After leaving Mayberry, Don Knotts did several films: The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964), The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), The Reluctant Astronaut (1967), The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968), The Love God? (1969) and How to Frame a Figg (1971).
Of all these films, "The Love God?" was the absolute worst. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Don Knotts, but for the era, the storyline was far too risqué for his original fans. Sorry, but Mr. hometown America just doesn't mix with a porn magazine. Especially in 1968.
My personal opinion is this film alienated his original "Mayberry" fan base. And ultimately, years later, led to a new fan base with his role as Ralph Furley on Three's Company, which was a sitcom built on a barrage of sexual innuendos.
He basically "switch channels" when he made this film, in turn losing his old fan base of the moral middle class but gaining the degenerate middle class that finds off-color jokes funny.
Sad, but I guess it paid the bills.
Of all these films, "The Love God?" was the absolute worst. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Don Knotts, but for the era, the storyline was far too risqué for his original fans. Sorry, but Mr. hometown America just doesn't mix with a porn magazine. Especially in 1968.
My personal opinion is this film alienated his original "Mayberry" fan base. And ultimately, years later, led to a new fan base with his role as Ralph Furley on Three's Company, which was a sitcom built on a barrage of sexual innuendos.
He basically "switch channels" when he made this film, in turn losing his old fan base of the moral middle class but gaining the degenerate middle class that finds off-color jokes funny.
Sad, but I guess it paid the bills.