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In this location-filmed domestic seriocomedy, Rosanno Brazzi and Glynis Johns play an accountant and his new wife, honeymooning in Monte Carlo. With the casino in full view and ready for action, the couple would be remiss if they didn't give the gaming tables a try.
Besides, Brazzi is certain that he's worked out a "system. Glynis Johns as Cary. Rossano Brazzi as Bertrand. Robert Morley as Dreuther.
Tony Britton as Tony. Felix Aylmer as The Other. There are no approved quotes yet for this movie. Best of Netflix Movies and shows to binge now. Scientology and the Aftermath. The Curse of Oak Island.
The Haunting of Hill House. He gets summoned to the big boss' office and invited to honeymoon on the man's yacht in the Mediterranean. Of course it all goes wrong and Bertram winds up in the casinos of Monte Carlo trying to use his mathematical powers to beat the Even Graham Greene takes a shot at the soulless despair of the late s in this silly love story about a lowly middle-aged accountant in a London firm.
Of course it all goes wrong and Bertram winds up in the casinos of Monte Carlo trying to use his mathematical powers to beat the house and losing his new bride in the process. The happy ending reads like a Doris Day romantic comedy of the day. In fact there was a movie in with Greene writing the screenplay. I know that Greene wrote what he called "entertainments" next to his literary novels to pay the bills and usually they are almost as good but this one was too light for me. Feb 06, Jon rated it really liked it.
At just under pages, it's the perfect length for the amount of story Greene has to tell. He famously divided his fiction into novels and entertainments. This one doesn't even make it into the second category--in a dedication he calls it a frivolity. Given Greene's religion I was strongly tempted to see the elderly, kind-hearted, forgetful, fabulously rich, controller of the main character's life as a figure for God, especially since his only rival is described as "small, spotty, undistinguis At just under pages, it's the perfect length for the amount of story Greene has to tell.
Given Greene's religion I was strongly tempted to see the elderly, kind-hearted, forgetful, fabulously rich, controller of the main character's life as a figure for God, especially since his only rival is described as "small, spotty, undistinguished, and consumed with jealousy. It's probably nothing more than a charming tale of boy finds girl, boy loses girl because of his greed, and boy finds girl again when he reforms.
A short GG novel about an accountant whose employer offers to finance his wedding in Monte Carlo. The accountant, of course has a system for the casino.
Entertaining, but not what I normally look for in GG. Feb 17, Missy J rated it it was ok Shelves: A lesser known work by Graham Greene. Light quick read set in Monaco.
Dec 09, Mala rated it liked it Shelves: Dec 06, Richard rated it liked it. Well written, jolly jape about how money corrupts. He has many better books. One of Greene's "entertainments" and not to be taken seriously.
Feb 17, Missy J rated it it was ok Shelves: It is exactly what Greene says it is, frivolous, and latterly adapted in to a Molly Ringwald comedy called Strike it Rich. Don your non-melty panties, turn down the air con, place kindle in brown paper bag if reading in public and prepare for intense flushing and seat squirming! In exchange, Bertram wants Bowles' shares of the company, so that, in gaining control of the company, he will get his revenge on Dreuther. Tad is sure that he's straight although sex with women hasn't ever been that explosive for him. Blood pumped furiously along the veins of his shaft, his sack fighting futilely to lift.
I know this was turned into a Rom Com film the following year. It's not terribly well fleshed out in terms of characterization, which reminds me of his The Third Man which was written just in order to have a text on which to base a screenplay on. I'm not finding any information on this particular novella, but I do wonder if this was written with a similar purpose in mind? I'd suggest thinking of it as a Rom Com film, though. Once yo One of Greene's "entertainments" and not to be taken seriously.
Once you start thinking of it as a novella, it tends to fall apart. As a Rom Com, it's a typical silly "Boy gets girl. Boy gets girl back again. Jul 08, Cashmere rated it liked it. Part of what I like about books like this are the sense of time and place and the wonderful quality of the prose. I like Graham Greene a lot and while this isn't the best book of his that I've ever read, it is a pleasant, enjoyable, and quick read, primarily taking place in Monaco in the fifties and featuring an engaged couple and their personal dynamics. As usual for Greene, it is beautifully written.
Given the state of my own romantic life, the male protagonists actions and instincts made me won Part of what I like about books like this are the sense of time and place and the wonderful quality of the prose. Given the state of my own romantic life, the male protagonists actions and instincts made me wonder: I shudder to think Aug 22, Keith Currie rated it liked it. Suddenly he has all the money he could wish for but loses his lovely wife. Never mind - good sense prevails and there is a happy ending.
I've read a number of Graham Greene 's novels the past few years and have enjoyed exploring his unique brand of story-telling. He's become one of my favorite authors. Loser Takes All , published originally in , was a neat little gem. It would have been perfect as one of those movies you watch on TCM. In fact, checking it out I noticed that it was turned into a movie in Basically, Bertram, an accountant at a firm in London and is about to marry for the 2nd time. He and fiance, Cary, will b I've read a number of Graham Greene 's novels the past few years and have enjoyed exploring his unique brand of story-telling.
