A thousand clowns
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | A thousand clowns |
| Original title | A thousand clowns |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1965 |
| length | 118 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Fred Coe |
| script | Herb Gardner |
| production | Fred Coe |
| music |
Gerry Mulligan Don Walker |
| camera | Arthur J. Ornitz |
| cut | Ralph Rosenblum |
| occupation | |
| |
A Thousand Clowns is an American comedy film directed by Fred Coe from 1965, based on the play of the same name by Herb Gardner . The German premiere was on September 15, 1966.
action
Murray Burns, an unemployed TV screenwriter, lives with his twelve-year-old nephew Nick in a messy one-room apartment in New York. Murray has been unemployed for five months. Most recently he wrote the gags for the pathetic comedian Leo Herman, who hosted a children's program. Seven years ago, Murray's sister left her son Nick alone. Now he is attending a school for gifted children.
Nick is doing a class test on the unemployment benefit system. Since he allows his or Murray's situation to flow into it, the school management lets a social worker investigate the boy's living conditions. Murray is given the choice of looking for a job or losing custody of his nephew by the Child Welfare Bureau (comparable to the German Child Protection Association). Murray begins to hook Sandra, the psychologist who's handling Nick's case.
Murray tries to find work; he faces the great responsibility. However, when he is supposed to work as a writer for the comedian again, he loses his nephew's respect. Nick, on the other hand, tells the comedian how bad he is. Finally, Nick and Sandra clean up the apartment. A normal life can begin.
Reviews
“Thematically and dramatically remarkable film adaptation of a stage play, which condenses into a sympathetic hymn to joie de vivre, humanity and humor. Staging rather homely, as the spatial confinement of the theater presentation is only broken up inadequately. "
"A successful adaptation of his original in every respect," A Thousand Clowns "is a touching and often hilarious film."
"An entertaining and humorous comedy from the idea, the filming of which remains unsatisfactory because the director and camera are rarely able to break away from the theater and take on the naivety of the subject."
background
- The play, in which Jason Robards also played the role of Murray Burns, won a Tony Award in 1963 .
- For Barbara Harris it was the first role in a movie.
Awards
- 1966 Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category - Martin Balsam
- 1966 Academy Award nominations in the categories of Best Film , Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Music
- 1966 nominations for the Golden Globe in the categories of Best Film - Comedy or Musical , Best Actor - Comedy or Musical (Jason Robards) and Best Actress - Comedy or Musical (Barbara Harris)
- 1966 Golden Laurel for Martin Balsam as best supporting actor
- 1966 WGA Award of the Writers Guild of America for Herb Gardner
literature
- Herb Gardner : A thousand clowns. Comedy in 3 acts (Original title: A Thousand Clowns ). German by Bernd Samland . Jussenhoven & Fischer, Cologne undated [stage manuscript]
Web links
- Thousand Clowns in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ A thousand clowns. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ↑ cf. Das Große TV Spielfilm Filmlexikon, Volume 5 - area Verlag - ISBN 3-89996-578-7
- ↑ Evangelischer Presseverband München, Review No. 353/1966