Customer Reviews

Where Love Has Gone [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Take a celebrity murder trial, filter it through the grimy typewriter of Harold Robbins, then use the resulting best seller as a vehicle for Susan Hayward and Bette Davis, and you have camp treasure. Though the story is based on the Lana Turner-Johnny Stompanato murder case, Hayward and Davis make "Where Love Has Gone" their own. Hayward plays an acclaimed sculptress from a wealthy family, who also is, like many Harold Robbins' female characters, a promiscuous harpy. The blame for her wild behavior falls squarely on the gray head of her controlling mother, Davis. Thrown in are Michael Mannix, as the war hero Hayward marries, and a young Joey Heatherton, as their helmet-haired daughter who stabs Hayward's lover. Mannix is quickly buried in the rubble of scenery left behind by Hayward and Davis. Hayward, in particular, really tears into her role. Anyone who sees this movie should know that she was born to play the Helen Lawson role in "Valley of the Dolls" a few years later--though she only got the part when Judy Garland was canned. Even in her tender moments Hayward sounds like she's trying to pick up sailors in a bar. Davis, by comparison, is almost restrained. She also seems slightly drunk, like she belted back a few before she had to go on set to manipulate the other players. She practically announces her lines, then does a quick mental retreat. Poor Joey Heatherton really has nothing to do other than whine "Daddy" repeatedly and churlishly ask for cigarettes. Then again, no performance Heatherton would give on film could ever equal the drama of her personal life.

As if Hayward and Davis weren't enough, check out the set and costume design. The Hayward and Mannix's mod '60s home is truly spectacular--it's like the Brady Bunch won the lottery. And look at the use of color. In one scene Hayward's scarf and slacks and social worker Jane Greer's suit are in complimentary shades of green that match the walls of the room. The only other example of such extreme color coordination I can think of is in the Barbra Streisand movie "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever." Also marvel at how everyone in the movie, including Heatherton--who's supposed to be 15--is made to look like they're no younger than 40. But what makes this movie a true "must-see" are the scenes of Susan Hayward welding. It's one of those moments that virtually define the term "camp." Yet, while campy, this misogynistic chick flick (only Harold Robbins...) doesn't quite garner the "camp classic" stamp--it's just a little too reserved for that. Still, "Where Love Has Gone" makes for fun viewing.

Based unofficially on the then-Lana Turner/Johnny Stompanato trial that involved a knife and the daughter of the late movie star, this sordid tale follows the same track-type murder ploy (vengeance), but goes once step further by including the omitted denouement thought by all regarding the real-life case. Protogonist Luke Lurey is the ex-husband caught in the middle, whose ever-present guidance helps put the pieces back together. And what wicked pieces they end up being! Just like any scandal sheet type magazine of the time, this Harold Robbins outing is pulp fiction at its best. With its effervescent plot scheme and narratively swinging point of view, this "fictitious" delivery by the man who once has been hailed as a master storyteller is one addictive read that surely will please fans of the melodrama, and that, despite the toned-down sex scenes of its time (1962).-----Martin Boucher

If you're a fan of Bette Davis and Susan Hayward like I am you'll like this over the top melodrama of love, hate, infidelity and ultimately, murder.

Enjoyable (if not always believable) performances by all. A decent Saturday afternoon flick.

This film is based on the best selling novel. "Where Love has Gone" by Harold Robbins, which is nothing more than a fictionaized rendering of the notorious Lana Turner-Johnny Stompanato murder case, in which Lana's daughter, Cheryl,stabbed her mother's lover to death. This notorious murder case was the subject of tabloid headlines for some time.

Here, Susan Hayward plays the role of a wealthy, award winning sculptoress, who is a wild thing, wayward and sexually promiscuous, as her sexuality is the only thing that her domineering mother cannot control. One day, she meets a war hero, engagingly played by Michael Mannix, and falls in love with him, when he stands up to her controlling and manipulative, hoity toity, high society mother, a role that Bette Davis fiendishly defines.

