Petulia (1968)

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

Lawrence B. Marcus (screenplay)
John Haase (novel)
(more)

Release Date:

10 June 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

...the uncommon movie.

Plot:

An unhappily married socialite finds solace in the company of a recently divorced doctor.

Plot Keywords:

Socialite | Marriage | Doctor | Abusive Husband | Flashback

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Julie Christie	...	Petulia Danner
George C. Scott	...	Dr. Archie Bollen
Richard Chamberlain	...	David Danner
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
Eric Weiss	...	Michael
Kevin Cooper	...	Stevie
Joseph Cotten	...	Mr. Danner
The Grateful Dead	...	Themselves
Big Brother and the Holding Company	...	Themselves
The Committee	...	Themselves
Ace Trucking Company	...	Themselves (as A.T.C. Company)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rene Auberjonois	...	Fred Six (uncredited)
Bruce Chesse	...	Tourist (uncredited)
Barbara Colby	...	Patient (uncredited)
Michael Earl	...	Boy in Park (uncredited)
Mickey Hart	...	Hippie 2 (uncredited)
Howard Hesseman	...	Hippie (uncredited)
Phil Lesh	...	Hippie 4 (uncredited)
Ron McKernan	...	Hippie 5 (uncredited)
DeAnn Mears	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Josephine Nichols	...	Neighbor (uncredited)
Austin Pendleton	...	Intern (uncredited)
Danny Rifkin	...	Hippie 6 (uncredited)
Mel Stewart	...	Supermarket Clerk (uncredited)
Bob Weir	...	Hippie 7 (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Lester

Writing credits
Lawrence B. Marcus		(screenplay)
John Haase		(novel "Me and the Arch Kook Petulia")
Barbara Turner		(adaptation)

Produced by
Don Devlin	....	executive associate producer
Denis O'Dell	....	associate producer
Raymond Wagner	....	producer

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
Nicolas Roeg		(as Nicholas Roeg)

Film Editing by
Antony Gibbs

Casting by
Fred Roos

Production Design by
Tony Walton

Set Decoration by
Audrey A. Blasdel		(as Audrey Blasdel)

Costume Design by
Tony Walton

Makeup Department
Gustaf Norin	....	makeup artist (as Gus Norin)
Vivienne Walker	....	hair stylist (as Vivian Zavitz)

Production Management
Emmett Emerson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John D. Bloss	....	assistant director (as John Bloss)
Michael J. Dmytryk	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Stephen R. Ferry	....	property master (as Stephen Ferry)
Dean Tavoularis	....	associate art director

Sound Department
Don Challis	....	dubbing editor
Gerry Humphreys	....	dubbing mixer
Francis E. Stahl	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Freddie Cooper	....	camera operator
Gibby Germaine	....	chief electrician
Paul Hawkins	....	light show
Paul Wilson	....	camera operator
Robert Willoughby	....	special still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Arlette Nastat	....	costumes: Miss Christie (as Arlette Nastat 'Real')
Rita Riggs	....	wardrobe
Ray Summers	....	wardrobe

Music Department
John Barry	....	conductor

Other crew
Rita Davison	....	continuity
David Hicks	....	design consultant
Harry Zubrinsky	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Petersham Pictures
• Warner Brothers/Seven Arts

Distributors

• Warner Brothers/Seven Arts (1968) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1973) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm Technicolor print)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Gumps  furnishings

Also Known As:

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved | USA:R | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | West Germany:18 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Trees of Mystery, Klamath, California, USA

Company:

Petersham Pictures

Trivia:

Austin Pendleton's first film.

Goofs:

Continuity: Archie folds his arms when Petulia shows up with the tuba, but in next cut, arms are down.

Quotes:

Petulia:I turned those gentle hands into fists. You were the gentlest man I ever knew.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Viola Lee Blues

Beautifully Dated...It Adds to the Film.

"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.