larrysmile-18-337694 Within the first 5 - 10 minutes I felt that this film was a waste of the talents of Elizabeth Taylor and Warren Beatty. Both are miscast as there is little 'energy' between them throughout the entire film. A great film starts out with a great story. This story is from duds-ville. Taylor, as an adult, is best in dramas, intense dramas, where the story allows her to be in conflict with the male paramour. That's why Burton-Taylor's rendition in Wm, Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" is so great. Anybody could have done Beatty's role in this film. He is lackluster, to be fair. I guess the players did it for the money and not for the art for there is no real art in the story or the setting or the movie itself. Sorry, George Stevens. Not a film to be proud of.

bkoganbing George Stevens made his farewell work as a director with The Only Game In Town and you wouldn't think that a flop Broadway play would make such a good film. It's happened before and it will happen again.For this final performance his leading lady was Elizabeth Taylor and she was certainly lucky for him. Stevens won two Oscars for Best Director for A Place In The Sun and Giant and Taylor was in both those films. This third time out didn't yield any Oscar gold for him, but this is certainly a most respectable character studies of two Las Vegas characters.Taylor is an aging dancer in one of the plush casinos. She also had been the kept mistress of Charles Brasswell who just can't quite get around to divorcing Mrs. Brasswell. After a quarrel on that subject he leaves and on a whim she takes up with lounge piano player Warren Beatty.Beatty was a last minute substitution for Frank Sinatra and wouldn't have that been a once in a lifetime pairing of Liz and old blue eyes. Sinatra was definitely set for the role and I know that because of Hank Henry's presence in the cast as Beatty's employer. Henry, a former burlesque comedian, was a Sinatra regular in many of his films and I have no doubt Frank got him the small part as the bar owner. Despite no Sinatra, The Only Game In Town is a nice and deep character study of two show business veterans for whom the industry has lost its glamour a long time ago. Beatty also has a gambling problem which is why he can't stay in any relationship. Both of our stars make you forget it's them you are watching and get deep in their roles.Director Stevens in his farewell directorial gig got great performances from his stars and the mood and ambiance of Las Vegas is captured beautifully. You can't go wrong with The Only Game In Town.

dglink Based on play by Frank D. Gilroy that ran only 16 performances on Broadway, "The Only Game in Town" was adapted for the screen by Gilroy and misused the talents of two stars and a director with five Academy Awards between them. Evidently, the play and Gilroy's services to write the adaptation were purchased before opening night, otherwise Elizabeth Taylor, Warren Beatty, and George Stevens would have been more effectively employed on other projects. Fran Walker, an aging Vegas showgirl, whose stylish apartment and flashy wardrobe belie any financial struggle, becomes involved with Joe Grady, a bar pianist, who subsists on tips and gambling. The pair get to know each other over the course of the two-hour running time, Fran's married paramour appears and disappears, the bar owner has problems with the undependable Grady. In other words, not much happens, and, considering the paucity of dialog, the play's brief life on Broadway is understandable. In 1970, Elizabeth Taylor was probably the most famous woman in the world, and her image, bearing, and demeanor are definitely not working class. In a part originated by Tammy Grimes and more suited to Shirley Maclaine, Taylor tries her best, but she lacks the physical attributes of a dancer and, at this point in her career, is definitely a grande dame. However, not all the blame falls on Taylor. While she is obviously miscast, hairstylists Alexandre and Claudie Ettori bear responsibility for the puffy hair styles and wigs that overwhelm Taylor and detract from her legendary beauty. When Taylor's coiffures are not demanding attention, Mia Fonssagrives's and Vicki Tiel's unflattering costumes elicit giggles and gasps, especially an outlandish yellow mini-skirted outfit with a pillbox hat that parodies earlier fashions successfully worn by Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn. If Razzies had been awarded for costumes, Fonssagrives and Tiel would have taken them home.Fortunately, Alexandre and Fonssagrives kept their hands off Warren Beatty, and he does fairly well, although neither he nor Taylor are convincing as lovers. Equally unconvincing is the supposed Las Vegas location; filmed in Paris, the obvious rear projection to fake Nevada settings is distracting at best. "The Only Game in Town" was a disappointing finale to the career of director George Stevens, who retired after the film's failure. More than four decades after its release, the movie is difficult to sit through, despite the efforts of Taylor and Beatty to inject some life into a moribund story. Only die-hard fans of the two stars and students of George Stevens's career will likely find much of value.

Shilpot7 I recorded this off of the TV years ago & I must say I really like it more as the years go by.When I first saw it about 25 years ago I didn't get it at all & was very disappointed by the cheap setting etc...it felt very much like a filmed play.But now I really appreciate it as very sensitive film about two lost people who find each other at lonely points in their lives & hook up to conquer the boredom and loneliness, take each other for granted and then realise they actually love each other.Liz could be a very sensitive, emotional & witty performer. She's often at her best in little movies and I think this is one of her most touching and emotional performances. She gives this picture wit and soul which make up for the cheaply put together locations.Warren Beatty, who I usually find quite 'blah,' is also good as the guy with a gambling habit who falls for a lonely dancer.