Barefoot in the Park (1967)

Paul, a conservative young lawyer, marries the vivacious Corie. Their highly passionate relationship descends into comical discord in a five-flight New York City walk-up apartment.

Director:

Gene Saks

Writers:

Neil Simon (play), Neil Simon (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Charles Boyer

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Redford	...	Paul Bratter
Jane Fonda	...	Corie Bratter
Charles Boyer	...	Victor Velasco
Mildred Natwick	...	Ethel Banks
Herb Edelman	...	Harry Pepper (as Herbert Edelman)
Mabel Albertson	...	Harriet
Fritz Feld	...	Restaurant Proprietor
James Stone	...	Delivery Man (as James F. Stone)
Ted Hartley	...	Frank

Storyline

New Yorkers Paul Bratter and Corie Bratter née Banks have just gotten married. He is a stuffed shirt just starting his career as a lawyer. She is an independently minded free spirit who prides herself on doing the illogical purely out of a sense of adventure, such acts as walking through Washington Square Park barefoot when it's 17°F outside. Their six day honeymoon at the Plaza Hotel shows that they can get to know each other easily in the biblical sense. But they will see if they can get to know each other in their real life when they move into their first apartment, a cozy (in other words, small), slightly broken down top floor unit in a five story walk-up. While Corie joyfully bounds up and down the stairs, Paul, always winded after the fact, hates the fact of having to walk up the six flights of stairs, if one includes the stairs that comprise the outside front stoop. Beyond the issues with the apartment itself, Paul and Corie will have to deal with an odd assortment of neighbors...

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Plot Keywords:

washington square manhattan | pretty woman | sexy woman | united states of america | united states | 

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Taglines:

Wake up! Make love! Fall over laughing!!!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was made and released about four years after its source stage play of the same name by Neil Simon was first performed in 1963. The original Broadway production opened at the Biltmore Theater on 23rd October 1963 and ran for 1530 performances until 25th June 1967 which was a month after the film opened in the USA. The play was nominated for four Tony Awards in 1964 including Best Play, Best Actress - Elizabeth Ashley, Best Producer (Dramatic) - Arnold Saint Subber and Best Director (Dramatic) - Mike Nichols, it winning only for the latter category. Robert Redford, Mildred Natwick and Herb Edelman recreated their Broadway roles in this movie version. The play's Broadway run more than doubled the season of Simon's previous play, "Come Blow Your Horn". The play's setting described in the play's intro says: "The Bratter's apartment on East 48th Street, New York City. The present".

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Goofs

During the opening credits, while the horse and carriage are making their way to the Plaza, an obvious double is standing (or should I say "sitting") in for Robert Redford. It's harder to see, but I think there was possibly a Jane Fonda double early on in the sequence. She is definitely the one who throws the bouquet to the mounted police officer, but Robert Redford doesn't show up in the carriage until the close up at the Plaza.

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Quotes

Harry Pepper, Telephone man: [Paul is coming home, but the furniture hasn't arrived yet] How long did you say you were married?
Corie Bratter: Six days.
Harry Pepper, Telephone man: He won't notice the place is empty 'til June.

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Connections

Referenced in Kate & Leopold (2001)

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Soundtracks

Shama, Shama
Written by Danny Gould, Neil Simon and Luben Balabanoff

User Reviews

Another One Of Neil Simon's Funniest Films

Noted playwright Neil Simon has successfully adapted many of his plays onto film and this 1967 Paramount release ranks as one of his best film adaptations of all. Robert Redford reprises his stage role as a newly married man who along with his new bride (Jane Fonda) gets involved in many hilarious situations as Fonda attempts to help him be more "free-spirited." A 1960's comedy classic.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 May 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Barefoot in the Park

Filming Locations:

111 Waverly Place, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wallis-Hazen, Nancy Enterprises Inc. (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1