Nuts (1987)

A high-class call girl accused of murder fights for the right to stand trial rather than be declared mentally incompetent.

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Tom Topor (based upon the play by), Tom Topor (screenplay by)

Stars:

Barbra Streisand, Richard Dreyfuss, Maureen Stapleton

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbra Streisand	...	Claudia Draper
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Aaron Levinsky
Maureen Stapleton	...	Rose Kirk
Karl Malden	...	Arthur Kirk
Eli Wallach	...	Dr. Herbert A. Morrison
Robert Webber	...	Francis MacMillan
James Whitmore	...	Judge Stanley Murdoch
Leslie Nielsen	...	Allen Green
William Prince	...	Clarence Middleton
Dakin Matthews	...	1st Judge
Paul Benjamin	...	Harry Harrison
Warren Manzi	...	Saul Kreiglitz
Elizabeth Hoffman	...	Dr. Johnson
Castulo Guerra	...	Dr. Arantes
Stacy Bergman	...	16 year-old Claudia

Storyline

A high-class call girl kills a customer in self-defense. To avoid scandal, her parents try to have her declared mentally incompetent. Not helping matters is that she is very distrustful of everybody, including her court-appointed attorney, and is very disruptive during her court hearings.

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Plot Keywords:

call girl | temper | psychological drama | flashback | courtroom drama | 

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Taglines:

Mad As In Angry. Or Just Plain... NUTS

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Penultimate film directed by Martin Ritt. Ritt's final film as director was about two years later with 1989's Stanley & Iris (1990).

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Goofs

At the end of the movie, Claudia been released and is walking down the street in her hospital gown, laughing at passerby. She has only been judged competent to stand trial, not innocent. She should be in lockup at Riker's Island or The Tombs. Also, even if they had released her, she would have had her street clothes returned.

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Quotes

Claudia Draper: I know women who crawl through shit for a fur coat.

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Connections

Referenced in Boys Life: Three Stories of Love, Lust, and Liberation (1994)

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Soundtracks

Here We Are At Last
Music by Barbra Streisand
Lyrics by Richard Baskin
Arranged & played by Randy Waldman
(Bar Music)

User Reviews

A Powerful and Intelligent Film.

Based on Tom Topors's off broadway play, NUTS is a highly charged drama that raises some uneasy questions. NUTS opened in late 1987 to little hype and mixed reviews.

This is a film that deserves to have a second life on video. While the court room plot devices are predictable, the film raises some important issues and questions. Questions like, "What is normal?" and "Does the law have the right to force help upon those who don't want it?"

What really makes this film worth watching though, is Barbra Strisand's bravura performance in the lead. I cannot believe she failed to receive an Oscar for her work here, it's crime that she wasn't at least nominated. Director Martin Ritt keep the film going at a perfect pace and also gets strong supporting performances from Richard Dreyfss and Maureen Stapleton.

This is a film that deserves more attention then it originally received, it is honest, though-provoking, and features a brilliant performance from Streisand.

My score for this excellent film: 9/10!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 December 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nuts

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,606,083, 22 November 1987

Gross USA:

$30,950,002

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$30,950,002

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Barwood Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1