Plaza Suite (1971)

Film version of the Neil Simon play has three separate acts set in the same hotel suite in New York's Plaza Hotel with Walter Matthau in a triple role. In the first, Karen Nash tries to get... See full summary »

Director:

Arthur Hiller

Writers:

Neil Simon (play), Neil Simon (screenplay)

Stars:

Walter Matthau, Lee Grant, Barbara Harris

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Walter Matthau	...	Roy Hubley / Jesse Kiplinger / Sam Nash
Lee Grant	...	Norma Hubley
Barbara Harris	...	Muriel Tate
Maureen Stapleton	...	Karen Nash
Louise Sorel	...	Miss McCormack
Dan Ferrone	...	Bellboy
José Ocasio	...	Room Service Waiter (as Jose Ocasio)
Thomas Carey	...	Borden Eisler
Jenny Sullivan	...	Mimsey Hubley
Augusta Dabney	...	Mrs. Eisler
Alan North	...	Mr. Eisler

Storyline

Film version of the Neil Simon play has three separate acts set in the same hotel suite in New York's Plaza Hotel with Walter Matthau in a triple role. In the first, Karen Nash tries to get her inattentive husband Sam's attention to spruce up their failing marriage. In the second, brash film producer Jesse Kiplinger tries to get his former one-time flame Muriel to see him for what he stands for. In the third, Roy Hubley and his wife Norma try and try to get their uncertain-of-herself daughter out of the bathroom before her approaching wedding.

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Plot Keywords:

hotel | wedding | marriage | adultery | love affair | 

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Taglines:

Book into Neil Simon's Hotel Suite for the time of your life

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 May 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Appartamento al Plaza

Filming Locations:

Plaza Hotel - 750 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was made and released about three years after its source play of the same name by Neil Simon was first performed in 1968. The original Broadway production of the play opened at the Plymouth Theater on 14th February 1968 and ran for 1097 performances until 3rd October 1970. The play was nominated for three 1968 Tony Awards including Best Play and Best Actress - Maureen Stapleton. The Broadway stage production was directed by Mike Nichols who won the Tony for Best Director. Stapleton and Jose Ocasio reprise their roles in this movie version.

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Goofs

Each act is set in Suite 719. In Act 3, Ed Hubley goes out on the ledge outside the suite's window. However in the final shot of The Plaza it is clear that there is no ledge at the seventh floor.

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Quotes

Norma Hubley: Roy, just talk nicely and she'll come out.
Roy Hubley: We've had "nice talking," now we're gonna have "door breaking."

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Connections

Followed by London Suite (1996)

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Soundtracks

"Tangerine"
by Johnny Mercer and Victor Schertzinger

User Reviews

Three stories in one movie

This movie features Walter Matthau in three separate roles but the real stars are the women he performs with: Maureen Stapleton, Barbara Harris and Lee Grant. In each case, we see them in the roles of wife, girlfriend and mother. Maureen Stapleton's role was sad and the other two--Harris and Grant-- are comical. I found the roles of these women were more interesting and the acting more convincing than Walter Matthau. I am a fan of Walter Matthau but in this film he gives a lacklustre performance with limited material in the first story and overblown performances in the other two. Matthau is usually a very funny guy with great lines and superb delivery but the humour just isn't there and the lines fall flat. All three stories deal with marriage and relationships at various stages of life. The common thread is that they take place in the same suite at New York City's Plaza Hotel, a Neil Simon touch.