The Honey Pot
Tags: romantic, mystery, murder

Plot synopsis:
Struggling actor William McFly (Cliff Robertson) is hired by wealthy Cecil Fox (Rex Harrison) to play his personal secretary for a practical joke. Pretending to be on his deathbed, Fox invites three former lovers to his Venetian palazzo for a final visit: penniless Princess Dominique (Capucine), fading movie star Merle McGill (Edie Adams), and Texas millionairess Mrs. Lone Star Crockett Sheridan (Susan Hayward). Accompanying Mrs. Sheridan is her spinster nurse, Sarah Watkins (Maggie Smith). By chance, each of the women brings Fox a timepiece as a present.
The three women warily size each other up. Mrs. Sheridan boldly announces that the others might as well go home, as she is Fox's common-law wife, and they can expect to inherit nothing. However, when Sarah returns from a late-night date with McFly, she finds her employer dead of an overdose of sleeping pills, an apparent suicide. Police Inspector Rizzi (Adolfo Celi) investigates.
Sarah knows that the pills Mrs. Sheridan had been taking are harmless fakes. McFly has already revealed to Sarah that Fox is perpetrating a charade, and that the final joke is to be the reading of the will, empowering McFly to choose the heir. She therefore suspects him not only of being the murderer, but also plotting to kill Fox. When she confronts McFly, he locks her in her room, telling her it is for her own safety. She manages to escape via a dumbwaiter and warns Fox. However, his displeased reaction puzzles her. He sends her back to her room.
The next morning, Fox is found dead. McFly reveals that Fox was the killer of Sarah's employer. He was broke and wanted Mrs. Sheridan's fortune. Once McFly had figured it out (and more importantly, told Sarah), Fox realized it was all up and committed suicide.
Sarah asks McFly to write her name down in the will as the heir of Fox's worthless estate as a souvenir, with Rizzi signing as a witness. After McFly complies, an amused Rizzi compliments him on his "generosity"—while Fox may have been deeply in debt, Mrs. Sheridan's estate is so vast, Sarah will still emerge an extremely wealthy woman. She informs McFly that she will marry him and hand over the money once he resumes his law studies and becomes a lawyer.

Review: Coming at the end of a prosperous string of all-star mystery films, THE HONEY POT suffered more from a lame title and timing than anything on screen when first released (an even worse title, "Up Pops Murder" didn't help when the film was first released to television).The typically superb script and direction from Joseph L.
Mankiewicz, from a play by mystery writer Frederick Knott, inspired in turn by Ben Johnson's classic play, VOLPONE, THE HONEY POT could not have had a better cast with Rex Harrison (at the top of his game) as the supposedly super-wealthy Cecil Fox mentally tilting with his secretary, Cliff Robertson, and a nosy nurse/love interest for Robertson, a very young Maggie Smith (younger viewers may be interested to see this very different performance from HARRY POTTER's Professor McGonagall - as well as her amazing Desdemona opposite Olivier's OTHELLO) and a trio of ex-loves, Edie Adams, Cappucine and Susan Hayward all in Fox's beautiful Venetian palatzo (the exterior shots are as gorgeous and the interiors).A death happens (accident?
perhaps murder?) and a Venetian police inspector, Adolfo Celi, enters the picture (lovely side note as his family at home is enraptured with PERRY MASON on American TV more than his real-life work) and the film starts to leave Ben Johnson's Volpone behind and delve into more complex games.To be frank, this film has long been among my favorites - I have been accused of teaching an entire university course on Mystery Writers just to develop an audience for it.
Showing the film at the conclusion of the course, after considering the progression of great mystery writing from Poe to Conan Doyle to Christie, Hammett and beyond, this marvelous under-appreciated work from Knott & Mankiewicz never fails to grab them.
It's well worth a look for anyone interested in good literate fun, great performances and writing that don't depend on splatter gore, special effects or CGI.While the ongoing box-office clout of stars Harrison and Hayward got the film a limited VHS release, it's hard to a copy today - but well worth the search.Wonderful film...if only it had a better title..
This film is pretty good, but it was a flop in 1967 despite having some good performances by Rex Harrison, Clift Robertson, Susan Hayward, Capucine, Edie Adams, and Maggie Smith.
The script and direction of Joseph Mankiewicz were perfect.
But it flopped, possibly because the times did not call for a literate murder mystery film.It's lineage is impeccable since it begins with Ben Jonson's classic Jacobean comedy "Volpone".
Sterling's novel brings together three would-be heirs too, but two are men, and one is Fox's wife (as in the movie - Susan Hayward's role).
