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 | taxicab | television camera | 

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Taglines:

Dust Mop Of The Year!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie stars Barbra Streisand and was directed by Irvin Kershner who later directed S*P*Y*S (1974) staring' Elliott Gould'. Streisand and Gould were once married.

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Quotes

Mrs. Koerner: Look at this mess. I don't even wanna put my gloves down anywhere, move to New Jersey, the air is cleaner and nobody writes lesbians unite in the elevator.

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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

Beautfiul Dreamer
(uncredited)
Written by Stephen Foster
Sung at the anniversary party

User Reviews

One of Barbra's best

This is One of Barbra's finest movies and, ironicly, did the poorest at the box office. After playing larger than life characters in her last 5 films, here Barbra plays a "normal", regular human being. A bored New York housewife who uses daydreams to escape from her unfullfulling life. There are many touching and heartfelt moments in this film, as well as very funny ones. It is a comedy/drama with depth and dimmensions. In one scene Barbra stands up to Fidel Castro with her views on womanhood and war.Yet, a little later the two have a hystericly funny scene where he reveals a "secret" to her. Barbra stands up to her domineering mother,unexpectedly, at her parents anniversary party, and...lets just say that someone ends up with something other than egg, on their face! The moments where Barbra is washing and lovingly taking care of her children, as well as the moments where she is in an abortion clinic pondering her thoughts, are heartfelt indeed. A wonderfully different and heartfelt, funny movie. I highly recommend it.