IMDb > Petulia (1968)
Petulia
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Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   987 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 14% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Lawrence B. Marcus (screenplay)
John Haase (novel)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Petulia on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 June 1968 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
...the uncommon movie. more
Plot:
An unhappily married socialite finds solace in the company of a recently divorced doctor. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
2 nominations more
User Comments:
Beautifully Dated...It Adds to the Film. more (30 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Julie Christie ... Petulia

George C. Scott ... Archie

Richard Chamberlain ... David
Arthur Hill ... Barney
Shirley Knight ... Polo

Pippa Scott ... May
Kathleen Widdoes ... Wilma
Roger Bowen ... Warren
Richard Dysart ... Motel Receptionist
Ruth Kobart ... Nun

Ellen Geer ... Nun
Lou Gilbert ... Mr. Howard
Nate Esformes ... Mr. Mendoza (as Nat Esformes)
Maria Val ... Mrs. Mendoza
Vincent Arias ... Oliver
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Additional Details

Runtime:
105 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Austin Pendleton's first film. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The way Petulia holds Archie's hand in the elevator changes between shots. more
Quotes:
David Danner: If I come for you, let me have a flair. Right between the eyes. more
Movie Connections:

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
26 out of 31 people found the following comment useful.
Beautifully Dated...It Adds to the Film., 29 April 2004
Author: chconnol from New York, N.Y.

"Petulia" is one of the best American films of all time. It should be ranked with "Citizen Kane" and I'm not being sarcastic.

The beauty of the film is how dated it is. Some films that "define" or capture a certain period of time very well often appear very dated later on and lose their effectiveness because of it. But because "Petulia" is so definately set in it's time period, it's like watching a time capsule. There are films which are made today that take place in the late 60's and try for that "mod" feel. But they're removed from that time and therefore can't capture the true feeling of that tumultuous time. "Petulia" captures it beautifully and integrates the 60's experience into it's storyline and structure. For example, when Archie returns from a day out with his sons and returns to his apartment, on TV there is a newscast about Vietnam. It's not overplayed or anything. It's just there as it would have been on any TV in 1968. It's carefully woven into the structure of the film.

Lester has been praised for his editing in this film and it's pretty ingenious. But overall, I found it at times a little too much. There is a LOT of jumping around in time. We learn the story of Petulia and her abusive husband and the little Mexican boy very slowly over the course of the film. It's only in the final moments of the film where we get the gyst of Petulia's neediness and of Archie's as well. I will never forget the final moment where Petulia softly says Archie's name before being putt under gas to have her baby.

A VERY 60's film. Anyone with an interest in the times and how they might've felt should see this film. One of the most underrated films of all time. Lester shows his true genius here. And like the film, he's the most underrated director. Too bad he's not making films anymore.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Petulia (1968)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Fabulous film!!! hollywoodmutt
Anyone notice the Grateful Dead........ dragster-2
the 'trippy' 60s editing and style has aged better here then other films teejay6682
The Self-Check-In Motel. swinginglondon-2
How is it? brian_brockway
Does anyone else see Scott's casting as extremely ironic? calliehutch
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