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The play was staged on Broadway in 1967 with a cast that included [[Elliott Gould]] and [Barbara Cook]] and a budget of $100,000. It was directed by George Sherman.<ref>FEIFFER SPOOFS AMERICAN FAMILY: Cartoonist's New Comedy Attacks a Stereotype
The play was staged on Broadway in 1967 with a cast that included [[Elliott Gould]] and [Barbara Cook]] and a budget of $100,000. It was directed by George Sherman.<ref>FEIFFER SPOOFS AMERICAN FAMILY: Cartoonist's New Comedy Attacks a Stereotype
By LOUIS CALTA. New York Times 25 Feb 1967: 15. </ref> Reviews were mixed.<ref>Theater: Feiffer's 'Little Murders': Comedy by Cartoonist Opens at Broadhurst
By LOUIS CALTA. New York Times 25 Feb 1967: 15. </ref>

Reviews were mixed. [[Walter Kerr]] said "The comedy comes to a point where it can no longer keep a grin on its face, not even a twisted one. Mr. Feiffer gives over the business of suggesting serious comment from inside a lazy, lunatic stance, and like a too successfully reformed gag man, goes straight."<ref>Theater: Feiffer's 'Little Murders': Comedy by Cartoonist Opens at Broadhurst
By WALTER KERR. New York Times 26 Apr 1967: 38. </ref><ref>Feiffer Wit Sharp in 'Little Murders'
By WALTER KERR. New York Times 26 Apr 1967: 38. </ref><ref>Feiffer Wit Sharp in 'Little Murders'
Glover, William. Los Angeles Times 28 Apr 1967: e19. </ref>
Glover, William. Los Angeles Times 28 Apr 1967: e19. </ref>


Feiffer called it an "atrocious production" but admits he was involved in all key creative decisions.<ref name="atrocious">Feiffer: If at First You . . .: Jules Feiffer: If at First You . . .
The play lasted only seven performances. <ref>'LITTLE MURDERS' TO CLOSE TONIGHT: Feiffer Play Is Ending After Seven Performances
By TOM BURKE. New York Times 26 Jan 1969: D1. </ref> The play lasted only seven performances. <ref>'LITTLE MURDERS' TO CLOSE TONIGHT: Feiffer Play Is Ending After Seven Performances
By LOUIS CALTA. New York Times 29 Apr 1967: 23. </ref> [[Walter Kerr]], who had given the play a mixed review, wrote an article saying the play had promise and that it was a shame the piece could not have been further developed.<ref>They Might Have Made It: Two Plays That Might Have Made It
By LOUIS CALTA. New York Times 29 Apr 1967: 23. </ref> [[Walter Kerr]], who had given the play a mixed review, wrote an article saying the play had promise and that it was a shame the piece could not have been further developed.<ref>They Might Have Made It: Two Plays That Might Have Made It
By WALTER KERR. New York Times 4 June 1967: X1. </ref>
By WALTER KERR. New York Times 4 June 1967: X1. </ref> The fate of the play was given an example of the lack of critical and producer support given to new American plays on Broadway.<ref name="atrocious"/>
===1967 London Production===
===1967 London Production===
This failure was followed by a successful London production by the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]], directed by [[Christopher Morahan]] at the [[Aldwych Theatre]]. Reviews were better though not raves.<ref>A Strike For 'Murders'
This failure was followed by a successful London production by the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]], directed by [[Christopher Morahan]] at the [[Aldwych Theatre]]. Reviews were better though not raves and the play was voted by critics as best foreign play of the year.<ref>A Strike For 'Murders'
By MARTIN ESSLIN. New York Times 23 July 1967: 69. </ref>
By MARTIN ESSLIN. New York Times 23 July 1967: 69. </ref> Feiffer said this production "saved my sanity".<ref name="atrocious"/>
===1969 Off Broadway Production===
===1969 Off Broadway Production===
It was then revived Off-Broadway in 1969 by [[Circle in the Square]] in New York City, directed by Arkin with a cast that included [[Linda Lavin]], [[Vincent Gardenia]], and [[Fred Willard]]. <ref>Arkin Staging Feiffer Play
Ted Mann had the idea of reviving the play Off-Broadwat and hired [[Alan Arkin]] to direct. It was revived in 1969 by [[Circle in the Square]] in New York City, directed by Arkin with a cast that included [[Linda Lavin]], [[Vincent Gardenia]], and [[Fred Willard]]. <ref>Arkin Staging Feiffer Play
New York Times 21 Nov 1968: 42.</ref>
New York Times 21 Nov 1968: 42.</ref> Feiffer had no creative involvement in the production.<ref name="atrocious"/>

