For Pete's Sake

1974 "Zany Barbra."
6.2| 1h30m| PG| en
Details

Henrietta Robbins borrows money from a loan shark to finance her husband's investment in the stock market. However, when their stock plummets, she scrambles to find a way to pay the money back.

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Reviews

BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment
Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.
Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.
Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.
shango7200 Audiences still had "What's Up Doc?" fresh in their minds by 1974, so on that alone--I think the movie did OK at the box office. But the differences are MANY; mainly the script which feels too much like a sit-com or a (bad) slapstick comedy. The cast of FPS is a mere shadow of the WUD cast, and Barbara - who looked pretty snazzy & sexy in WUP?, look horrible in that short wig in FPS (was it a wig or a bad haircut from Jon Peters?). FPS is not all that bad , and has some funny bits (the dog chasing her on the subway) but people expecting this to be "What's Up Doc, Part 2" were let down. The title sequence animation / song in the opening credits is cute enough.
wes-connors Bubbly Brooklyn housewife Barbra Streisand (as Henrietta "Henry" Robbins) can't seem to make ends meet. Eating over her head, Ms. Streisand must return food to grocery clerk Vincent Schiavelli, saying, "You take the fruit loops, you'll love 'em!" She argues with Ma Bell about a call to Yugoslavia, telling telephone lady Anne Ramsey to, "Stick that in your computer!" And, Streisand has to pay sharp-tongued, self-described "colored" maid Vivian Bonnell (as Loretta), who never seems to do much of anything.Streisand's attractive husband Michael Sarrazin (as Pete Robbins) works as a cab driver while taking college classes three nights a week. They have time for an active sex life, much to the dismay of acid-tongued Estelle Parsons (as Helen), wife of wealthy brother William Redfield (as Fred). Streisand decides to make extra money by buying stock in "pork bellies" - but, short on investment money, she borrows from a loan shark. Unable to pay her debt, Streisand is forced into prostitution and other unsavory activities.Adequately done by director Peter Yates and the then top female "Box Office" star (since 1972) in the nation - but, Streisand's character seems neither to be prostitute material, nor someone who would be so inclined. There are easier ways for this ball of energy and charisma to make a buck in New York City. And, long stretches in this comedy feature nothing particularly funny. Streisand gets good support from Sarrazin (watch those hands on rear) and the above, plus elderly "Madame" Molly Picon (as Mrs. Cherry).***** For Pete's Sake (6/26/74) Peter Yates ~ Barbra Streisand, Michael Sarrazin, Estelle Parsons, Molly Picon
T Y ...for which everyone should be grateful. The worst comedy released nowadays (Josie and the Pussycats?) will elicit more smirks than this. Anyone mourning the state of movies today (me!), should rent this half-hearted effort to confirm that there have always been poorly-made movies.Time has not been kind to it. It takes 35 sad, uninspired minutes to introduce the conflict. Today it would be moving in under ten. It's a one-joke movie. See... Streisand borrows money to help out her husband, Pete. Get it? The money is "for Pete's sake." Streisand gets in deep with loan sharks and her debt is continually traded up, leading to standard screwball antics. Peter Yates does not have any ideas for getting a laugh, or for getting this dog moving. He just kind of films each page of the script. Maybe kids with no concept of film structure would like it. The cinematography uses that bad, even lighting from the 60's that kills atmosphere. A mob hideout feels exactly the same as a middle-class living room.This was not the future of comedy. Really, really... tired.Sarrazan has a lumpy, strange head. His face looks like it was designed by committee. You can actually see the old man he's going to become, despite his youthful style. Back in the day though my sisters thought he was hot. It didn't take that much.
arturopanduro Barbra Streisand shines as a woman helping her husband (Michael Sarrazin) get through school, whatever it takes. What takes place is very funny because he has no idea what she does all day as he's working as a cab driver in New York City. She keeps all of her hilarious misdeeds from him, hoping to be able to make the money he needs for school. She'll do anything...all for Pete's sake. My rating: 8