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» » Pleasure Palace (1980)

Short summary

Dashing Omar Sharif stars as a professional gambler, connoisseur, gourmet and sportsman who sets out to help Hope Lange, as a Las Vegas hotel-casino owner, from losing its controlling interest to a business syndicate but finds his reputation is on the line when he runs into a mystery lady (Victoria Principal) who seems to operate on both sides of the law.

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    • Author: Dogrel
    Patti Flynn (Victoria Principal) is an insurance security agent working in Las Vegas for Howland (J D Cannon) to protect the jewels of his wife Bobby (Teddi Siddall). She is seen by Algerian gambler Louis Lefevre (Omar Sharif) who takes her for a jewel thief. Louis is in town as the guest of Madelaine Calvert (Hope Lange), the owner of Caesar's Palace. Madelaine's stockholders want her to sell and she has Louis gamble against Howland who owns a comglomerate which wishes to acquire the hotel, in a winner take all game of cards.

    Once Principal's real identity is established, her role becomes furniture, and her romance with Louis (who also woos Madelaine) only features one kiss. Her first appearance has her standing with back to camera to create a shady expectation, but it's unfortunate that the scene where she slugs someone is in long shot. She gets to scale the wall of the hotel, where she drops her torch, and carries a purse-size handgun.

    The only memorable line in the teleplay by Blanche Hanalis is Louis' in response to Madelaine telling him most men consider her over the hill - `I've always been intrigued by what is over that hill'. Director Walter Grauman uses zooms for closeups, silence for the casino scenes, and Jose Ferrer is fun as Louis' companion, 'Pokey' Poquette.
  • Cast overview, first billed only:
    Omar Sharif Omar Sharif - Louie Lefevre
    Victoria Principal Victoria Principal - Patti Flynn
    J.D. Cannon J.D. Cannon - Howland
    Gerald S. O'Loughlin Gerald S. O'Loughlin - Benny Marfo
    José Ferrer José Ferrer - 'Pokey'
    Hope Lange Hope Lange - Madelaine Calvert
    Teddi Siddall Teddi Siddall - Bobby
    John Fujioka John Fujioka - Ito
    Alexander Zale Alexander Zale - Hussein
    Chuck Hicks Chuck Hicks - Dietrich
    David Burton David Burton - Brech (as Dave Butron)
    Eddie Sherman Eddie Sherman - Schroeder
    George LaForge George LaForge - French Croupier
    Red McIlvaine Red McIlvaine - Guard
    Peggy Ryan Peggy Ryan - Elderly Woman
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