The ''New York Times'' called the production "fantastically funny".<ref>Drama: 'Little Murders' Refuses to Die: Off Broadway Revival Staged by Arkin By CLIVE BARNES. New York Times 06 Jan 1969: 38. </ref>


That production ran for 400 performances, and won Feiffer an [[Obie Award]]. Lavin won the 1969 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Performance.
That production ran for 400 performances, and won Feiffer an [[Obie Award]]. Lavin won the 1969 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Performance.


There was also a successful 1969 production in Los Angeles.<ref>DRAMA REVIEW: Feiffer's 'Murders' Offered
Sullivan, Dan. Los Angeles Times 28 Apr 1969: g20. </ref>
==Production==
==Production==
In January 1969, Elliott Gould announced he had formed his own production company with Jack Brodsky and that they would make two films - ''The Assistant'', from a novel by Bernard Malamud, and ''Little Murders''. Gould said he signed [[Jean-Luc Godard]] to direct.<ref>Gould Striving for Super Status
⚫
Gould bought the film rights and co-produced the movie with Jack Brodsky, who received the producer credit. When Feiffer adapted the play for film he added new scenes, including new characters such as the parents of the character of Alfred Chamberlain (played by [[John Randolph (actor)|John Randolph]] and [[Doris Roberts]]). The budget was $1.3 million.<ref>Shame-Faced Friend's Early Advice to Elliott Gould: Get Out of Acting
Haber, Joyce. Los Angeles Times (8 Jan 1969: k13. </ref> [[United Artists]] were going to finance and release it, and [[Robert Benton]] and David Newman would write the script.<ref>Godard to Direct 'Little Murders' Film
Servi, Vera. Chicago Tribune 10 Jan 1971: n4. </ref>
By A. H. WEILER. New York Times 29 May 1969: 50. </ref>

⚫
When Feiffer adapted the play for film he added new scenes, including new characters such as the parents of the character of Alfred Chamberlain (played by [[John Randolph (actor)|John Randolph]] and [[Doris Roberts]]). Feiffer said "all I've done is change it from a theatre convention to a movie convention."<ref>Jules Feiffer: 'It's Reality That Closes Saturday Night'
Sullivan, Dan. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]14 Feb 1971: r1. </ref>

Gould manage to sell the film to [[Richard Zanuck]], head of Fox, who had greenlit ''MASH'' with Gould. Zanuck agreed to finance the film for $1.4 million. Gould's salary was $200,000 but this was deferred until after the film made a profit.<ref>New Movie Financing Deal Seen
New York Times 3 May 1970: 148. </ref>

Arkin said the film was "about the human condition".<ref>The Serious and Secret Side of Alan Arkin: Art begins at home for this father, who happens to be a very talented man. Serious, Secret Arkin
Marks, J. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file); Chicago, Ill. [Chicago, Ill]23 Mar 1971: a1. </ref>

"Frankly, I'm scared what we did," said Arkin, "particularly the last ten minutes."<ref name="arkin"/>
==Reception==
==Reception==
The film was given a limited release to allow critical reception to grow.<ref name="arkin">'Little Murders': The Ending Even Scares the Director: 'Little Murders' and Madness, Too
By Robert Mottley. The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973); Washington, D.C. [Washington, D.C]14 Feb 1971: N1. </ref>