But the same plot switches go on in the novel as in this film.I enjoyed the movie, in particular one moment that was rare to see in any film of that period.
While they are talking to Harrison and Robertson, both Adams and Capucine show up at the doorway.
In Venice, the millionaire benefactor Cecil Fox (Rex Harrison) watches the Seventeenth Century play Volpone and plots a practical joke to his three former greedy mistresses.
He hires the unemployed actor William McFly (Cliff Robertson) to act as his butler and stage manager and sends letters telling that he is terminal to the decadent Hollywood star Merle McGill (Edie Adams); to the broken Princess Dominique (Capucine); and to the sick Lone Star Crockett (Susan Hayward), who was married with him and arrives in his palace bringing the nurse Sarah Watkins (Maggie Smith) as her companion.
The prime intention of Rex is to see the reaction of the women after the reading of his will declaring McFly as the only heir of his fortune and then laugh up them.
"The Money Pot" is a delightfully witty film of the great director Joseph L.
The sophisticated and theatrical screenplay has wonderful lines and many plot points that surprises many times and a mystery that recalls the novels of Agatha Christie.
The direction and the performances are superb, highlighting Rex Harrison, Cliff Robertson, Maggie Smith and Adolfo Celi, the Venetian inspector that watches Perry Mason at home.
Taking an inspiration from his favorite Jacobean play, Ben Jonson's Volpone, fabulously wealthy Rex Harrison hires an out of work actor Cliff Robertson to play an elaborate practical joke on three women who've been part of his life.
Robertson's to play his confidential secretary and assistant and to send them letters inviting them to Venice where Harrison is pretending to be dying in his palazzo.To be sure these are three women to die for indeed.
Then there's movie star Edie Adams originally from the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn whose best days as a film star are behind here and not enough money is coming in to keep up with her lifestyle spending.
Finally there is the mysterious and earthy Susan Hayward.
She's also a hypochondriac and travels with nurse/companion Maggie Smith.The joke's proceeding great until Hayward winds up dead and the police in the person of Inspector Adolfo Celi is brought in.
Joseph Mankiewica's literate script glides ever so gently from comedy of manners to murder mystery.
Just see the film and you'll know what I mean.Sad that The Honey Pot failed to find an audience.
In regard to that read Hayward's comments on their lives together and the dialog exchanges between Harrison and Robertson.In fact The Honey Pot does turn out to be an elaborate joke, but you have to see who winds up winners and losers in this very intelligent and witty film..
Rex Harrison in his finest.
Maggie Smith as Nurse (Moth brain) almost stole the show and Cliff Robertson was especially convincing as an actor and a lawyer.
I've always enjoyed Susan Hayward, she gave them movie some spark and gave it life and as Cecil commented after she was gone that things would be dull from now on.
If you want to see the late ,great Sir Rex Harrison at his finest rent this film.
the movie proves to the film-goer just how great Harrison must have been on stage.
Cliff Robertson & Edie Adams are also good in this sly update of Volpone.With "Honey Pot",Director Mankewicz shows that he was as skilled at small cast fare with brittle humor as he was at larger full scaled epics or shady drama.The combination of Harrison,Mank,Smith and Robertson made a fine film indeed..
(Just peruse a few of the reviews, and then tell me that I'm wrongly slinging hash.) This film is as witty and urbane as anything that issued from Hollywood during its era.
The Honey Pot (1967)An odd film historically--it falls in the year of the New Hollywood breakouts like "The Graduate" and "Bonnie and Clyde" yet it is made in the style of those earlier 1960s slick and effete capers like "The Pink Panther." The movie can't be seen in quite contemporary terms, because it's just too slick and clever, and yet it doesn't have the panache and glorious success of the best of the earlier color films, glamour besides.Technically this is an American production, though it's thoroughly British in feel (and the production company also handled the embarrassing "Casino Royale" which is equally British at its core).
The story is basically a romanticized version of Ben Jonson's "Volpone," a play from the same year (1606) as Shakespeare's MacBeth.
There is a small part of "Volpone" performed in the movie (for the indulgence of the filthy rich scheming main character).
Its drama depends on a sequence of events rather than cinematic, visual elements.If you are looking for a Susan Hayward performance, there isn't much to watch for--it's quirky and brief.
Rex Harrison as the lead is forceful and uncomplicated.
Even the camera-work, ever smooth and perfectly balanced, gives a sense of well made, if slightly too well lit (television again) movie-making.
