A Thousand Clowns (1965)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Fred Coe

Writers:

Herb Gardner (play)
Herb Gardner (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 September 1966 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

...IT'S LAUGHTER FOR EVERYONE!!

Plot:

A middle-aged iconoclast, doggedly avoiding the tedium of employment and conventional life, faces the prospect of losing custody of his young ward.

Plot Keywords:

Uncle | Social Worker | Rooftop | Hiding In Closet | Tandem Bicycle

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Jason Robards	...	Murray N. Burns
Barbara Harris	...	Dr. Sandra 'Sandy' Markowitz
Martin Balsam	...	Arnold Burns
Gene Saks	...	Leo Herman - 'Chuckles the Chipmunk'
William Daniels	...	Albert Amundsen
Philip Bruns	...	Jimmy Sloan - Producer in Restaurant
John McMartin	...	TV Producer in Office (as John MacMartin)
Barry Gordon	...	Nick

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA)

Certification:

USA:Approved | Finland:S | West Germany:12 (w)

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Harell

Trivia:

This movie features a scene where Jason Robards walks in front of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts during its construction.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Murray puts on a shirt, his cigarette holder appears and disappears in his mouth between shots.

Quotes:

Nick: My simple child reaction of what you did is that you are not funny. Funnier than you is even Stuart Schlossman, who is my friend, and is eleven, and puts walnuts in his mouth and makes noises. What is not funny is to call us names, and what is mostly not funny is how sad you are, and I'd feel sorry for you if it wasn't for how dull you are. And those are the worst-tasting potato chips that I've ever tasted. And that's my opinion from the blue, blue sky.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Facts of Life: A Thousand Frowns (#9.12)" (1988)

Soundtrack:

Yes, Sir, That's My Baby

one of the great ones

A choice movie, and an original. The writing is sharp, the characters well played. Highlight is Martin Balsam's defense of "getting along," climaxing in "I am the best possible Arnold Burns." Robards holds it all together, but the supporting cast, especially Daniels and Sax, deserve lots of credit. And of course young Barry Gordon was perfect. Movie makers everywhere take note: It's the script, stupid!