That 70’s Movie … ‘Pulp’ (1972)

Mike Hodges wrote and  directed Pulp (1972) one year after making the original Get Carter (1971). Michael Caine stars as Mickey King, a pulp novelist … or as he once refers to as a writer of “gangster fiction.” Mickey enjoys the life of the writer, except for the writing part. He chooses instead to dictate the manuscripts for  his cliche’-laden genre gems to transcribers  who can  typewrite as fast as he can spew the bawdy words from his mouth. As it turns out,  Mickey has one very special admirer, played by Mickey Rooney,  who sends a representative to make him a very lucrative offer to write his biography before he dies. Sceptical, but lured by the promise of easy money, Mickey sets out to see what all the mystery is about and finds himself immersed  in what could pass as one of his own pulp novels.

Pulp is a gritty production and feels every bit of the 1970’s combined with the film noir pulp of the 1940’s. Despite  the plot consisting of an unsuspecting writer being commissioned by a wealthy mystery man and followed by a mysterious hit-man, the movie is primarily a comedy. The humor is dry and punchy, but surprisingly well-done. I can’t help but laugh at watching such a young Michael Caine in full-on 70’s wardrobe and hair. The style of humor is subtle, bit its influence is sort of very low-key Monty Python and Carry On. Sort of …  tongue-in-cheek sexual innuendo with brief sight gags. I find Pulp enjoyable in the same way I found Casino Royale (1967) enjoyable, only Pulp is far less absurd. If you’re a Michael Caine fan, this is highly recommended.