Little Murders (1971)

Director:

Alan Arkin

Writers:

Jules Feiffer (play)
Jules Feiffer (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 February 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A girl brings home her latest boyfriend to meet her parents. This is done against the background of...

Plot Keywords:

Father Daughter Relationship | Murdered Brother | Murder Investigation | New York City | Closet

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Elliott Gould	...	Alfred Chamberlain
Marcia Rodd	...	Patsy Newquist
Vincent Gardenia	...	Mr. Newquist
Elizabeth Wilson	...	Mrs. Newquist
Jon Korkes	...	Kenny Newquist
John Randolph	...	Mr. Chamberlain
Doris Roberts	...	Mrs. Chamberlain
Lou Jacobi	...	Judge Stern
Donald Sutherland	...	Rev. Dupas
Alan Arkin	...	Lt. Practice

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #22727) | Sweden:15 | USA:R (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Kiamesha Lake, New York, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Star Elliott Gould starred in the original 1967 Broadway production of "Little Murders", which flopped after one week of seven performances in late April at the Broadhurst Theatre. Gould was the only cast member to appear in the film, reprising his role as Alfred Chamberlain. The Broadway cast included Barbara Cook as Alfred's girlfriend and future wife Patsy Newquist, Heywood Hale Broun as her father Carol Newquist, Ruth White as her mother Marjorie, and David Steinberg as her brother Kenny. Phil Leeds appeared as Lt. Practice and Richard Schaal was Rev. Dupas. Alfred's parents did not appear as characters in the original play.

Quotes:

Alfred Chamberlain: I trust you.
Patsy Newquist: Oh, Alfred, do you really?
Alfred Chamberlain: I nearly trust you.
Patsy Newquist: Nearly?
Alfred Chamberlain: I nearly do. I really nearly do.
Patsy Newquist: [ecstatically] Oh, Alfred!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Remington Steele: Breath of Steele (#3.10)" (1984)

Soundtrack:

Skating in Central Park

Sutherland, Gould and and Arkin. Need I say more?

I asked the clerk at my local video store to suggest a comedy from the 70's on VHS as my DVD player was broken. He recommended Little Murders and got a glazed over look in his eye and an idiots smile on his face, obviously reminiscing over a scene in the film. That was enough for me to want to rent it, and I'm glad I did. The acting in this film is outstanding, the highlight for me was Alan Arkin playing a Dr. Strangelove esquire police officer and of course the scene with Donald Sutherland as the minister. The film holds up remarkably well for having been filmed over 35 years ago, it must have been ahead of it's time when it came out. Aside from a few slang terms that were definitely from a by gone era, the film could easily take place today. All in all worth the effort if for nothing else than an outstanding cast of Arkin, Sutherland and Gould. Did it get any better than that acting wise in the 1970?