Loved One, The

Billed as “the motion picture with something to offend everybody,” The Loved One gloriously and outrageously fulfills its promise.

Absolutely nothing is sacred in this blistering black comedy on the Southern Californian way of life…and death.

A simple vacation visit evolves into a wildly chaotic roller-coaster ride through Los Angeles for a young English poet (Robert Morse from How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying). Based on Evelyn Waugh’s classic novel, the satire slings its venom-tipped arrows at such choice targets as the mortuary business (both human and pet variety), religious cults, the military, Hollywood, British ex-patriots, and the space race.

The star-studded cast features Rod Steiger as “Mr. Joyboy,” Jonathan Winters in a dual role, John Gielgud and a 13 year old Paul Williams – plus cameos by Milton Berle, Tab Hunter, James Coburn, Roddy McDowall, Robert Morley and Liberace. But perhaps most unforgettable is Ayllene Gibbons as Steiger’s whale-like mother who gorges herself while watching TV!