The Steagle (1971) is the movie that put the skids under Avco- Embassy. I remember seeing this one on first release.
Richard Benjamin is Harold Weiss, the epitome of a useless knowledge obsessed professor who goes off the deep end when President Kennedy announces his reaction to Russian involvement in the Cuban Missle Crisis. Even though he's married to a wonderful woman (Cloris Leachman), he sets off on a trip of denial and fantasy, seducing women from right outside LaGuardia Airport to Las Vegas and ends up in Los Angeles where he assists a has-been western actor (Chill Wills) in destroying a movie studio set.
Not much to get excited about here. Richard Benjamin is good, interesting Cuban missle crisis backdrop.
Many great films are remembered,held high and not forgotten. Some of the greats fall through the cracks for one reason or another.
I remember often seeing this movie on local TV stations when I was a kid, and it has remained a favorite. The story of a daydreaming English Prof who goes on an adventure binge when he believes the world is coming to an end raises all the questions about getting older and settling that have been raised before.
My wife and I must have been among the handful of people to see this movie in original release. We thought it was funny, irreverent and well done.
A Bored middle aged man decides to drop out of society and travel the country playing out his unfulfilled fantasies and personas. Although this is a really fun idea, with Benjamin playing the part quite well, it fails to deliver.
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