Scandalous (1984)

You won't be disappointed!

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The 80s had plenty of these forgotten little comedies, but what caught my eye about this one is that the story was co-penned by cult film-maker Larry Cohen. Then added additions of Pamela Stephenson beautiful presence and the comedic touches of John Gielgud and Jim Dale as a snoopy Scottish yard detective. "Scandalous" is a breezy, but innovatively constructed mystery-comedy that is completely daft and somewhat contrived, but thoroughly entertaining in its comic flashes and dangerous inclusions. The twists and turns within the plot aren't all that predictable and even resolution is somewhat tragically downbeat. Robert Hayes (who's great in the role) plays an investigative TV reporter Frank Sweldin returning home to London where he comes across an espionage story involving industrial spies (or that's what he's to believe), but instead he finds himself dealing with con-artists and then murder, which everyday the situation worsens as the evidence piles up against him. While Frank was always on the look out for a real story, he never expected he would become one. Very tongue in cheek with a script with much added quick wit and deliciously silly in its many bemusing occurrences like when Dale's erratic character pops up. It seems to play out like a storm in a tea cup. Director Rob Cohen does a crisp job. Also showing up in the cast is M. Emmet Walsh."Never trust journalists."

Depth? No. Great acting?Not really, although John Guilgud is almost worth the cost of admission alone, especially if you have a leather fetish for great British actors... What makes this movie priceless is the club scene featuring Bow Wow Wow. For 80's trivia and music rarities this is a biggee: "Where's My Snake?" in performance. For anyone who can't help moving to "I Want Candy" this singular movie performance of "Where's My Snake" is Annabella Lwin at her best. Is there any reason to watch the whole movie more than once? No. But you will want to watch the scene with Bow Wow Wow and John Guilgud over and over for a great Bow Wow Wow and 80's video moment. OK: fans of light-hearted Eighties comedies will be entertained and there is enough plot, humor and unexpected gags to keep you interested. Like Sir John Guilgud in a great preparatory turn to his later role in "Arthur". But really, with Annabelle Lwin at the pinnacle of Bow wow Wow's fame: who needs a better reason?

What could possibly have prompted John Gielgud to appear in this abomination. I have a hard time believing it was for the money. Talk about a blemish on ones career. And Robert Hays was the same character in this movie as he was in "Airplane" which was a really funny movie.This film is idiotic, humorless, the acting is atrocious and I have a hard time believing it was a "release" rather than an "escape." The only reason I gave it a 3 rating is because there are some nice shots of London, which is one of my favorite cities.I strongly recommend that you curl up with a bad book rather than view this piece of tripe masquerading as movie.

This isn't a great movie..it's an okay movie. A 5, I'd say. Jim Dale, one of my favorite actors, has a small role and is good until the very end..."In Swaziland, red is the color of mourning," Is my favorite line, and excellently delivered. The music is nice....John Gieldgud is a hoot!