Bill bonner advises his readers to employ this strategy when. The 1960s and ethnic comedy during the 1960s, many writers and executives in the stage, film, and television businesses were jewish, but few central characters in the media were. An adaptation of a 1962 play by herb gardner, it tells the story of an eccentric comedy writer who is forced to conform to society to retain legal custody of his nephew. Herb gardners a thousand clowns, the current revival of which opened last night at the longacre theatre, is now 39 years old and showing its age.
I was first introduced to the story i was kid through the film version starring jason robards, jr. Oct 26, 2009 johnny digiorgio as nick burns in a thousand clowns 2012 with leo and murray duration. A thousand clowns is a 1965 film adaptation from a 1962 play by herb gardner, and directed by fred coe. Criterion center stage right 1530 broadway, new york, ny.
We use cookies to offer you a better experience, personalize content, tailor advertising, provide social media features, and better understand the use of our services. Fed up with the rat race, murray quits his job and retreats to his cluttered manhattan apartment, where he carries on a nonconformist, laissezfaire existence with his 12yearold. But the child welfare people try to force robards to get a good job so that they wont have to take gordon away from him. Johnny digiorgio as nick burns in a thousand clowns 2012 with leo and murray duration. Big rental pictures of 1966, variety, 4 january 1967 p 8. During the 201220 season, mct is producing three plays by prominent jewish playwrights. A play in three acts by gardner, herb and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A thousand clowns 1965 jason robards martin balsam brothers. He plays a loveable eccentric, splendidly supported by barbara harris who reminded me very much of carey mulligan and a young kid named barry gordon who effortlessly steals the show whenever they let him. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this wikipedia article constitutes fair use. Browse memorable film quotes from a thousand clowns 1965 p1 at classic movie hub cmh. The amusingly eccentric lifestyle and dialogue of the nonconformist unemployed murray burns, who shouts his grievances to new york from his apartment window, makes this play truly wonderful. Jason robards, bary gordon, martin balsam, barbara harris the very beginning of a thousand clowns offers a brilliant encapsulation of the tonal complexity of the film. A social worker played by barbara harris shows up and ends up falling in love with robards.
A thousand clowns won the 1966 oscar for actor in a supporting role balsam and was nominated for three more oscars. A thousand clowns by herb gardner, collected stories by donald margulies and underneath. Thats when allen first screened a thousand clowns, starring jason robards, barry gordon, barbara harris and william daniels. Jul 12, 2001 herb gardners a thousand clowns, the current revival of which opened last night at the longacre theatre, is now 39 years old and showing its age. An adaptation of a 1962 play by herb gardner, it tells the story of an eccentric comedy writer who is forced to conform to society to retain legal custody of his nephew jason robards starred in both the original broadway version and in the film. Gardner and his characters know the city well and use references to its. A thousand clowns 1965 jason robards martin balsam. The movie is full of humor and pathos and you will never forget these characters. Most plays that were remade as movies have two articles, but for some reason, a thousand clowns has only the movie article. Social workers deem an extv writer jason robards unfit to raise his nephew. A thousand clowns is about a twelveyearold barry gordon who lives with his uncle, jason robards. A thousand clowns was first presented at the eugene oneill theatre in. A thousand clowns is a funhouse mirror of our times tuesday, august 14, 2012 by jeff grygny, milwaukee theatre examiner.
With jason robards, barbara harris, martin balsam, gene saks. While the central message of a thousand clowns may grate on some viewers, the film is saved by the exuberance of pdf the cast. A thousand clowns was first presented at the eugene oneill theatre in new york city on april 5, 1962, with jason robards in the role of murray burns. Murray believes in living life fully, even if that means going to the movies instead of looking for a job. A box kite hangs hopefully in the air accompanied only by the haunting, melancholic voice. A thousand clowns was not the first work to feature an unconventional character. Unrated 1h 58min comedy, drama, romance 9 september 1966 finland. Based upon herb gardners hit broadway play of the same name, a thousand clowns retains the static, oneroom feel of the stage version in order to convey the inspired inertia of its lead character, disaffected exwriter murray burns jason robards. Someone who knows about plays is invited to write the play article. A thousand clowns is part of the exploring jewish voices series, which is a collaboration between mct, jewish museum milwaukee and the jewish community center. Hes headlining a revival of herb gardners adorable 1962 comedy a thousand clowns, playing. The original broadway production of a thousand clowns opened on apr 5, 1962.
