Proof positive that stars are better off not being left to their own devices, this mess of a film is one made during Hamilton's foray into producing his own movies. Having found his work with the studios increasingly minor and benign (and after suffering through the public flop of the TV-series, "The Survivors"), Hamilton began producing and starring in his own projects. "Evel Knieval" came first and was no "Citizen Cane", but this is even worse. He plays a (half?) Greek heir who shares the family fortune with his sister (Paluzzi), but whose funds are threatened when a new will is reported to have been drawn up which leaves them in the lurch. With the help of his henchman friend Mitchell, Hamilton tries to locate the will at any cost, but, as he struggles to get it, people begin dying right and left, sometimes with his involvement and sometimes not! Meanwhile, he and the recently-engaged Paluzzi appear to have far more than the usual brother-sister relationship. A tireless police inspector wanders around trying to make sense of it all (as does the viewer!) Hamilton gives an utterly embarrassing performance here, but since he controlled the purse strings, it isn't likely that the director was going to rein him in too much. He offers up a series of lame movie star impersonations and generally hams it up mercilessly when he isn't staring catatonically. Paluzzi really tries to give a performance in a non-playable role, but winds up looking rather foolish at times. At least here she's allowed to use her own voice unlike in her later disaster "The Klansman". It's safe to say that Mitchell's fans will not see anything like his work here in another project. he is given carte blanche to be as outrageous as he pleases, straddling a torture victim and calling him "baby", flooding a man's lungs with water from a hose, spitting out dialogue through a bread-filled mouth and soaping himself up in a Turkish bath while trying to act through the suds. At least he gives a lively portrayal, ridiculous as it is. Rambow plays Paluzzi's patient fiancé. Also appearing is Hamilton's then-wife Stewart, who plays a photojournalist that may figure into the location of the will. She seems to be having fun attempting to act, though the audience may not be experiencing the same reaction. Anyone who likes hearing authentic Greek music played loudly and frequently may bump up the rating of this thing since it's practically overrun with mandolins and singing. It's just an incoherent, senseless, mean-spirited, faux-kinky piece of junk that's only interesting as a curio. It's hilarious to think that Hamilton sunk his money into a turkey like this when it's the type of film most contract players would have gone on suspension to avoid! No wonder he went back to supporting performances in glossy junk like "Once is Not Enough" before enjoying a late-career renaissance with "Love at First Bite" and "Zorro: The Gay Blade". No one seems to know what the title means or implies. The only person turned to stone is the one who sits idly through all 103 minutes of the movie!
Review of Medusa
