| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Jason Robards | ... |
Murray
|
|
| Barbara Harris | ... |
Sandra
|
|
| Martin Balsam | ... |
Arnold
|
|
|
|
Gene Saks | ... |
Leo
|
| William Daniels | ... |
Albert
|
|
|
|
Philip Bruns | ... |
The Man in The Restaurant
(as Phil Bruns)
|
| John McMartin | ... |
The Man in the Office
(as John Macmartin)
|
|
| Barry Gordon | ... |
Nick Burns /
Wilbur Malcome Burns /
Theodore Burns /
Raphael Sabatini /
Dr. Morris Fishbein /
Woodrow Burns /
Chevrolet Burns /
Big Sam Burns /
Lefty Burns
|
|
Twelve-year-old Nick lives with his Uncle Murray, a Mr.Micawber-like Dickensian character who keeps hoping something won't turn up. What turns up is a social worker, who falls in love with Murray and a bit in love with Nick. As the child welfare people try to force Murray to become a conventional man (as the price they demand for allowing him to keep Nick), the nephew, who until now has gloried in his Uncle's iconoclastic approach to life, tries to play mediator. But when he succeeds, he is alarmed by the uncle's willingness to cave in to society in order to save the relationship. Written by Warlen Bassham <wcb@zso.dec.com>
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!