A thousand clowns apr 5, 1962 eugene oneill theatre original a thousand clowns jul 14, 1996 criterion center stage right revival shows that opened that season. Jul 11, 2001 a thousand clowns eminently adorable tv star tom selleck has chosen a safe bet for his broadway debut. What turns up is a social worker, who falls in love with murray and a bit in love with nick. Clever in every way, packed with intricate personas and witty dialogue, each character is given appropriate life by the performers and the moments are given great depth by the director. In the end, murray becomes another of the conforming people he has fought so hard not to become. Its refreshing to see a witty, intelligent play in a commercial loop theater. Written by herb gardner, adapted from his 1962 broadway play of the same name. Sandra markowitz, martin balsam arnold burns, gene saks leo herman, a. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description. Multiple links are listed since a different versions exist and b many scripts posted become unavailable over time. Film a thousand clowns is a 1965 film adaptation from a 1962 play by herb gardner, and directed by fred coe. And herb gardners satire of conformity and dehumanizationa broadway hit in.
While a thousand clowns meets the classic definition of a comedy at the end murray and sandy form a household with nick it is in a real sense a tragedy. A thousand clowns summary the play tells the story of murray burns, a cheerful eccentric raising his nephew, a twelveyearold genius, in new york city. Often, the best way to deal with something, or someone, that you find absurd is to take a step back and laugh. Chuckles the chipmunk, william daniels albert amundson, phil bruns the man in the. It has one of the best opening scenes in all of moviedom. Chuckles the chipmunk, william daniels albert amundson, phil. The play tells the story of murray burns, a cheerful eccentric raising his nephew, a twelveyearold genius, in new york city. A thousand clowns is a 1965 american comedydrama film directed by fred coe and starring.
From auntie mame to harold and maude, it depicts whimsical souls pitting. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. An adaptation of a 1962 play by herb gardner, it tells the story of an eccentric comedy writer who is forced to conform to society to retain legal custody of his nephew jason robards starred in both the original broadway. Robards played the role on broadway, and he translates the relentlessly offbeat murray to screen with equal measures. Herb gardners first fulllength play, it was nominated for the tony award for best play and was so successful commercially that gardner, named the most promising playwright of 196162, was.
Five months ago i was on the subway on my way to work, was sitting on the express same as every morning looking out the window watching the local stops go by in the dark with an empty head and my arms folded, not feeling great, not feeling rotten, just not feeling. And for a minute i couldnt remember, i didnt know, unless i really concentrated, whether it was a. A middleaged iconoclast, doggedly avoiding the tedium of employment and conventional life, faces the prospect of losing custody of his young ward. Overview full credits full synopsis notes music screenplay info original print info genre keywords. A thousand clowns does, and i enjoyed every minute of seeing his kissable mug and hearing his dirty laugh. Read famous quotes from a thousand clowns, 1965, directed by fred coe, with jason robards jr. Robards plays murray burns, head writer of tvs popular chuckles the chipmunk show. A thousand clowns 1965 twelveyearold nick lives with his uncle murray jason robards, a mr. Micawberlike dickensian character who keeps hoping something wont turn up. The original broadway production, which featured a stellar cast including jason robards, william daniels, and sandy dennis, was very much a product of its time. As the child welfare people try to force murray to become a conventional man as. It tells the story of an eccentric comedy writer who is forced to conform to society to retain legal custody of his nephew.