Review of The Love Merchant

Biker Click Boyd (a pleasingly cocky and energetic performance by Louis Walden) procures willing young women for decadent millionaire playboy Kendall Harvey III (well played to the slimy hilt by Judson Todd). Kendall wants married and straight-laced Peggy Johns (a solid and appealing portrayal by the lovely Patricia McNair) as his next conquest, but she turns him down. However, after her alcoholic husband's advertising business hits a slump, Kendall offers to help out but only if Peggy agrees to be his intimate companion for two days. Writer/director Joe Sarno handles the potentially lurid story with his customary taste, intelligence, and assurance: The characters are drawn with a surprising amount of depth and complexity, the absorbing narrative offers a few unexpected twists and turns, and several of the more blithely amoral and debauched characters receive their just harsh desserts at the nifty conclusion. Moreover, this film offers a neat time capsule of the Swingin' 60's Greenwich Village scene, with a handful of scenes set at a groovy club that has go-go dancers performing in a cage on stage. The sound acting by the capable cast keeps this picture on track: Walden, McNair, and Todd all do sterling work in their roles, with sturdy support from George Wolfe as Peggy's booze-sodden husband Robert, Joanna Mills as struggling artist Bobbi, Patti Paget as Kendall's tart no-nonsense personal secretary Polly Fields, Penni Payton as tantalizing blonde Dixie, and Peggy Steffans as ditsy ballet student Valery. Tasty brunette 60's nudie regular June Roberts has a small part as a go-go dancer. Both the sharp black and white cinematography by Bruce Sparks and Richard Cove's snazzy jazz score are up to par. Essential viewing for Sarno fans.