Cactus Flower Reviews

Bergman is the dowdy assistant to bachelor dentist Matthau, who thinks he is bicuspids over bipeds in love with Greenwich Village character Hawn (following in the great tradition begun by Carolyn Jones in BACHELOR PARTY). Hawn is being pursued by Lenz, a writer who is much closer to her in age. Matthau asks Bergman to pose as his wife so Hawn won't press for marriage. Bergman sheds her caterpillar skin and emerges a butterfly to snare Matthau. Matthau gets his pal Jack Weston to act as "wife" Bergman's lover. They all meet at a nightclub where Matthau finally begins to appreciate the sexiness of his assistant. Matthau and Bergman wind up in each other's arms at fade-out and Lenz and Hawn will presumably do the same. The movie was a misfire despite the presence of many of filmdom's best talents. Diamond's adaptation fails to provide any new wrinkles to the tired plot and Gene Saks's direction is only as good as the material he's been given. Hawn took home an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role.