By: debbie lynn elias
We all have our share of insane love stories. The one that got away. The one you wished would go away. The ones that rob and beat you. The ones that end in happily ever after. And then we have Burt and Linda Pugach. Now, I’ve had my share with an insane significant other, but my ex ain’t got nuthin’ on Burt Pugach. And as for Linda Pugach, well, love makes you do funny things. Now, some 50 years after their first fateful meeting, writer/director Dan Klores together with co-director Fisher Stevens, sit down with Burt, Linda and some of their friends, to tell what has to be the most bizarre, insane, kitchy and let’s face it, weirdest love story of the ages.
The time – 1950’s New York. Self-absorbed with her looks, 20 year old Linda Riss had stars in her eyes and money on her mind. 32 year old Burt Pugach was the toast of the New York. A successful lawyer, he had a new Cadillac every year, a private plane, a nightclub and a bevy on beauties on both arms every night of the week; that is until he saw a young raven haired vixen sitting on a park bench. In his typical “take what you want” manner, he determined to have this woman as his. And have her he did. Showering her with gifts, furs, jewels, trips and one whirlwind night after another, it didn’t take Linda long to fall hopelessly in love with this overweight, crass, shady, older man with bad teeth.
But as was the day, Linda wanted that ring on the third finger of the left hand. Burt made promise after promise – soon, soon. But soon didn’t arrive soon enough before Linda found out that Burt was married and had a daughter who was institutionalized. Demanding that he file for divorce, Burt did his level best to sweet talk Linda and hold on to her, but his illegal legal shenanigans proved his downfall. Underestimating the intelligence of not only Linda but her stalwart friends and family, Linda soon discovered that some alleged divorce papers drawn up somewhere down South weren’t worth the paper they were printed on. Feeling used and confused, Linda knew there was only one thing to do – leave Burt and sever all contact with him.
Moving on with her life, she soon found love (although not all the financial trappings that Burt could provide) and became engaged to an average Joe named Larry Schwartz. Unfortunately, Burt caught wind of the engagement thanks to a society column in the paper and went into a rage vowing, “If I can’t have her no one will.” It was within days that three Mafioso types showed up at Linda’s door, throwing acid in her face, disfiguring and partially blinding her for life.
Needless to say, the media went berserk and milked the story for all it was worth. Representing himself at trial, Burt was ultimately convicted and sentenced to 30 years. Despite vowing eternal love, shortly after the trial, Schwartz dumped Linda. And after a few years of traveling and a facade of enjoyment, while hidden behind a pair of Jackie O sunglasses and various wigs, Linda was alone, lonely and rapidly becoming a recluse.
But their saga didn’t end there. Linda became lonelier and due to her worsening medical condition, was unable to work and was just this side of poverty. Serving only 14 years of his sentence, Burt now brags about making $4,000.00 a week providing legal counsel to inmates during his time served. And during that entire time, neither forgot the other. In fact, Burt was still as obsessed with Linda as ever. And Linda’s friends, concerned with her well being and knowing she still carried a torch for Burt, decided it was time to do something. So, they brokered a meeting with Burt, initially using the pretext of sending Linda money.
The rest as they say, is the stuff that dreams, or nightmares, are made of. It wasn’t long before Burt and Linda were back together stronger than ever and in the media spotlight once more, drinking in the frenzied attention like it was oxygen.
Going into this screening, I knew a bit about the Burt and Linda Pugach and their history. Somewhere in the annals of my mind, I remembered specific vivid details about them but I couldn’t put my finger on it until the film started rolling. After the screening I went home digging through boxes of texts and notes from my days in college studying film, tv broadcasting and journalism and lo and behold, buried in my almost 30 year old journalism box was original material on the Pugach’s bizarre crazy history (including the People magazine that featured them) and the media circus that surrounded it and them. Their story and the sensationalism of it in the 50’s and the resurgence in the 70’s was part and parcel of my studies on “yellow journalism”, “sensationalism” and responsible reporting vs. media hype. Interestingly, in one of my papers on the couple I opined the theory that they manipulated the entire relationship to be in and stay in the limelight each of them so loved and craved and which was in danger of passing once Pugach was disbarred from the New York Bar.
With CRAZY LOVE, Dan Klores and Fisher Stevens reignite the media frenzy that has followed Burt and Linda for 50 years. Thanks to intimate interviews of Burt and Linda, now close to 80 and 70 years old respectively, they open their hearts (although I still don’t believe that Burt has one) and essentially spill their guts producing one of the most charismatic and intriguing films of the year.
Linda, hidden behind dark glasses and with a wig that often looks askew, endlessly chain smokes and is unabashedly nonchalant when attempting to light cigarettes but keeps missing the tips. With no holds barred, she is open and forthright about her life and Burt and even questions herself as to “why the hell am I with this man?”. Yet, at times her tone gives way to smugness knowing that Burt is essentially being penalized for what he did by being forced to care for her now. He must live with the guilt for his crime day in and day out. And lemme tell ya, Linda is no easy woman. Think of an annoying kvetching Yiddish mother and you’ve got Linda. On the other hand, Burt is beyond obnoxious. Bragadocious, he has no remorse for what he has done, only congratulating himself to this day on the scams he has pulled in life and the fact that he proved he could get what he wanted by getting Linda. And while he complains about having to care for her and assist her, there is a part of him that you just know relishes the fact that she is dependent on him. The warp factor in both individually and collectively is undeniable in both.
Just for kicks, and I do mean some real laugh out loud kicks, Klores intersperses chit chatty interviews with friends and relatives that reek of honesty, and even Jimmy Breslin, one of the most outspoken columnists of the day, as well as archival television footage and newspaper coverage from the headlines of the New York Times during Burt’s trial to talk show footage on “The Mike Douglas Show” and “Geraldo.” One of the most affecting interviews, however, comes from Margaret Powers, the police officer assigned to Linda for protection for several years. It was actually Powers who instigated the reunion between Burt and Linda, doing so out of concern and love for Linda and looking for a way to resolve her lonely existence. Given her unique perspective in the saga, her testimony is powerfully insightful.
Although Burt and Linda’s story has been told in many ways over the years, it has never been done this intimately or honestly. Interviews in and of themselves are difficult. To put them together as Klores and Fisher do here into a cogent, wacky, entertaining and engaging film is next to impossible. The film is crisp, well edited and simply fascinating. They are to be commended on finding the humanity that underlies the craziness of the Pugaches.
Love and fate are funny things. And when on a collision course such as that of Linda and Burt the end result can only be on thing – CRAZY LOVE.
Directed by Dan Klores and Fisher Stevens. Written by Dan Klores. With Burt Pugach and Linda Pugach. PG-13. (92 min)
