A New Leaf (1971)

Henry Graham is a man with a problem: he has run through his entire inheritance, and is completely unequipped to provide for himself. His childhood guardian, Uncle Harry (a deliciously ... See full summary »

Director:

Elaine May

Writers:

Elaine May, Jack Ritchie (story)

Stars:

Walter Matthau, Elaine May, Jack Weston

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Walter Matthau	...	Henry Graham
Elaine May	...	Henrietta Lowell
Jack Weston	...	Andy McPherson
George Rose	...	Harold
James Coco	...	Uncle Harry
Doris Roberts	...	Mrs. Traggert
Renée Taylor	...	Sharon Hart
William Redfield	...	Beckett
Graham Jarvis	...	Bo
Jess Osuna	...	Frank
David Doyle	...	Mel
Fred Stewart	...	Mr. von Rensaeller
Mark Gordon	...	John
Rose Arrick	...	Gloria Cunliffe

Storyline

Henry Graham is a man with a problem: he has run through his entire inheritance, and is completely unequipped to provide for himself. His childhood guardian, Uncle Harry (a deliciously mean-spirited James Coco), refuses to give him a dime, and Henry, completely unwilling to exercise the only solution he sees--suicide-- devises a plan with the help of his imaginative butler: he can make money the old-fashioned way--he can marry it. With a temporary loan from Uncle Harry to tide him over, Henry has six weeks to find a bride, marry her, and repay the money, or else he must forfeit all his property to his uncle. With only days remaining, Henry meets clumsy, painfully shy heiress Henrietta Lowell (played by director Elaine May). She's the answer to his prayers--if only Henry can overcome the obstacles placed in his path by Uncle Harry, Henrietta's lawyer, and Henry's own reluctance to wed.

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Plot Keywords:

lawyer | murder | camping | clumsy | heiress | 

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Taglines:

Romeo and Juliet, Bob and Bing, Ulysses and Grant, George and Martha, Martha and John, Bob and Carol, Ted and Alice, Bob and Alice, Ted and Carol, Bob and Ted, Carol and Alice, Pat and Dick, Julie and David, Byron and His Sister, Bill and Coo, Liz and Eddie, Liz and Mike, Liz and Dick, Dick and Sybil, Eddie and Debbie, Muck and Meyer, Hollywood and Vine, Anthony and Cleopatra, and now Henry & Henrietta... the love couple of the seventies... and the laugh riot of the year.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 July 1971 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Corazón verde

Filming Locations:

Maine, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Aries Productions, Elkins Entertainment, Elkins Productions International Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film as delivered by Elaine May was drastically re-cut and shortened ("butchered", according to some) by Paramount before its release. Sadly, neither the director's cut of the film nor the original shooting script has ever been made publicly available.

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Quotes

Harold: How many men these days require the services of a gentleman's gentleman? How many men have your devotion to form, sir? You have managed, in your own lifetime Mr. Graham, to keep alive traditions that were dead before you were born.

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Connections

Referenced in Columbo: Étude in Black (1972)

User Reviews

An almost forgotten comedy classic

Few people have ever even heard of "A New Leaf" and that is a shame. It is one of the funniest films in the last 30 years. Walter Matthau plays a spoiled rich man who discovers that his fortune is gone and he needs to marry in a short time to save what little he has left. His solution? Woo a rich woman, marry her, and kill her all in a week. So he picks the nerdy, klutzy, and not so attractive Elaine May (brilliant...she also wrote and directed) whose love is flowers. The film then follows Matthau as he attempts to carry out his plan. This film is full of BIG laughs and should be seen by anyone who loves a good comedy.