Cactus Flower (1969)

Director:

Gene Saks

Writers:

Abe Burrows (stage play)
Pierre Barillet (play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 December 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

'Cactus Flower' Has Flower Power

Plot:

A dentist pretends to be married to avoid commitment, but when he falls for his girlfriend and proposes, he must recruit his lovelorn nurse to pose as his wife.

Plot Keywords:

Dentist | Neighbor | Cactus | Nurse | Deception

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Walter Matthau	...	Dr. Julian Winston
Ingrid Bergman	...	Stephanie Dickinson
Goldie Hawn	...	Toni Simmons
Jack Weston	...	Harvey Greenfield
Rick Lenz	...	Igor Sullivan
Vito Scotti	...	Señor Arturo Sánchez
Irene Hervey	...	Mrs. Durant
Eve Bruce	...	Georgia
Irwin Charone	...	Record Store Manager
Matthew Saks	...	Nephew
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Linda Burton	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Hy Chase	...	1st Waiter (uncredited)
Don Furneaux	...	Parcel Post Man (uncredited)
Tani Guthrie	...	Record Store Customer (uncredited)
Lee Harris	...	3rd Waiter (uncredited)
Merriana Henriq	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Peter Morrison Jacobs	...	Bearded Young Man (uncredited)
Rick Lamson	...	Maitre D' (uncredited)
Mary Jane Mangler	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Barbara Randolph	...	Cigarette Girl (uncredited)
Ralph Roberts	...	4th Waiter (uncredited)
Lucy Saroyan	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Bob Stiles	...	2nd Waiter (uncredited)
Sylvia Stone	...	Gray-Haired Woman (uncredited)
George Winters	...	Mail Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Gene Saks

Writing credits
Abe Burrows		(stage play)
Pierre Barillet		(play "Fleur de cactus") (as Barillet) and
Jean-Pierre Grédy		(play "Fleur de cactus") (as Gredy)
I.A.L. Diamond		(screenplay)

Produced by
M.J. Frankovich	....	producer

Original Music by
Quincy Jones

Cinematography by
Charles Lang		(director of photography) (as Charles E. Lang)

Film Editing by
Maury Winetrobe

Production Design by
Robert Clatworthy

Set Decoration by
Edward G. Boyle		(as Ed Boyle)

Costume Design by
Moss Mabry

Makeup Department
John O'Gorman	....	makeup supervisor: Ingrid Bergman

Production Management
William O'Sullivan	....	executive production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anthony Ray	....	assistant director

Art Department
Max Frankel	....	property master

Sound Department
Whitey Ford	....	sound
Arthur Piantadosi	....	sound

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Guy C. Verhille	....	wardrobe: men (as Guy Verhille)

Editorial Department
Abe Lincoln Jr.	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Jimmie Haskell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Hal Mooney	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Leo Shuken	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
David Merrick	....	stage producer: New York
Miriam Nelson	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents) (as Columbia Pictures)
• Frankovich Productions (as A Frankovich Production)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2004) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• LK-TEL (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2004) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)

Other Companies

• Sunset Gower Studios  sound stages

Also Known As:

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:AL (orginal rating)

Filming Locations:

252 W. 11th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Lauren Bacall played the part of Stephanie Dickinson on the Broadway stage.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Julian is driving Stephanie home, the shot from the driver's side of the car reveals the shadow of the car against the traffic on the movie screen behind them.

Quotes:

Dr. Julian Winston:I must say, it's grotesque. A woman your age, throwing yourself at a kid like that!
Stephanie:And what about that eh, father-daughter thing of yours, if you don't think that's ridiculous...
Dr. Julian Winston:Well, it's different for a man. If a man is with a younger woman it looks entirely appropriate, but when it's the other way around, it's disg...
Stephanie:Well, you go to your church and I'll go to mine.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Star Spangled Banner

Pizza & Bergman -A Perfect Evening

Cactus Flower is what I call a "pizza movie" -A personal favorite that never fails to satisfy. Perfect for an evening at home with a pizza. Knowing all the lines (and what lines!) by heart only enhances the enjoyment.

Since so many others here have retold the plot, I'll simply add the correction that Bergman's character, Miss Dickinson, was a nurse-receptionist, meaning she was a skilled nurse -and therefore an educated person -not "just" a receptionist.

Bergman's performance in this film -and the film itself- was largely dismissed at the time, but today's audiences will marvel at her range; not just the impeccable comic timing, but the ability to make us believe her character is unaware of her own feelings while revealing them so clearly to Toni and to us. While the general plot stretches credibility, Bergman's performance is compelling: honest and utterly believable.

Also a standout is Jack Weston's performance as the Matthau's old friend and co-conspirator, Harvey. No one could deliver a zinger like Weston, and I.A.L. Diamond's script gives him plenty. For example: "That's such a big, dirty, rotten lie it has class." Weston excelled at slightly seedy characters because he exuded a warmth that allowed you to forgive his characters' flaws.

The film is a fairly straight adaptation of the Abe Burrows play (which was itself adapted from a French play by Barillet and Gredy). On Broadway Matthau's role was played by Barry Nelson. Bergman's by Lauren Bacall, and Hawn's by Brenda Vaccaro. It ran for 1,234 performances (three years) and was nominated for two Tony Awards (Vaccaro and Burt Brinckerhoff, who played Igor).

For me, the film's score, written and adapted by the legendary Quincy Jones is another highlight. The main theme (A Time For Love Is Anytime) is performed by Sarah Vaughn over the opening and closing credits. It is also insinuated in different arrangements throughout the film, most notably as the romantic piano music underscoring Berman's speech to Hawn in the record store. Jones also created covers of popular songs from the period (To Sir With Love, I'm A Believer) for the night club scenes. As with all of the film's elements, there is a tremendous amount of talent, taste, and professionalism evident.

In my opinion, few modern romantic comedies can hold a candle to this classic. It's great to finally have it available on DVD. Time to call for a pizza...