Deliciously off-beat characters interacting in some really standout scenes make "A Fine Madness" a really wonderfully must-see comedy. The movie boasts a terrific cast led by Sean Connery in one of his best roles, Joanne Woodward and Jean Seberg. Of course, a good cast and a whirlwind script rate for nothing if a sloppy or incompetent director is placed in charge – and I certainly had second thoughts when I saw the name, Irvin Kershner! His only previous movies – interspersed with a lot of TV work – were Stakeout on Dope Street, The Young Captives, A Face in the Rain and The Luck of Ginger Coffey. Not exactly what you would call an Academy Award list! But, to my great surprise, A Fine Madness is handled with verve and imagination. The magnificent photography contributed by Ted McCord must also be acknowledged. And so must the music score by John Addison. All told, the movie's brisk pace never falters, thanks to a brilliant script by Elliott Baker, based on his own novel of the same title. In short, Baker has successfully brought off a daring attempt to instill a real Dickensian flavor into both novel and movie script. But be warned! My view is not shared by other critics. Russell Carnell, for example, described the movie as "incredibly dreary" and "predictable".
Review of A Fine Madness
