The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)

A daydreamer convinces his radio personality brother to help fund one of his get-rich-quick schemes.

Director:

Bob Rafelson

Writers:

Jacob Brackman (screenplay), Bob Rafelson (story)

Stars:

Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern, Ellen Burstyn

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Nicholson	...	David Staebler
Bruce Dern	...	Jason Staebler
Ellen Burstyn	...	Sally
Julia Anne Robinson	...	Jessica
Scatman Crothers	...	Lewis (as Benjamin 'Scatman' Crothers)
Charles LaVine	...	Grandfather
Arnold Williams	...	Rosko
John P. Ryan	...	Surtees (as John Ryan)
Sully Boyar	...	Lebowitz
Josh Mostel	...	Frank
William Pabst	...	Bidlack
Garry Goodrow	...	Nervous Man (as Gary Goodrow)
Imogene Bliss	...	Magda
Ann Thomas	...	Bambi
Tom Overton	...	Spot Operator

Storyline

'It's Monopoly out there'. Jason Staebler, The King of Marvin Gardens, has gone directly to jail, lives on the Boardwalk and fronts for the local mob in Atlantic City. He is also a dreamer who asks his brother, David, a radio personality from Philadelphia to help him build a paradise on a Pacific Island - asking him to believe in yet another of his dreams, yet another of his get-rich-quick schemes. But luck is against them both and the game ends badly - real life reduced to radio drama.

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Plot Keywords:

watching tv | cutting one's hair | betrayal | gambling license | false promise of the american dream | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in the once popular Marlborough-Blenhim hotel, yet by 1972 the hotel had fallen on hard times like most of Atlantic City. The hotel continued operating until 1978 when it was bought by Park Place Entertainment. Despite protests, the hotel was demolished in 1979, and replaced with Bally's Park Place Casino.

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Goofs

David listens to tape recording he made but during close-up of tape recorder, none of the buttons that would allow it to play are depressed.

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Quotes

[first lines]
David Staebler: I promised that I would tell you... why I never eat fish. When we all moved into my grandfather's house... it somehow fell to me to keep the old man's mind off of things. We would play casino over an old card table. He never let me win. One time he put one of those tiny model trains... into my hamburger. He was a practical joker. I broke my tooth on it. On Friday evenings we had fish at our house. Every Friday. Not on religious grounds, but because... Grandpa was a fish enthusiast....
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The Columbia Pictures logo does not appear on this film.

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Connections

Referenced in People I Know (2002)

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Soundtracks

Steppin' Out With My Baby
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Heard when Jessica dances

User Reviews

There's no there there.

I read the reviews and comments that seem to indicate a deep and insightful movie. I guess I am just a simpleton, but I simply don't get it. It seems a quiet character study type of film. It contrasts the two brothers, played very well by Jack Nicholson and Bruce Dern, one as the shady hustler, and one as a semi-realist. It contrasts the two women, also played very well by Ellen Burstyn and Julia Ann Robinson, one of them nearing the end of her time wielding sexual power over men, and the other, the step-daughter, just coming into her time. It seems to compare the bleak Atlantic City winter with the age of the older woman, and the dreams of the older brother. And what's up with all the black gangsters? No, I just don't get it.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

13 October 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Philosopher King

Filming Locations:

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBS Productions, Columbia Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1