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The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), directed by Norman Jewison and starring Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen, is memorable for its tour-de-force of cinematography, split-scenes direction influenced by pioneer Canadian film In the Labyrinth and for being an all around high-class piece of entertainment. Not in its time though! Typical...
It also featured a masterful and infamous scene of chess-cum-seduction where chess pieces are used as metaphores, self-caresses as innuendos and the camera swirls around them in the longest kiss imaginable.
The advertisers of Hai Karate (you don't want to know how the name ties in) ~a popular aftershave product that was circulating on the cheap during the 60s and 70s in the US and UK~ got inspired.
If you can get past the bits of scatological humour and the wooden acting of Heather Graham, watch the Bond spoof Austin Powers, The Spy Who Shagged Me for a hilarious spoof of the above scene too.
The Thomas Crown Affair chess scene clip originally uploaded by erectushomo, the Hai Karate commercial from the 70s by fishnchimps on Youtube.
Ah, Thomas Crown, with all that cat-and-mouse-but-who's-the-cat? interplay. Spouse and I watched the chess scene in amusement and amazement....
ReplyDeleteI don't recall that Hai Karate commercial, but you're right, it's clearly a send-up of the movie scene. What was the British show where the guy was on a giant chessboard...Avengers era...anyway, perhaps that could become a representation of Freudian anxiety? What scent helps a guy overcome that?
;)
Ah, Thomas Crown, with all that cat-and-mouse-but-who's-the-cat? interplay. Spouse and I watched the chess scene in amusement and amazement....
ReplyDeleteI don't recall that Hai Karate commercial, but you're right, it's clearly a send-up of the movie scene. What was the British show where the guy was on a giant chessboard...Avengers era...anyway, perhaps that could become a representation of Freudian anxiety? What scent helps a guy overcome that?
;)
Well that was interesting, I admit I have only seen the newer version of The Thomas Crown Affair (which I enjoyed), but now I suspect I better go see the original version. What is interesting is the newer version kept the same theme of make-up seductive nudes and smokey eyes. Is it me or would the perfect scent for Faye Dunaway's character in that scene be Narcisoc Rodriguez pure parfum?
ReplyDeleteAdore the movie (original of course).Faye is so elegant...and i wonder what perfume would suit her...Daim Blond?...
ReplyDeleteLidia
Scentscelf,
ReplyDeletedon't you just love this movie?
Freudian anxiety is right! Too much symbolism going on.
In a way there is a predatory touch in the approach which might re-activate unconsious fears of the female (mutilation, p.envy etc.) in a man. If we accept those theories still, of course ;-)
Don't know about the British show but you have me searching for it now: man on a chessboard, objectified I presume? Hmmm!
Jen,
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed the newer version very much as well!! (well, expect for the change in the finale and the actual Dunaway cameo which I found unecessary and rather unrelated ~a transparent effort to "modernise" the reckless fellow who is unrepenant in the original)In fact I find the newer version is stylistically superb (as was the old too, in a very 60s way!) and I have never seen Russo looking so exquisitely fetching ever again: the hair, the makeup (the rosy cheeks were very becoming), the Michael Kors wardrobe, the understatement yet also the glamour....ah...and Brosnan's suave look too.
Do watch the very stylish original though: it's more erotically stimulating (less sexually explicit) and the finale is of course what it should be! Won't spoil it for you ;-)
Lidia,
ReplyDeleteit's fabulous entertainment, very well done.
Daim Blond...hmm...perhaps. Or what Jen suggests above (NR parfum).
I think a whispering sexy scent would be great: hinting, but not brash or too exhuberant. I'd like to imagine Rykiel Woman.