Middle-aged used-car salesman Andrew Duggan (as Bill Lennox) and his blonde, bikini-clad wife Joyce Van Patten (as Bernadette) lounge by the pool at their swanky Southern California estate. Their home and property look like the best in the area, but there are troubled waters ahead for the Beverly Hills couple. While swimming, Mr. Duggan discovers a rat in the pool's side skimmer. Both he and Ms. Van Patten are horrified. Unable to remove the creature, they call for help and are suddenly joined by aggressive, jive-talking Yaphet Kotto (as Bone). Although he gets rid of the rat, Mr. Kotto is really there to rob the couple and rape Van Patten...
Subversively subtitled "A Bad Day in Beverly Hills", this was the first feature film directed by TV writer-producer Larry Cohen. Usually responsible for populist entertainment, Mr. Cohen may have thought "Bone" had counter-culture appeal. It's a seldom funny "black comedy" that clearly understands the role played by Duggan while aiming poorly for some sort of parity of attention with Mr. Kotto's character. Not surprisingly, Duggan's character is the clearest drawn...
The "imaginary" opening minutes show Duggan peddling his trade in a yard of car wrecks, with bloody bodies still inside. This would have been more effective if intercut later, perhaps during the bank withdrawal scenes. Shown first as an attention getting device, the bloody opening takes away from the disarming introduction of the three main characters. A pre-"Heartbreak Kid" Jeannie Berlin has featured role and a pre-"Match Game" Brett Somers is seen briefly. "Bone" is generous with ugly close-ups and an annoying soundtrack. You do get a good look at old Los Angeles and 1970s smokers will identify with dropping a cigarette in the car while driving.
**** Bone (7/12/72) Larry Cohen ~ Yaphet Kotto, Andrew Duggan, Joyce Van Patten, Jeannie Berlin
Subversively subtitled "A Bad Day in Beverly Hills", this was the first feature film directed by TV writer-producer Larry Cohen. Usually responsible for populist entertainment, Mr. Cohen may have thought "Bone" had counter-culture appeal. It's a seldom funny "black comedy" that clearly understands the role played by Duggan while aiming poorly for some sort of parity of attention with Mr. Kotto's character. Not surprisingly, Duggan's character is the clearest drawn...
The "imaginary" opening minutes show Duggan peddling his trade in a yard of car wrecks, with bloody bodies still inside. This would have been more effective if intercut later, perhaps during the bank withdrawal scenes. Shown first as an attention getting device, the bloody opening takes away from the disarming introduction of the three main characters. A pre-"Heartbreak Kid" Jeannie Berlin has featured role and a pre-"Match Game" Brett Somers is seen briefly. "Bone" is generous with ugly close-ups and an annoying soundtrack. You do get a good look at old Los Angeles and 1970s smokers will identify with dropping a cigarette in the car while driving.
**** Bone (7/12/72) Larry Cohen ~ Yaphet Kotto, Andrew Duggan, Joyce Van Patten, Jeannie Berlin