John Patrick Moore (jpm-onfocus)
A story of twists and turns with a sticky sexual link. Jane Fonda and Alain Delon are reason enough to enjoy this French noir but there is more. Lola Albright for instance. Wow! She's a retro futuristic femme fatale. Then Rene Clement, the director of "Purple Noon" knows how to keep us on the edge of our seats without sacrificing that elegant center that makes the whole think work beautifully. "Joy House" was made a few short years after Delon starred in Luchino Visconti's "Rocco And His Brothers" This were Delon's superstar years and he uses the power of his stardom to confuse us and tease us to death. I'm not going to spoil it for you so I don't intend to reveal it but it has one of those endings that's not just fun and clever but totally unexpected. A very enjoyable semi-precious gem.
blanche-2
Rene Clement again directs Alain Delon, this time in Joy House, a 1964 film that covers a lot of genres - thriller, noir, suspense, and romance.Delon plays a criminal on the run. He enters a place for homeless people on the Riviera and two women serve soup there, played by Lola Albright and Jane Fonda.The women bring him to Albright's mansion -- she's a wealthy woman who works at saving people. Fonda is her cousin and falls hard for Delon and tries to seduce him. Meanwhile, someone is trying to poison him and his former gang knows where he is and is out to get him. Interesting film, with the highly underrated Lola Albright giving an excellent performance as a beautiful but tough woman. Fonda, who says her French wasn't very good, is excellent as well as gorgeous. Of course Delon was better looking than both of them, and while his character is attracted to the Albright character, I don't know why he wasn't attracted to Jane.The end of this film is wild and really brilliant.The film explores the idea of prison. Sometimes even without bars, you can be a prisoner.
anawesomemoviefanatic
I love Jane Fonda and Alain Delon, and have seen several of their movies, so I just HAD to seek this one out. It was interesting enough, thankfully not too overlong, at just a little over 90 minutes, but dear god, that plot! I really tried to follow it but after awhile just kind of gave up. It's a ridiculous story but still intriguing enough if you like these 60s French gems. Delon's performance isn't great but who cares, he's Alain Delon, just look at his face. And Jane Fonda....oh wow, I believe this was the beginning of her journey into making sultry French films. I love Jane but this isn't her best performance or French movie. Check out "The Game is Over", it's much better than this and Jane sparkles in it. But you should have fun with this one. Now all they need to do is release "Circle of Love", the only one of Jane's French films that isn't available.
sutul3d
This movie is wonderful! Very suspenseful, sexy and well acted. Jane Fonda is great and Alain Delon just freezes the screen with his coolness. Action packed and full of twists and turns. Get this movie if you can! You will not guess the ending. If you like cool cars, great B&W shots, 60's seduction and French movies in general this is the one for you. Everything that was missing from THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY is in this forgotten gem.