The film opened to a lukewarm review by Roger Greenspan,<ref>[https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=1&res=9C0CE3D81F30E73BBC4852DFB466838A669EDE 'Little Murders' Is Back As Film Arkin Directed]</ref> and a more positive one by Vincent Canby<ref>{{cite news|first=Vincent|last=Canby|authorlink=Vincent Canby|title=What's So Funny? 'Murders'|publisher=New York Times|location=New York|page=D1|date=February 21, 1971|quote="Little Murders" succeeds, at times triumphantly, and it does everything more or less backwards.}}</ref> in the ''[[New York Times]]''. [[Roger Ebert]]'s review in the ''[[Chicago Sun Times]]'' was more enthusiastic, saying, "One of the reasons it works, and is indeed a definitive reflection of America's darker moods, is that it breaks audiences down into isolated individuals, vulnerable and uncertain."<ref>[http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19710101/REVIEWS/101010318/1023 Roger Ebert's review]</ref>
The film opened to a lukewarm review by Roger Greenspan,<ref>[https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=1&res=9C0CE3D81F30E73BBC4852DFB466838A669EDE 'Little Murders' Is Back As Film Arkin Directed]</ref> and a more positive one by Vincent Canby<ref>{{cite news|first=Vincent|last=Canby|authorlink=Vincent Canby|title=What's So Funny? 'Murders'|publisher=New York Times|location=New York|page=D1|date=February 21, 1971|quote="Little Murders" succeeds, at times triumphantly, and it does everything more or less backwards.}}</ref> in the ''[[New York Times]]''. [[Roger Ebert]]'s review in the ''[[Chicago Sun Times]]'' was more enthusiastic, saying, "One of the reasons it works, and is indeed a definitive reflection of America's darker moods, is that it breaks audiences down into isolated individuals, vulnerable and uncertain."<ref>[http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19710101/REVIEWS/101010318/1023 Roger Ebert's review]</ref>


Revision as of 06:50, 27 November 2018

This article is about the 1971 film. For the 2011 film, see Little Murder.
Little Murders
Directed byAlan Arkin
Written byJules Feiffer
Produced byJack Brodsky
StarringElliott Gould
Marcia Rodd
Vincent Gardenia
Elizabeth Wilson
Jon Korkes
John Randolph
Doris Roberts
Donald Sutherland
Lou Jacobi
Alan Arkin
CinematographyGordon Willis
Edited byHoward Kuperman
Music byFred Kaz
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
February 9, 1971
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.34 million[1]
Box office$1.5 million (rentals)[2]

Little Murders is a 1971 black comedy film starring Elliott Gould and Marcia Rodd, directed by Alan Arkin[3] in his feature directorial debut. It is the story of a girl, Patsy (Rodd), who brings home her boyfriend, Alfred (Gould), to meet her severely dysfunctional family amidst a series of random shootings, garbage strikes and electrical outages ravaging their New York City neighborhood.

Plot

Patsy Newquist is a 27-year-old interior designer who lives in a New York City rife with street crime, noise, obscene phone calls, power blackouts and unsolved homicides. When she sees a defenseless man being attacked by street thugs, she intervenes, but is surprised when the passive victim doesn't even bother to thank her. She ends up attracted to the man, Alfred Chamberlain, a photographer, but finds that he is emotionally vacant, barely able to feel pain or pleasure. He permits muggers to beat him up until they get tired and go away.

Patsy is accustomed to molding men into doing her bidding. Alfred is different. When she brings him home to meet her parents and brother, he is almost non-verbal, except to tell her that he doesn't care for families. He learns that Patsy had another brother who was murdered for no known reason. Patsy's eccentric family is surprised when she announces their intention to wed, then amazed when their marriage ceremony conducted by the existential Rev. Dupas turns into a free-for-all.

Determined to discover why her new husband is the way he is, Patsy coaxes Alfred into traveling to Chicago to visit his parents. He hasn't seen them since he was 17, but asks them to help with a questionnaire about his childhood at Patsy's request.

Alfred ultimately agrees to try to become Patsy's kind of man, the kind willing to "fight back". The instant that happens, a sniper's bullet kills Patsy, again for no apparent reason. A blood-splattered Alfred goes to her parents' apartment, New Yorkers barely noticing his state. He descends into a silent stupor, Patsy's father even having to feed him.

A ranting, disturbed police detective, Lt. Practice, drops by, almost unable to function due to the number of unsolved murders in the city. After he leaves, Alfred goes for a walk in the park. He returns with a rifle, which he doesn't know how to load. Patsy's father shows him how. Then the two of them, along with Patsy's brother, take turns shooting people down on the street.