So all the back and forth, all the hiding of secrets and playing of parts, even the voice-over from the dead at the end, is slim entertainment..
Susan Hayward, Rex Harrison, in a fine Joe Mankiewicz Film.
Sure enough the back story of this film is that United Artists -then an independent film company that was a haven for great independent film makers such as Stanley Kramer, Robert Wise, Billy Wilder, William Wyler made serious cuts to the finished film that reportedly upset both Joseph Mankiewicz and star Susan Hayward.
I do not know if Susan's long absences from Production tending to her dying husband in the USA resulted in her role being cut or what.
Years later Joseph Mankiewicz restored all of his cuts and it is said to be a brilliant film.
However the DVD version is the UA version not the Mankiewicz version.Susan Hayward- always an exciting woman to watch on the screen has little to do, but makes every scene she is in worth watching, however Hawyard's character "Lone Star" ends up dead early in the movie.
Capucine, Edie Adams, Maggie Smith and Cliff Robertson give fine support to Rex Harrison and Ms. Hayward.
This movie has 4 Oscar winners Hayward, Harrison, Smith and Robertson.This is the last Susan Hayward movie that allowed Hayward to be considered a superstar, what would follow would be cameos in Valley Of The Dolls and The Revengers,, and two TV movies Heat of Anger and Say Goodbye Maggie Cole before dying of brain cancer at a relatively early age of 57.
Years later Rex Harrison would be quoted as saying He and the rest of the Company respected Ms. Hayward who dealt with the loss of her hsuband and carried on so professionally in her role..
A Sly Fox. Loosely based on "Volpone," a play by Ben Johnson, Joseph L.
Mankiewicz's literate, yet complex film, "The Honey Pot," is an often overlooked gem from the 1960's.
Ensconced in his lavish Venetian palazzo, Cecil Fox devises an elaborately staged game to play on three of his former paramours.
Needless to say, each arrives in Venice with an expensive gift and a desire to rekindle the fire with Fox. Each woman brings a time piece, and the theme of passing time is woven throughout the film.The film was the second successful collaboration between Mankiewicz and Rex Harrison, the first producing Harrison's Oscar-nominated performance in "Cleopatra." Harrison is a sly delight as Fox, a devious, manipulative schemer, whose dreams of being a dancer send him flitting flamboyantly around his bed chamber; in keeping with the film's theme, he even cavorts to "The Dance of the Hours." Cliff Robertson is McFly, a man with a checkered past, who stages the deception with ambiguous motives of his own.
The three objects of Fox's deceit are played by Susan Hayward, Capucine, and Edie Adams.
Hayward's Mrs. Lone Star Crockett Sheridan is the most colorful, and her tough-talking Texan character is missed when she is off-screen.
In a role that resembles her work in "The V.I.P's," Maggie Smith is the under-estimated brains among the group; as Sarah Watkins, nurse-companion to Mrs. Sheridan, Smith is described by Fox as "the bouncy one," and she is indeed."The Honey Pot" may be too slow and wordy for those nursed on Marvel Comics super heroes, but patient viewers have much to relish.
Mankiewicz won Oscars for his biting screenplays for "All About Eve" and "A Letter to Three Wives," and also won nominations for writing "Skippy," "No Way Out," and "The Barefoot Contessa." His sharp and witty dialog is deliciously delivered by Harrison and Hayward in particular, who have the best lines; however, the entire cast, which includes four Oscar winners, does well, and each has his or her moments.
Boasting excellent technical credits, a sterling cast, and a script and direction by Joseph L.
Mankiewicz, "The Honey Pot" offers solid entertainment for discerning viewers and a few twists and surprises to keep everyone attentive until the end..
Maggie Smith's astute performance as Susan Hayward's maid elevates this rather stiff and boring drawing-room comedy, a remake of the 1939 film "Volpone", in which Rex Harrison portrays a millionaire who fakes a fatal illness to test the reactions of his former girlfriends.
Hayward plays one of the ex-flames who winds up dead for real.
The story, whose origins lie in both the popular play "Mr. Fox of Venice" and the successful novel "The Evil of the Day", quickly tires one's patience.
Reissued under the title "It Comes Up Murder", though audiences weren't fooled--the film flopped.
Like two entirely different films crammed together..
The first half is a clever comedy but midway through the film, it abruptly becomes a murder mystery.
The end result is a film that seems like two different films chopped apart and glued together.
For me, I wish it had stuck with the comedy throughout--it would have been a better film.The film is about a very rich man (Rex Harrison) who has decided to enact his own real-life version of the Ben Johnson play "Valpone".