He and fiance, Cary, will be married and then plan to celebrate their honeymoon in Bournemouth. This is turned topsy - turvy when his boss, nicknamed gom - the Grand Old Man, calls Bertram or Bertrand as he mistakenly calls him up to his office.
Bertram sorts out a minor accounting problem and during their follow-on conversation, he offers instead to have Bertram and Cary a trip to Monte Carlo, a wedding with the Mayor and then a trip on his yacht. GOM, in reality Mr. Dreuther, doesn't show up on time, the wedding takes place, and Bertram discovers the joy of gambling at the casino, winning with his system.
The effect on his marriage is the crux of the story. I won't get into any more of the plot but suffice it to say that it moves along nicely, and resolves very satisfactorily. Greene shows his skill at weaving an interesting, fun story that ultimately leaves you totally satisfied. He really can write about anything, dramatic or humorous or heavy or light. Check out his work 4 stars Mar 28, Jon rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Everyone that likes their light fiction read: Krantz, Evanovitch, Patterson should throw out that trash and go read Graham Greene's novellas.
This one was a fantastic example of a quick page turner that actually makes you think and examine your own relationships and fellings of right and wrong without being boorish and self important. The characters Everyone that likes their light fiction read: The characters are filled out in all the areas essential to the plot of the story, while their inter-actions serve to give them the feel of three-dimensionality without uneccessary exposition.
It's minimalism felt more like an Amy Hempel story than a Graham Greene book. But then again, I just finished the book, so maybe it wasn't as good as I think. Whatever, go out and read it your damn self. This is a novella by Graham Greene set in Monaco. Greene wrote some great novels which grappled with moral questions and some lighter novels which he called entertainments. This is one of the lighter ones, probably a preparation for the screenplay of the same name, and very entertaining.
It is a romantic comedy. An accountant who, through unlikely circumstances, ends up in Monte Carlo with a new wife and little money, works out a 'system' for winning at the casino. Given a choice between love and This is a novella by Graham Greene set in Monaco.
Given a choice between love and money, the hero chooses love. All together now, Aaah! If I was being cynical, I might decide that he was really more interested in the mathematics than the money and he is justified by seeing that his system works, but Graham Greene does not write all that many happy endings and I am just going to enjoy this one. Jul 04, Patrick McCoy rated it really liked it Shelves: Greene considered it as one of his lesser works, an "entertainment" that was written for profit.
That being said, it is a well written and conceived novella about a hapless couple that decides to get married in Monte Carlo despite financial problems. However, there are several compelling themes that he undertakes in the short novel. In summation, he arrives at the fact that money doesn't buy happiness and often causes major problems. It is a quick and entertaining read, but not a major work. Nonetheless, it is a worthwhile read at any rate.
Un libro bien pensado y bien llevado. No es la mejor novela de Greene pero tiene sus aciertos. Por momentos se sale del realismo a secas para volverse surreal. O es lo que necesitaba leer. Y es el segundo libro que acabo en el kindle. Probably a four star, but I really enjoyed it so it gets the length star bump; felt like 75 not pages. It's all I've got left! Dec 31, Ethan rated it it was amazing. It was sad, it was glad, it was heartwarming. Jun 16, Faiza Sattar rated it really liked it Shelves: He works in a large industrial complex and upon the insistence of his extremely intimidating boss Mr.
Dreuther, he is coerced into marrying his beloved Cary in Monte Carlo instead of the modest wedding they had arranged at a local church.
Bertram and Cary travel to Monte Carlo, settle in an affluent hotel and await the arrival of Mr. Dreuther in his yacht who does not show up as promised. Bertram is an avid gambler as well and through his mathematician instincts, he surmises that he may be able to win money at the Roulette tables.
The room was more than empty—it was vacant. It was where somebody had been and wouldn't be again Cary leaves Bertram for another indigent but handsome gambler who frequents the casino. Bertram begins to win the system and comes into possession of millions. His luck takes a further leap when a shareholder of his company begs Bertram for a loan which the latter is only willing to give in exchange of the controlling shares. He laments the loss of his wife and Dreuther placates him with a plan to win his wife back. I knew about his kindness, but kindness at the skin-deep level can ruin people.
Kindness has got to care Later that night, Bertram confronts his wife with her handsome friend and pays off the latter to be rid of him. On the yacht, Bertram consoles Cary and tells her how he gave all his newly-earned money away. The couple returns to their modest beginnings with revived love and hope for the future.
I think for a moment we were both afraid to go in. Nothing inside could be as good as this, and nothing was This novella deals with the soullessness of big business and gambling with the passion of true love and companionship. The writing style makes this a page-turner. I ventured upon this book as a light-read and it did justice.
The veriest fool vaguely appreciates the poetry of the solar system—"the army of unalterable law"—and yet he cannot see glamour in the stately march of the columns, certain figures moving upwards, crossing over, one digit running the whole length of every column, emerging, like some elaborate drill at Trooping the Colour. I am often troubled by the past. They don't like common sense.