The Only Game in Town

Fran Walker the lead character of this film faces the choice many people face-- I've invested time and hope in a relationship, is it the right one for me? Fran struggles with making the best choice for a happy and rewarding life. She's a bit of a ditz but likable. Elizabeth Taylor brings out the anxiety that Fran feels about her life yet shows us the willingness Fran has to take a chance to make a change. Warren Beatty as Joe Grady did a credible job of helping us like an immature man who was learning to grow-up. The filming of this picture in France was one of its drawbacks. The film's ambiance would have been better filmed on location in Las Vegas. All in all The Only Game in Town is worth a watch on a Sunday afternoon or a late night bowl of popcorn.

. . . than during THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN, in which "E.L. Taylor" plays "Mutt" to the "Jeff" of "C.L. Barrow." Because E.L.'s Real Life Hubbie "Dick Button" wouldn't let E.L. out of his sight, and since Dick was making another flick in Paris, France, when it came time to film THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN, the latter movie was shot in a "fake" Las Vegas set up in Germany's Playground (aka, France). Of course, the phrase "fake Las Vegas" is as redundant as calling something "a bogus counterfeit." At any rate, THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN fled out-of-town to become a boring snooze-fest which may interest a few drunks who have frittered away all their cash at the nickel slots, forcing them back to the cheap casino hotel rooms in the steerage section, in which GAME pops up on a free movie channel from time to time. However, for everyone else, THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN may well prove to be the ultimate yawner, indicating that it's time to move on to a new town.

Miss Taylor may have already been too old for the part. There are scenes opposite Warren Beatty where her age is really starting to show. This is basically the story of two losers who find love in Las Vegas. If Beatty really wanted to leave Vegas, he could have done it in the way that an Oscar winner did it in 1995's "Leaving Las Vegas," where Nicolas Cage gave the performance of his career. Near the end of the film, the two stars are basically playing out their life stories. Beatty finally wants to settle down and Taylor is as usual, unsure about marriage. A better, gritty script was needed for this **1/2 production.

...can now be held for the latter part of Elizabeth Taylors career. After The Taming of the Shrew(1967) it all seemed to go down hill. Check out any post Shrew movies and you will see what I mean. Here, in The Only Game, in Town Beatty and Taylor are jaded and cynical workers and lovers trying to escape Vegas, but both have their problems. Beatty is a compulsive gambler and Taylor is a cold fish unable to communicate love for fear of abandonment. It's a subtle love story and comedy that has some pretty good moments even though it runs a little slow. Don't expect anything amazing but its worth a look.

Frank Gilroy's play brought to the screen by the great George Stevens; sadly, his last film. The maudlin characterizations by Liz and Warren just don't cut it, simply because they seem far too old and worldly to be victimized by the circumstances set forth for them. Old-fashioned in the worse way. Maurice Jarre provides one of his best scores, though.

Seeing "The Only Game In Town" for the first time forty odd years after it was made is a very special treat for anyone who loves film and film history. This was going to be George Steven's last film. A great director, a pioneer. Here he's directing Elizabeth Taylor for the third time, after "A Place In The Sun" and "Giant". That alone makes "The Only Game In Town" a collector's piece. Elizabeth Taylor clearly trusted George Stevens completely and for good reason. She is spectacular. Every close up is like a personal, private experience. Warren Beatty is perfect here and he turned down "Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid" to work with George Stevens. Good for him. A delicious treat.