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Before John Waters appeared on the scene to explore the idiosyncrasies of American culture, Tony Richardson had already adapted Evelyn Waugh's scabrous black comedy satirizing the U.S. mortuary industry along with American attitudes toward capitalism, sex, religion, Hollywood, and other sacred cows. The film stars Robert Morse as Dennis Barlow, a young British poet who specializes in plagiarism. He arrives in Hollywood at the home of his uncle Sir Frances Hinsley (Sir John Gielgud), a movie art director, hoping to find work. Shortly thereafter, his uncle is fired by his studio and, in despair, commits suicide. Leading British actor Sir Ambrose Abercrombie (Robert Morley) recommends interment at the exlusive Whispering Glades cemetery, and Dennis complies. The "poet" also manages to pick up a job at the affiliated pet cemetery, the Happier Hunting Grounds, and begins to meet some rather unique people, among them embalmer Mr. Joyboy (Rod Steiger) and his 800-pound mother (Allyene Gibbons), coffin salesman Mr. Starker (Liberace), and Wilbur and Harry Glenworthy (Jonathan Winters), twin brothers who own the establishment. Winters and Steiger are particularly brilliant in a film is studded with cameos, including James Coburn, Milton Berle, Dana Andrews, Roddy McDowall, and Margaret Leighton. Camp icons Liberace and a pre-Waters Tab Hunter also add to the festivities.
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