Review of The Happy Hooker

Brassy, shrewd, and resourceful Dutch lady Xaviera Hollander (a marvelously sexy and vibrant performance by Lynn Redgrave, who looks absolutely ravishing) comes to America and becomes a much sought after call girl. Pretty soon Xaviera is the highly successful madam of a posh New York City bordello that provides assorted "services" to a diverse array of clients. Director Nicholas Sgarro and writer William Richert do a good job of maintaining an engagingly breezy'n'easy tone throughout and neatly peg the whole anything-goes swinging 70's zeitgeist, but crucially fail to depict the various kinky sexual fetishes in a more appropriately daring and explicit manner. There's precious little nudity and the sex is disappointingly mild and inoffensive stuff, but the prevalent good-natured sensibility and several funny moments (for example, Xaviera does a hysterical reverse striptease while reciting a business report for some pervy CEO!) ensure that this picture still passes muster as a perfectly engaging diversion. Moreover, the cast have a field day with their colorful roles: Redgrave positively glows with her radiant portrayal of the clever and headstrong Xaviera, Jean-Pierre Aumont is likewise a charming treat as suave French high roller Yves St. Jacques, Lovelady Powell does well as classy no-nonsense madam Madelaine, plus there are nifty bits by Nicholas Pryor as Xariera's meek, narcissistic fiancé Carl Gordon, Conrad James as wormy sleazeball Fred, Richard Lynch as a bullying cop, George Dzundza and Kenneth Tiger as a couple of bumbling businessmen, Vincent Schiavelli as a stoned pot-smoking music guru and Anita Morris as the sassy Mary Smith. Richard C. Kratina's glossy cinematography gives the movie an attractive polished look. Don Elliott's lush and funky score hits the right-on groovy spot. Comes close to scoring a bull's eye, but falls a tad short because of its rather frustrating and unnecessary use of restraint and an overall tastefulness that negates the seamier aspects of the sordid subject matter.