Up the Sandbox (1972)

A bored housewife takes refuge in a fantasy world.

Director:

Irvin Kershner

Writers:

Paul Zindel (screenplay), Anne Richardson Roiphe (novel)

Stars:

Barbra Streisand, David Selby, Ariane Heller

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbra Streisand	...	Margaret Reynolds
David Selby	...	Paul Reynolds
Ariane Heller	...	Elizabeth Reynolds
Terry Smith	...	Peter
Gary Smith	...	Peter
Jane Hoffman	...	Mrs. Koerner
John C. Becher	...	Mr. Koerner
Jacobo Morales	...	Fidel Castro
Paul Benedict	...	Dr. Beineke
George S. Irving	...	Dr. Keglin (as George Irving)
Pearl Shear	...	Aunt Till
Carl Gottlieb	...	Vinnie
Joseph Bova	...	John
Mary Louise Wilson	...	Betty
Marilyn Curtis	...	Judy

Storyline

A young wife and mother, bored with day-to-day life in New York City and neglected by her husband, slips into increasingly outrageous fantasies: her mother breaking into the apartment, an explorer's demonstration of tribal fertility music at a party causing strange transformations, and joining terrorists to plant explosives in the Statue of Liberty.

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Plot Keywords:

knocked unconscious | new york city | siren the alarm | television camera | cake | 

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Taglines:

Barbra Streisand is the Woman of the Year in the Picture of the Year!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

This and her movie All Night Long (1981) (the only movie until Meet the Fockers (2004) in which she was only a supporting player and not the star), grossed roughly $4 million in total, making them her lowest-grossing productions. Despite the box-office failure of this movie, it garnered her some of the best personal reviews of her career up to that time, and is reportedly one of her favorite performances she's given on-screen.

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Quotes

Mrs. Koerner: Remember, marriage is a 75 - 25 proposition... the woman gives 75.

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Crazy Credits

Most of the opening titles are shown over a close-up shot of an infant's buttocks.

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Connections

Referenced in Massage Parlor Murders! (1973)

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Soundtracks

Sobre las olas (Over the Waves)
(uncredited)
Music by Juventino Rosas
Heard at the merry-go-round

User Reviews

Barbara Streisand's Most Unique Film

Thanks to Irvin Kershner's assured surreal direction, Streisand gives a fine performance in a very unusual 1972 film. Filled with verite style dialogues and intense emotional confrontations amid bizarre fantasy sequences, UP THE SANDBOX is a treat for unaware viewers. Though the film actually espouses a rather conservative agenda, the characters don't go to extremes; they're rather real.

It's easy to see how confused audiences must have been back in the day as the film subtly segues into Sttreisand's dream life. The fertility scene in Kenya actually is one of the worst while the guerilla attack on the Statue of Liberty with the WTC in the background will give you chills.

Overall, a fascinating film with gorgeous cinematography by Gordon Willis. Non-Streisand fans can enjoy this just for the 70's style direction.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

18 April 1973 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

A Mulher das Mil Caras

Filming Locations:

Samburu National Reserve, Kenya

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Barwood Films, First Artists

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1