‘Fame is the Name of the Game’ Cool or Campy '60s TV?

 

Tony Franciosa flashes a grin and his chest as randy reporter Jeff Dillon
in 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game." 

 

Fame is the Name of the Game is one of the many TV movies that Universal Pictures cranked out in the '60s and '70s. This 1966 offering was later reworked as the much superior TV series, The Name of the Game. 

"Fame is the Name of the Game" was a Universal Pictures TV movie that
 evolved into the TV series "The Name of the Game." 

Tony Franciosa plays cocky reporter Jeff Dillon at Fame magazine. He takes up the case of a young woman’s death, a high class call girl, which results in multiple threats.  The reason why Dillon is so driven in pursuing a story that he literally stumbled upon—a gut feeling—seems weak. Especially as he's getting grief from all quarters, every person he talks to drops dead, plus a few beat downs for his troubles. Fame is the Name of the Game feels very TV hero, instead of real. That doesn't stop our star reporter, or him flirting with every woman he encounters, including a sexy artist, portrayed by Jill St. John.

Just another Casual Friday at Fame magazine! 

Franciosa was one of those actors who played sexy and sexist jerks, flying in the face of the liberated late '60s, and acting more akin to the early ‘60s Playboy era. Tony was segueing into TV at this point in his career. A little too pretty, glib, and affected to be a top movie leading man, he was more George Peppard than Paul Newman. Flashing his chest and Chiclets smile, while spouting sexist come-ons and put-downs, was Tony's stock and trade opposite sex bombs like Jill St. John, Ann-Margret, Raquel Welch, and Jacqueline Bisset. And natch, they were all a dozen years younger than Tony. While Franciosa was indeed attractive, his smarmy delivery wouldn't get him to first base today. 

Tony Franciosa as Jeff Dillon, with a souvenir from his last journalism jaunt,
 in "Fame is the Name of the Game." 

Jill St. John fared best when she spoofed her sex bomb image, whether opposite Sinatra, James Bond, or Tony's Jeff Dillon. As Leona Purdy, whose artist's pad looks like a swanky bordello, Jill's style today looks like an Austin Powers fembot. The finale's a hoot, with villain Jack Klugman shooting at Tony and Jill in a parking garage, with St. John sporting a black and white hound’s-tooth mini, a clear plastic jacket, and yes, white go-go boots!

Imagine being chased by two gun men and you have Jill St. John
in THIS get-up?! From 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game."

From the back side!

Jill St. John had her redhead bombshell look down at this point. On the '60s bimbo bombshell scale, Jill St. John was below Raquel Welch and Ann-Margret, but above Joey Heatherton, on the ‘60s sex bomb food chain!

Jill St. John and views of her 'do! 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game."

Yet, Jill was becoming increasingly fun in spoofing her image and is quite funny as Leona, who figures in this mystery and falls instantly for Jeff. Jill sports different hair and costumes in every scene and is outrageous in her flirting with Tony’s Jeff. Unfortunately, Game’s aging male screenwriter gives her some clinker chauvinistic lines, making her seem a husband-hunter, when she could have her pick. Thrown in for a finale twist is a nod to The Maltese Falcon, making her a femme fatale. Thankfully, St. John’s natural intelligence and humor off-set all this!

At first, I thought this jumpsuit was a Bob Mackie. Close! Ray Aghayan
 designed number, originally worn by Angie Dickinson for "The Art of Love."

Susan Saint James was just 20 when she made her film debut in 1966's
"Fame is the Name of the Game." 

Susan Saint James made her screen debut here as quirky editorial assistant Peggy—Chan here, later Maxwell in the TV series. Though she's the butt of smarmy Dillon’s barbs, Susan's Peggy is plucky and smart, if inexperienced.  Susan sports some unfortunate styles and unflattering '60s makeup. But those big brown eyes and husky voice come through. Susan went on to have a long TV career, starring in three series: The Name of the Game; McMillan and Wife; and Kate and Allie. She became a top comic actress, with warmth and charm.

Susan Saint James sporting heavy duty '60s eye makeup in 1966's
"Fame is the Name of the Game." 

Fame is the Name of the Game boasts a strong guest star lineup: Jack Klugman as the eccentric, sadistic, baddie; rat-a-tat-tat voiced George Macready as the original publisher Glenn Howard (later played by Gene Barry); Robert Duval as the grieving hubby of the dead woman; and Jack Weston as Tony's boss. Lee Bowman, and especially Jay C. Flippen, offer strong characters that Dillon encounters. Nanette Fabray has a bit as a flirty hotel phone operator—she was also married to Game’s producer/writer Ranald MacDougall.

Jack Klugman as the daylight-hating villain in 1966's
"Fame is the Name of the Game." Dr. Evil's grouchy brother?

Jack Klugman as the daylight-hating bad guy is good, but his dour demeanor had already typecast him as a comic grump. As a James Bond-esque villain, Jack barely seems mobile, much less imposing. 

Director Stuart Rosenberg became a big name shortly after this Game, due to his association with Paul Newman. Cool Hand Luke was the most successful of their collaborations. Here, Rosenberg goes in for some showy camera shots that border on the absurd.

No, Jill St. John's artist doesn't paint this way! From 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game."

For a lunch date, Jill St. John makes yet another costume change,
from a bikini to a fur hat! 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game."

The script is convoluted but also clichéd, given a hip surface veneer, typical of aging screenwriters like Ranald MacDougall in the increasingly permissive era. The comedic moments’ sensibilities are on par with a ‘60s Bob Hope movie.

The plot is run of the mill, convoluted, and too tedious to describe! When The Name of the Game later made its debut, the stories were more unique and stylishly presented, with younger writers, instead of dated studio writers like MacDougall. The downside was the three rotating male leads were all insufferable: smarmy Tony, pompous Gene Barry, and stiff Robert Stack. Thankfully, Susan Saint James reprised her role of Peggy Maxwell. And the series boasted excellent guest stars and up and coming directors like Steven Spielberg. 

Tony Franciosa as globetrotting reporter Jeff Dillon 

in 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game." Tony was 38 at the time.

As for Fame is the Name of the Game, it's fun for star watching and as a '60s flashback. And Jill’s groovy fashion parade! Finally, if the story seems familiar, it’s a loose remake of Alan Ladd’s Chicago Deadline, from 1949.

Jill St. John as an artist with a checkered past! 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game."

Watch The Name of the Game’s most famous episode, LA 2017, for the combined imagination of Steven Spielberg and the knowledge of Philip Wylie, for a look at the future that is mostly on-target—sadly. My take: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-name-of-game-la-2017-1971.html

When I was a grade school-age kid, The Name of the Game was one of those "grown up" TV shows that I loved. This episode, titled Ordeal, starred regular Robert Stack as hard-nosed Dan Farrell, Crime magazine reporter. Jessica Walter guest stars, in a showcase, sort of a mini-I Want to Live! My look:

https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-name-of-game-ordeal-for-jessica.html