Top Ten Ann-Margret Movies Review

Overall 5.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

jmdobies
Austin, TX

The Best Films Featuring the Incredible Ann-Margret

film lover, waiting for the DVD, a man, a music lover, TV Personality, parent of two, psychotronic genius, a storyteller

show all »

Pros

International Sex Symbol, Fine Character Actress

NOV

2008

Swedish-born Ann-Margret Olssen was America's Sex Kitten Supreme in the '60s before graduating to serious actress status in the '70s. Since then she has continued to give fine performances in movies and television, while still wowing 'em in Vegas.

Here are my Top Ten Ann-Margret Movies:

1. Carnal Knowledge (1971): Ann-Margret won over the critics and was nominated for a Bet Supporting Actress Oscar for Mike Nichols' film of Jules Feiffer's Carnal Knowledge, playing Bobbie, Jack Nicholson's incredibly hot but deeply depressed wife. "I've been sleeping 18 hours a day, and pretty soon it's gonna be 24!" MGM Home Video.

2. Bye Bye Birdie (1963): Ann-Margret plays Kim McAfee, an All-American teenage girl with something extra, namely A-M's trademark sex appeal. For evidence thereof, dig her wild vocal stylings and crazy dance moves on "Got a Lot o' Livin' to Do" and the title tune. Directed by George Sidney, with Dick Van Dyke, Janet Leigh, Paul Lynde, and Ed Sullivan. MGM Home Video.

3. Tommy (1975): A bravura performance from A-M as Nora, Tommy's mother, in Ken Russell's crazed vision of the Who's rock opera. With Roger Daltrey as Tommy, Oliver Reed as Frank, Keith Moon as Uncle Ernie, and her Carnal Knowledge co-star Jack Nicholson as the Doctor. Sony Home Video.

4. Joseph Andrews (1977): Directed Tony Richardson returned to the style of his earlier triumph Tom Jones (1963) by adapting Henry Fielding's novel, casting A-M as the lusty Lady Booby. It's a great comic performance, a far cry from her ‘60s sex kitten roles. Paramount Home Video.

5. The Cincinnati Kid (1965): A-M plays a no-good two-bit tramp who steals Steve McQueen from Tuesday Weld in this drama about high stakes poker. Directed by Norman Jewison, from a script by Terry Southern and Ring Lardner Jr., with Rip Torn and Edward G. Robinson. MGM Home Video.

6. Viva Las Vegas (1963): Elvis Presley + Ann-Margret = sexual chemistry, as the two '60s icons get it on in Sin City . Their off-screen romance provides hot subtext to their on-screen interplay, while the film caters to their unique talents. Directed by George Sidney, with William Demarest and Cesare Danova. MGM Home Video.

7. Bus Riley's Back in Town (1965): When his script was rewritten to expand A-M's part (a character that embodies the term "sexpot"), playwright William Inge (Bus Stop, Splendor in the Grass) had his name removed from the credits. While the resulting film lacks the poignancy of Inge's original one-act play, it still has its moments. Co-starring Michael Parks in full James Dean mode.

8. Kitten with a Whip (1964): Irresistibly trashy Juvenile Delinquent/Bad Girl epic adapted from the Wade Miller paperback novel, with A-M as a teenage temptress who complicates the life of an aspiring politician, who further complicates things for himself by making a series of very bad decisions. It all leads to a knife-happy denoument South of the Border. With John Forsythe.

9. Grumpy Old Men (1993): Playing the attractive 50-something object of desire for Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, A-M looks great and gives a fine comic performance. With Burgess Meredith. Followed by Grumpier Old Men (1995).

10. A Streetcar Named Desire (1987): A-M is Blanche Dubois in this made-for-television adaptation of Tennessee Williams's play. As Stanley Kowalski, Treat Williams won't make anyone forget Marlon Brando, but her powerful if uneven portrayal is worth checking out.

Honorable Mention:

Pocketful of Miracles (1960)

State Fair (1961)

The Pleasure Seekers (1964)

Once a Thief (1965)

Made in Paris (1966)

The Swinger (1966)

R.P.M. (1970)

Dames at Sea (1971) TV

Magic (1978)

Who Will Love My Children? (1983) TV

52 Pick-Up (1986)