Cast

Original Play

Development

Feiffer says he was inspired to write the story by the assassination of John F. Kennedy. "Which was odd because I wasn't a big fan of his; he was the first actor in the White House," he said. "And then when Oswald was shot, I thought there is a madness going on. And because of my politics, I saw that madness in Vietnam, too. So the motive of the play was the breakdown of all forms of authority - religion, family, the police. Urban violence was always the metaphor in my mind for something more serious in the country."[4]

Feiffer originally wrote it as a novel. "gone to theater a lot and read plays a lot since adolescence, I realized that if I ever wrote the sort of play I wanted to write, it would close in a week. I felt I'd already done my masochistic years at The Village Voice - eight years of cartoons without a penny. But I felt this grim sense of what was going on and I didn't feel the cartoons could express that fully. I also felt the cartoons were being too easily accepted."[4]

Feiffer worked on the novel for two years but was unhappy with it.[5] Then he discovered an original outline for the novel which he thought would make a good play. He wrote a first draft in three week. "And I realized that whatever the fate of the play, I was stuck as a playwright," said Feiffer. Mr. Feiffer said. "I felt as at home with a play as with the cartoon." [4]

1967 Broadway Production

The play was going to have its world premiere at the Yale School of Drama in October 1966.[6] However that ended when there was a chance it would be produced on Broadway. Alexander Cohen eventually got the rights.[7] Stage rights were also optioned by the Aldwych Theatre in London.[8]

The play was staged on Broadway in 1967 with a cast that included Elliott Gould and [Barbara Cook]] and a budget of $100,000. It was directed by George Sherman.[9]

Reviews were mixed. Walter Kerr said "The comedy comes to a point where it can no longer keep a grin on its face, not even a twisted one. Mr. Feiffer gives over the business of suggesting serious comment from inside a lazy, lunatic stance, and like a too successfully reformed gag man, goes straight."[10][11]

Feiffer called it an "atrocious production" but admits he was involved in all key creative decisions.[12] The play lasted only seven performances. [13] Walter Kerr, who had given the play a mixed review, wrote an article saying the play had promise and that it was a shame the piece could not have been further developed.[14] The fate of the play was given an example of the lack of critical and producer support given to new American plays on Broadway.[12]

1967 London Production

This failure was followed by a successful London production by the Royal Shakespeare Company, directed by Christopher Morahan at the Aldwych Theatre. Reviews were better though not raves and the play was voted by critics as best foreign play of the year.[15] Feiffer said this production "saved my sanity".[12]

1969 Off Broadway Production

Ted Mann had the idea of reviving the play Off-Broadwat and hired Alan Arkin to direct. It was revived in 1969 by Circle in the Square in New York City, directed by Arkin with a cast that included Linda Lavin, Vincent Gardenia, and Fred Willard. [16] Feiffer had no creative involvement in the production.[12]

The New York Times called the production "fantastically funny".[17]

That production ran for 400 performances, and won Feiffer an Obie Award. Lavin won the 1969 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Performance.

There was also a successful 1969 production in Los Angeles.[18]

Production

In January 1969, Elliott Gould announced he had formed his own production company with Jack Brodsky and that they would make two films - The Assistant, from a novel by Bernard Malamud, and Little Murders. Gould said he signed Jean-Luc Godard to direct.[19] United Artists were going to finance and release it, and Robert Benton and David Newman would write the script.[20]

When Feiffer adapted the play for film he added new scenes, including new characters such as the parents of the character of Alfred Chamberlain (played by John Randolph and Doris Roberts). Feiffer said "all I've done is change it from a theatre convention to a movie convention."[21]

Gould manage to sell the film to Richard Zanuck, head of Fox, who had greenlit MASH with Gould. Zanuck agreed to finance the film for $1.4 million. Gould's salary was $200,000 but this was deferred until after the film made a profit.[22]

Arkin said the film was "about the human condition".[23]

"Frankly, I'm scared what we did," said Arkin, "particularly the last ten minutes."[24]

Reception

The film was given a limited release to allow critical reception to grow.[24]

The film opened to a lukewarm review by Roger Greenspan,[25] and a more positive one by Vincent Canby[26] in the New York Times. Roger Ebert's review in the Chicago Sun Times was more enthusiastic, saying, "One of the reasons it works, and is indeed a definitive reflection of America's darker moods, is that it breaks audiences down into isolated individuals, vulnerable and uncertain."[27]


In popular culture

  • On the album Cowbirds and Cuckoos by Ryland Bouchard there is a song titled "Little Murders".
  • On the popular AMC television show Mad Men, set in the 1960s, the character of Megan Draper auditions for the original stage production.
  • Dave Sim has stated that in the comic book Cerebus, the character of The Judge is based on Lou Jacobi's portrayal from this film.

