No way to treat an audience. No Way To Treat a Lady 1968.

The thriller movie “No Way To Treat a Lady” pits serial killer Rod Steiger against detective George Segal both of whom have deeply underlined mother fixation problems, one murders the other cringes with embarrassment. Made by Jack Smight who was mostly know for his television work, (the movie’s style reeks of television) and set in New York City, this movie must have been a dream come true for Steiger who gets to ham it up in several different disguises as he goes about the city killing lonely women in gruesome ways. So instead of one terrible Steiger performance we get several little ones, all equally awful and all rolled into one big fat globby left over tamale of a performance.   The serial killer’s calling card is a  bright red pair of lips drawn with lipstick that he leaves on his victims foreheads. George Segal plays Morris Brummel the cop investigating the crimes. Morris in his mid thirties is still living at home with his mother played to the hilt of Jewish mother hysteria by Eileen Heckhart in a very annoying stereotypical performance that gives Rod Steiger a run for his money in scenery chewing acting. Not easy to do, but Ms. Heckhart does so with flying colors smothering her son with uncomfortable love. The relationship between Morris and this muter from hell, seems a bit far fetched but the screenplay needs this unwieldy and contrived plot line to contrast Steiger’s murderous mother fixated serial killer with the more humorous but still uncomfortable situation Segal has with his Mom. Also in the cast is the glorious Lee Remick who Segal meets somewhat cute, she might be a witness to one of the murders and he needs to interview her. Soon Lee all pretty in shocking pink is giggling sexy over this good looking Jewish cop with the funny name. Remick and Segal are really the only saving graces in this somewhat grim movie. Their sexual banter is loose and relaxed and is a nice contrast to the horrible over the top acting of Steiger and Heckhart. Remick looks lovely and perky in her 60’s bright mod clothes by Theoni V. Aldredge and her apartment looks very Takashimaya circa 1968. The supporting cast is good with the unlucky ladies played by some of my favorite actresses Ruth White, Martine Bartlett and Barbara Baxley. Also in the cast is Doris Roberts in a scary copper colored wig, and Irene Dailey as a personal assistant to a big time Broadway producer.