All Night Long

This sophisticated slapstick romance starring Gene Hackman and Barbra Streisand is a happy surprise

Dreary, would-be black comedy/farce starts well, but continually fails to capitalise on some terrific comic ideas, instead attempting to find poignancy and sympathy with Hackman's character, who is really set up to be a rotter who deserves everything that's coming to him. However, Hackman's performance is terrific, and Streisand is excellent in an atypical role as a down-trodden housewife; both stars deserved a director and screenwriter who could take advantage of their fine characterisations.