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Welcome to Movies & Film
Movie Reviews, & Film Industry Commentary
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1977 – PG – 110 min.
Director: Herbert Ross
Primary Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason, Quinn Cummings, Paul Benedict, Barbra Rhoades, Paul Benjamin
Stars *** 1/2 (of 5)
Popcorn *** 1/2 (of 5)
Film Type(s): Comedy, Romance, Urban, Making a Living
Synopsis: Paula (Mason) no sooner learns that her Boyfriend Tony has left her and her ten-year old daughter (Cummings) than Actor Elliot (Dreyfuss) shows up on their doorstep, having sub-let the apartment from Tony. When Paula refuses to vacate, it forces all three under the same roof. Paula gets back into shape for her old chorus girl job to make ends meet and the high-energy and fast-talking Elliot is in town to do an off-Broadway production of Richard III. With job troubles for both of them piling up and time on the lease approaching, Paula and Elliot grow closer, in spite of their differences, but can it continue to work?
Review: Based on Neil Simon’s superb screenplay, this film was one of the best romance movies of the 1970’s. Mason’s a recently dumped divorcee who, along with her ‘going on twenty six’ daughter (Cummings), unwillingly share their NYC apartment with Elliot (Dreyfuss), who also happens to be an actor. The acting is the highlight of this film, with Dreyfuss a standout as the charming and sometimes arrogant actor that constantly quotes film and play dialogue, resists his Director’s (Benjamin) notions that Richard III was gay, does yoga, and plays guitar in the nude (“a-Buffo!”). Mason is equally as good in the title role always making her character commitment phobic, but shows her growing awareness rather than continuing self-pity. Also impressive is pre-teen Cummings as the quick to react daughter, holding her own with the two leads. The writing is so good for this film that there are two characters that are completely developed that we never see onscreen once (the absent father and Tony the Ex-Boyfriend). Dreyfuss won a well-deserved Best Actor Oscar for his role here, with nominations going to Mason and Cummings. Director Ross, however, was nominated for The Turning Point the same year. It is fun to note that Dreyfuss’ look transitions on-screen from his bearded Oceanographer Jaws look to his clean-shaven Electrician in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
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