Readers of New York newspapers in the late 1950s may recall the story of Linda Riss whose jelous former boyfriend, Burt Pugach, hired a man to throw lye in her face. She was mostly blinded and he went to prison for the attack.
They were married a few years after his release.
"Crazy Love" is their story.
She was a beautiful working class girl in her early 20s, he was a lawyer and nightclub owner in his 30s - not really handsome but intriguing and exciting for a young woman. He didn't bother to mention that he was married and had a severely disabled daughter.
This is not a nice love story and the Pugachs are not nice people.
Burt lied to Linda throughout their early relationship, telling her that he was divorced and when caught in that lie telling her that he was waiting for the final papers. He also cheated on Linda after their marriage. His sanity is questionable throughout. Toward the end of the film one of Burt's oldest friends says, "Even Hitler had friends."
Linda acknowledges that she is difficult to be with, even saying something along the lines of his being married to her is his true punishment.
When the lye was thrown, Linda had dumped Burt for his lies (she was beautiful and tough) and had met and was engaged to another man. While she was in the hospital she offered to break off the engagement, her fiance did not break the engagement until she was out of the hospital and he realized that there was no way he could pay her medical expenses. She doesn't seem to have any hard feeling about this. Though mostly blind, Linda continued to work until she was fired after she married Burt.
When the song "You Really Got a Hold On Me" plays in the soundtrack, it just seems perfect. Especially the line, "I don't like you but I love you." It is a fitting summation of their relationship.
This is a sick, sad relationship but a really fun film.
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