See also

References

  1. ^ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p256
  2. ^ Solomon, pg 231.
  3. ^ "Little Murders". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c THEATER; JULES FEIFFER'S WEST SIDE STORY Freedman, Samuel G. New York Times03 May 1987: A.5.
  5. ^ Our Age Of Violence: Feiffer: Our Age of Violence By JULES FEIFFER. New York Times 23 Apr 1967: 97.
  6. ^ BROADWAY TO GET MUSICAL 'SUNDAY': 1967 Staging of Dassin Film Will Star Miss Mercouri By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 18 May 1966: 41.
  7. ^ BIL BAIRD'S THEATER GETS A HEAD START New York Times 27 July 1966: 44.
  8. ^ The balcony scene--as t'were Coleman, Terry. The Guardian 10 Jan 1967: 7.
  9. ^ FEIFFER SPOOFS AMERICAN FAMILY: Cartoonist's New Comedy Attacks a Stereotype By LOUIS CALTA. New York Times 25 Feb 1967: 15.
  10. ^ Theater: Feiffer's 'Little Murders': Comedy by Cartoonist Opens at Broadhurst By WALTER KERR. New York Times 26 Apr 1967: 38.
  11. ^ Feiffer Wit Sharp in 'Little Murders' Glover, William. Los Angeles Times 28 Apr 1967: e19.
  12. ^ a b c d Feiffer: If at First You . . .: Jules Feiffer: If at First You . . . By TOM BURKE. New York Times 26 Jan 1969: D1.
  13. ^ 'LITTLE MURDERS' TO CLOSE TONIGHT: Feiffer Play Is Ending After Seven Performances By LOUIS CALTA. New York Times 29 Apr 1967: 23.
  14. ^ They Might Have Made It: Two Plays That Might Have Made It By WALTER KERR. New York Times 4 June 1967: X1.
  15. ^ A Strike For 'Murders' By MARTIN ESSLIN. New York Times 23 July 1967: 69.
  16. ^ Arkin Staging Feiffer Play New York Times 21 Nov 1968: 42.
  17. ^ Drama: 'Little Murders' Refuses to Die: Off Broadway Revival Staged by Arkin By CLIVE BARNES. New York Times 06 Jan 1969: 38.
  18. ^ DRAMA REVIEW: Feiffer's 'Murders' Offered Sullivan, Dan. Los Angeles Times 28 Apr 1969: g20.
  19. ^ Gould Striving for Super Status Haber, Joyce. Los Angeles Times (8 Jan 1969: k13.
  20. ^ Godard to Direct 'Little Murders' Film By A. H. WEILER. New York Times 29 May 1969: 50.
  21. ^ Jules Feiffer: 'It's Reality That Closes Saturday Night' Sullivan, Dan. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]14 Feb 1971: r1.
  22. ^ New Movie Financing Deal Seen New York Times 3 May 1970: 148.
  23. ^ The Serious and Secret Side of Alan Arkin: Art begins at home for this father, who happens to be a very talented man. Serious, Secret Arkin Marks, J. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file); Chicago, Ill. [Chicago, Ill]23 Mar 1971: a1.
  24. ^ a b 'Little Murders': The Ending Even Scares the Director: 'Little Murders' and Madness, Too By Robert Mottley. The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973); Washington, D.C. [Washington, D.C]14 Feb 1971: N1.
  25. ^ 'Little Murders' Is Back As Film Arkin Directed
  26. ^ Canby, Vincent (February 21, 1971). "What's So Funny? 'Murders'". New York: New York Times. p. D1. "Little Murders" succeeds, at times triumphantly, and it does everything more or less backwards.
  27. ^ Roger Ebert's review

External links

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