The Art of Love

A weird comedy, set in Paris and mounted with the gloss characteristic of Ross Hunter productions, in which a struggling writer (Garner) incites his equally struggling artist friend (Van Dyke) to increase the value of his work by faking suicide. The script's few good ideas are soon flogged to death, although it all becomes interestingly tasteless towards the end when Van Dyke, nursing amorous and other grudges while in hiding, has Garner arrested for his 'murder' and saved only when his head is on the guillotine. Sommer and Dickinson give performances much too charming to be wasted on this loutish pair. DMcG.