spain, a print journalism company employs blonde Lynley, who has a thing for her married boss Keith while simultaneously being pursued by co-worker McKay. Her roommate is red-haired Margret who keeps busy as a singer and dancer for hire. They welcome Lynley's school chum, brunette Tiffin, who is there to experience life and art. Margret runs into (literally!) young doctor Lawrence and begins a tenuous relationship with him while Tiffin becomes entangled in playboy Franciosa's web of seduction. Amidst a crisp and strikingly beautiful Madrid, with great shots of some legendary artwork and some lovely scenery, the girls live and love, sometimes getting hurt along the way and, in Margret's case, occasionally belting out a song or two. Lynley is lovely and wears some simple and bright, but sexy, little dresses. Hers is an affected performance, but it's occasionally an effective one, too. Tiffin plays a dim bulb and does so rather shallowly with little real feeling, but she is, again, lovely to look at. Margret is very much "on" here, running, gyrating, emoting and slinking around as if her life depended on it. Fans of hers will not want to miss her fantastic body, luscious mane of hair or her musical performances, especially the flamenco dance in a snug pink dress. She does have one memorably preposterous scene in which she refers to herself as not wearing mascara while her eyelashes are thick and black with it! Franciosa is slick and slimy, working every angle to get women to do what he wants. McKay, who was no slouch in the looks department himself, is laid back in the extreme here, barely bothering to open his eyes all the way. Lawrence is appealing and attractive as well. Keith gives the sort of no nonsense, gruff performance he was known for with a touch of tenderness thrown in. His storyline is given a rather abrupt resolution, however. Tierney, in her final big screen performance, plays his sophisticated wife. She is barely given a chance to register except for a catty showdown with Lynley in the ladies room which was handily eclipsed a couple of years later when Patty Duke and Susan Hayward did battle in "Valley of the Dolls," another three girls against the world flick. Scotti plays a lascivious neighbor who delights in peeking in the windows of the girls' apartment and Elsom appears as Franciosa's wealthy and knowing mother. The film wasn't meant to be anything but a colorful and entertaining diversion and that's all it is. It's pat and familiar, but also quite enjoyable.
frankieempl The hair, the clothes, the accents, the song and dance numbers by Ann-Margret -- really, what's not to love in this film? Yeah, it's silly, yeah, it's little outdated in gender relations, but who cares? The styling is excellent, Ann-Margret sings her heart out, and the guys are cute. I wanted to buy this DVD the first time I saw the film, but haven't been able to find it for sale anywhere. Please, powers that be, make this film available for sale!!!!!!