Candy

A 1968 comedy film directed by Christian Marquand, based on the novel of the same name by Terry Southern and Mason Hoffenberg. The protagonist, Candy Christian (Ewa Aulin), is a naive and attractive high school student who, after awakening from a daydream during class, embarks on a series of absurd and erotic adventures. Following a poetry recital at her school, eccentric Welsh poet MacPhisto (Richard Burton) offers her a ride home but, being heavily intoxicated, passes out. With the help of her Mexican gardener Emmanuel (Ringo Starr), Candy brings MacPhisto into the house, where Emmanuel attempts to take advantage of her. As a result of the ensuing scandal, Candy's father (John Astin) decides to send her to live with his brother Jack (also John Astin) and his wife Livia (Elsa Martinelli) in New York City. During the flight on a military plane, General Smight (Walter Matthau) demands sexual favors from Candy in exchange for assisting her father, but the situation spirals out of control when the general accidentally ejects himself without a parachute. In New York, renowned surgeon Dr. Krankheit (James Coburn) deceitfully engages Candy in sexual activity under the guise of a medical examination. After a series of similar encounters, including run-ins with mobsters, eccentric filmmaker Jonathan J. John (Enrico Maria Salerno), and a hunchbacked magician (Charles Aznavour), Candy meets guru Grindl (Marlon Brando), who promises her spiritual enlightenment through intimacy. In the film's climax, Candy discovers that the mysterious teacher to whom Grindl has led her is actually her father. The film concludes with a scene where Candy, surrounded by characters she has previously encountered, returns to space, possibly where her journey began.