I AM A CAMERA (1955) **1/2 The centerpiece of Christopher Isherwood's work is a prototype of Holly Golightly. I'm not saying that Truman Capote lifted the idea nor am I saying that Capote was even necessarily particularly inspired by Isherwood in any way, I'm just saying. I'm just saying that for all her charm Julie Harris doesn't begin to carry a film the way that Audrey Hepburn so regularly did, and I suspect that I would have found Isherwood less entertaining company that I would have Capote. But it does all kind of remind you of each other. In fact this one's a fairly dreary movie until Ron Randell shows up, what appeared to be disaster in the making is really salvation in a very good disguise and ain't that so often the way. Of course Randell doesn't stay in the film, but it never sags down to previous levels even after his departure. And while he's there, it rocks! Some laughing out loud stuff, much at Isherwood's character's expense, but that's the way he would have you have it. Probably took himself every bit as seriously as Capote did, but wasn't about to let you know it, or let it distract from a good story.
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