Fantastic has several different definitions. This isn't the fantastic of an excellent job, or fantastik as a ads cleanser. Nor is this "The Fantastiks" of a musical that refuses to close for more than a few years at a time. Another definition of fantastic is strangely absurd, of which this is.
Two rather strange cookies of a juvenile age decide to take an adventure to New York City where they camp out in the Metropolitan museum of art, sleeping on ancient beds and trying to solve the mystery of a new piece of art whom one of the adolescents believes to have been carved by Michelangelo. A mysterious recluse is their key to finding out the truth, which leads me to just one question, "Why?"
This was a popular children's story written with the obvious intention of getting them interested in art. Certainly, the visuals of many of the actual exhibits are fascinating, most of them still there. Vintage shots of Manhattan are always a welcome sight. Ingrid Bergman, on the verge of winning a third Oscar, is headlined but is just a bit more than an extended cameo. She is obviously trying to emulate fellow Swede Greta Garbo with her mystery. Sally Prager and Johnny Doran are wacky kids, older sister and younger brother who somehow seem to get along with little annoyance. Madeline Kahn as a bit as a befuddled teacher in the museum with Georgeann Johnson and Richard Milligan as the children's parents.
A card game between Doran and Bergman makes me think of how a remake with Shirley MacLaine would be, even though it's already been remade with Lauren Bacall. I don't think this was actually meant to be filmed, as this original version for the big screen quickly flopped and ended up being re-titled for home video. Slow moving in spots, it's one of those curious '70's flops that has an element of morbid curiosity.
Two rather strange cookies of a juvenile age decide to take an adventure to New York City where they camp out in the Metropolitan museum of art, sleeping on ancient beds and trying to solve the mystery of a new piece of art whom one of the adolescents believes to have been carved by Michelangelo. A mysterious recluse is their key to finding out the truth, which leads me to just one question, "Why?"
This was a popular children's story written with the obvious intention of getting them interested in art. Certainly, the visuals of many of the actual exhibits are fascinating, most of them still there. Vintage shots of Manhattan are always a welcome sight. Ingrid Bergman, on the verge of winning a third Oscar, is headlined but is just a bit more than an extended cameo. She is obviously trying to emulate fellow Swede Greta Garbo with her mystery. Sally Prager and Johnny Doran are wacky kids, older sister and younger brother who somehow seem to get along with little annoyance. Madeline Kahn as a bit as a befuddled teacher in the museum with Georgeann Johnson and Richard Milligan as the children's parents.
A card game between Doran and Bergman makes me think of how a remake with Shirley MacLaine would be, even though it's already been remade with Lauren Bacall. I don't think this was actually meant to be filmed, as this original version for the big screen quickly flopped and ended up being re-titled for home video. Slow moving in spots, it's one of those curious '70's flops that has an element of morbid curiosity.