What a Way to Go! (1964)

A classic of 60's film decadence, WHAT A WAY TO GO stars Shirley MacLaine as Louisa, a widow four times over who is left with more money than she knows what to do with. When she signs an unsolicited, multimillion-dollar check over to the IRS, however, officials in high places begin to doubt her sanity, and send her to a psychiatrist. As her story unfolds in the doctor's office, her motivations become clear. A young Louisa, encouraged to marry for money, instead chose to marry for love. Sadly, after her new husband had a small taste of success, he pursued it endlessly, and ultimately greed lead him to an early demise. His three successors follow suit. In an attempt to avoid the same fate, Louisa now desires to rid herself of her wealth and return to her original simplicity. With an all-star cast including Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Dean Martin, Dick Van Dyke, Gene Kelly, Robert Cummings, and Margaret Dumont, this over-the-top comedy is a study in excessive mise en scene, and MacLaine is resplendent in Edith Head costumes and brilliant Technicolor.