That Cold Day in the Park (1969)

A rich but lonely woman, Frances Austen, one day invites a boy from a nearby park to her apartment and offers to let him live there.

Director:

Robert Altman

Writers:

Gillian Freeman (screenplay), Peter Miles (novel)

Stars:

Sandy Dennis, Michael Burns, Susanne Benton

Cast

Cast overview:
Sandy Dennis	...	Frances Austen
Michael Burns	...	The Boy
Susanne Benton	...	Nina
David Garfield	...	Nick (as John Garfield Jr.)
Luana Anders	...	Sylvia
Edward Greenhalgh	...	Dr. Stevenson
Doris Buckinham	...	Mrs. Ebury (as Doris Buckingham)
Frank Wade	...	Mr. Ebury
Alicia Ammon	...	Mrs. Pitt
Rae Brown	...	Mrs. Parnell
Lloyd Berry	...	Mr. Parnell
Linda Sorensen	...	Prostitute
Michael Murphy	...	The Rounder

Storyline

Robert Altman's sadly neglected film that, along with his later "Images", fits into the unconventional psycho-thriller mold. A bizarre story with Sandy Dennis as a spinster who takes in a handsome young man (Michael Burns) who is pretending to be mute. She imprisons the boy and supplies his every need, including a prostitute (Luana Anders), whom she goes out and brings home for Burns' pleasure.

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Plot Keywords:

spinster | male nudity | male rear nudity | independent film | based on novel

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Taglines:

HOW FAR WILL AWOMAN GO...to possess a 19 year-old boy?

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 June 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Az a hideg nap a parkban

Filming Locations:

Panorama Studios, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Commonwealth United Entertainment, Factor-Altman-Mirell Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jack Nicholson was very keen on playing the role of 'the boy'. He even discussed it with 'Robert Altman' in his office. But Altman turned him down: "Jack, I think you're just too old."

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Quotes

Frances Austen: I'm not going to get under the covers or anything. I'll just lay on top. I have to tell you something. If you feel that you want to make love to me, it's all right. I want you to make love to me. Please.

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Connections

Remade as No Skin Off My Ass (1993)

User Reviews

Desperate for companionship, a lonely spinster invites a strange young boy up to her apartment.

One of the gifted Robert Altman's earliest and most underrated films, and a real showcase for the exceptionally talented Sandy Dennis who is at her best as the deluded heroine. Granted, Dennis has been known to overact a time or two, but definitely not here. She delivers a quietly intense, effective performance that sticks with you. If you're a Dennis devotee like me, THAT COLD DAY IN THE PARK is a terrific little gem you simply can't afford to miss. Michael Burns, as the odd young man that Dennis takes under her wing, also does well in his role, but the film belongs to Sandy who should have won a second Oscar for this film(she won the Academy Award three years earlier for her scene-stealing supporting role in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?). Altman should have also won an Oscar for his superb direction. This dark, disturbing drama makes a great companion piece to William Wyler's THE COLLECTOR. After watching both films innumerable times, I still find it difficult to say which is the better flick. If I absolutely had to choose between this dynamic duo, I'd choose THAT COLD DAY IN THE PARK.