Like "Valpone" (which literally means 'the fox'), Harrison's name is Fox. However, in this case, Fox has invited his three ex-wives to his home--telling them through his secretary (Cliff Robertson) that he's dying.
The film has a nice cast.
In addition to Harrison and Robertson, there are the wives (Capucine, Edie Adams and Susan Hayward--who is quite entertaining).
Also, Adolfo Celi and Maggie Smith are along for support.
However, despite the story being directed by the brilliant Joseph L.
For me, despite some nice performances, it just didn't work..
I expected the film to be stagy, as it was adapted from a stage play.
I must, here, admit that I do not enjoy Rex Harrison in anything.
All these women are interested in Rex Harrison?.
As unlikable as ever, Rex Harrison stars in The Honey Pot as a wealthy, despicable cad who basically doesn't like women.
This time around, he recruits Cliff Robertson into his master plan: he's going to pretend he's dying to see which of the many women in his circle really care about him.
The women: Susan Hayward, Capucine, Edie Adams, and Maggie Smith.
It's supposed to be a comedy akin to Unfaithfully Yours, but Rex Harrison ruins it for me, just as he did in the 1948 film.
Rex just isn't likable, and his ego oozes off the screen in every film I've seen him in.
From the opening scene, with Rex Harrison's lead character watching a private performance of Ben Jonson's "Volpone"in the elegant, neoclassical surrounds of Venice's La Fenice, to the final scene amid the acqua alta in the Piazza San Marco, this sly murder mystery is pretty much note perfect.
The script is drily witty, delivered by principally Harrison, Cliff Robertson, with Maggie Smith demonstrating that she was a first-rate comic actress even four decades ago, all played in the matchless surrounds of Venice.
Capucine as the Princess, and Adolfo Celi as the police inspector are excellent in their smaller, supporting roles..
This film centers on an extremely wealthy man named "Cecil Sheridan Fox" (Rex Harrison) who is living in Venice and wants to play a joke on three attractive women: "Lone Star Sheridan" (Susan Hayward), "Princess Dominique" (Capucine) and "Merle McGill" (Edie Adams).
So he sends them letters telling them he is dying and that he has a huge fortune to pass on to one of them--just to see how far each of them will go to prove their love for him.
He enlists the aid of "William McFly" (Cliff Robertson) to assist him.
At any rate, rather than disclose any of the secrets that unfold I will just say that this film turns out to be both a comedy and a mystery.
Now, while I thought both Cliff Robertson and Rex Harrison performed well enough, I must say that I especially liked Adolfo Celi as "Inspector Rizzi".
I also didn't mind having such beautiful and talented actresses like the aforementioned Capucine, Susan Hayward and Edie Adams either.
At any rate, this is an enjoyable comedy but be warned—there are a lot of twists and turns along the way..
An over-talkative comedy-drama-murder mystery, disappointingly directed in a rather bland style by Joseph L.
Solid performances from just about everyone in the cast – particularly Rex Harrison, Susan Hayward, Maggie Smith, Edie Adams and Capucine – plus the movie's A- 1 technical credits certainly help, but the movie seems far too ponderous and slow-moving – mostly because Mankiewicz has unwisely chosen to add dialogue of his own invention to that of Frederick Knott's stage play, "Mr. Fox of Venice", which was itself based on a novel by Thomas Sterling based on a play by Ben Jonson.
If this were not off-putting enough, Mankiewicz has chosen to direct the movie mostly in super-boring, TV-style close-ups.
watch Rex Harrison jump around to "Dance of the Hours".
This movie is both a comedy and a mystery thriller.
Hidden doorways and secret passages !) There are also some nice performances to enjoy, especially by the three actresses who play the respective partners and lovers of our protagonist.Still, there is something which keeps the movie from soaring : it is enjoyable, but not outstanding.
Perhaps this has something to do with the constant references to Ben Jonson's "Volpone".
Mank of course is almost always good value and if he never really equalled let alone eclipsed A Letter To Three Wives and All About Eve he certainly gave it the old college try and this late entry is streets ahead of the disappointing swanner There Was A Crooked Man. Rex Harrison actually contrives to appear vulpine in the quasi dance steps he affects at a couple of points in the action and it's interesting that no attempt is made to portray Venice in a seductive light, rather the sombre, muted tones add a distinctive flavour to the proceedings.
The casting tends towards the bizarre and I can't think off hand of any one let alone any casting director who who automatically throw such diverse performers as Harrison, Hayward, Robertson, Smith, Capucine and Adams into the same project.