They marry and have high hopes, but Bette is always in the wings, controlling, manipulating, and in the end, getting her way, despites the war hero's best intentions. This causes him to become a drunk and for his wife to play around. They manage to have a child, a daughter, but even this is not enough to make them stay together. The mother arranges a divorce for her daughter with the proviso that he have nothing to do with their child.

Time passes, and the scultoress goes on to become highly acclaimed, much of that acclaim bought by her mother, unbeknownst to her. She also continues to have her bevy of lovers. One night, the long lost father, now a highly successful architect, is summoned, as his now teenage daughter, played with baby doll nuances by the very nubile Joey Heatherton, has been accused of murdering her mother's lover. All together after many years, the generations are in conflict as to how the matter can best be resolved. Common sense and decency prevail in the end. Look for the so called surprise ending, which a discerning viewer can figure out.

Bette Davis, and Susan Hayward are terrific in their respective roles, as is Michael Mannix. Joey Heatherton does a respectable job with the role of the fifteen year old daughter. While some critics argue that she was miscast, as she does not look fifteen, I believe that the fact that she appears older is central to the drama. Watch the film, and you be the judge.

All in all, this is a moderately entertaining melodrama, Betty Davis and Susan Hayward fans will especially enjoy it.

Man, can you imagine the heat on the set of this soapy film, when the two legends of Bette Davis and Susan Hayward, both infamously hard to work with, had scenes together? Bette Davis was scheduled to return to the set after her final scenes, to smash her painting, but refused, so Susan got to do it, and I guess she enjoied it!

It's a grower. Super glamorous 60s movie.
PS/Total out of it: You JUST HAVE to see Susan Hayward wearing a mask for metal workers and handling a welder!!

This thinly disguised version of the Lana Turner-Johnny Stompanato murder case works mainly due to its great cast. Susan Hayward plays the Lana Turner character with her trademark intensity and she is a riot when confronting Bette Davis' Mother-From-Hell character. I have read endlessaccounts of how they hated each other during filming and that tranfers to the screen very effectively. As for Mike Connors (later "Mannix"), he is too perfect for words and he plays a drunk very badly. Joey Heatherton is'nt as bad as some people have said but she certainly does not look 15 years old.

Susan Hayward & Bette Davis, 2 of Hollywood's most talented actresses, really shine in this melodramatic version of the Harold Robbins bestseller. Susan holds her own and then some against Bette, when they have scenes together you can't take your eyes off of them. I agree with the previous reviewer, Joey Heatherton was miscast in the role of Susan's daughter but the rest of the cast makes up for it. Highly recommended.

Bette Davis and Susan Haywrd are involved in what is a Hollywood re-telling of the Lana Turner Johnny Stomponato affair and his subsequent murder by Lana's daughter. This film is filled with Bette Davis, raging all over the screen at Susan because she has no taste in men or art. Bette has wonderful scenes where she brandishes her wit and her scathing vocal intonations that level all people in her sight.

Susan is great and has a fabulous wardrobe to go with her usual pathos driven style that makes all her films memorable.

The rest of the cast is not up to the standards of these two, and Joey Heatherton as the murdering daughter is plain bad, but who cares? You have Bette to tell her off, and Susan to correct her.

This Harold Robbins trash is served up on a gold platter by Bette and Susan, who want you to have fun all the way. Buy this film and enjoy, especaillly the ending. Unforgettable! and catch those last lines of Bette's about Susan! Also, watch for a very strange cameo by Jane Greer(she was a film noir moll for Robert Mitchum in the 40's and early 50's, and her career was destroyed by H. Hughes) as a social worker for Heatherton, who has some of the most Puritanical things to say about adultery to Hawyard this side of Salem, Massachusetts.

The theme of this movie is a tragic one, including murder, deception, and a more than usual dysfunctional family. Bette Davis, as usual, is a hard to forget character. Susan Hayward, also as usual, is beautiful and heartwrenchingly realistic. If you like Bette Davis and/or Susan Hayward, this is a "must-have" movie.

this movie isn't bad, but isn't a materpiece either, fortunately there is the timeless Bette Davis. She saves this movie in my opinion. It's just one of those movies hollywood makes, relaxing to watch once but that you won't bother watch once a month, i'm telling you.