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The final Hitchcock Blonde.
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Aug 21, 2018 - 11:17 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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After more than a half dozen television roles during the early 1960's, Barbara Harris made her feature film debut in the 1965 comedy-drama A THOUSAND CLOWNS. In this filming of Herb Gardner's 1962 play, Jason Robards stars as free-spirited "Murray Burns," unemployed for 5 months since quitting his job as a writer for the Chuckles the Chipmunk television show. He must find a means of support for his precocious 12-year-old nephew, "Nick" (Barry Gordon). Nick, an illegitimate son of Murray's sister, has lived with Murray for 7 years but has never been legally adopted. One day "Sandra" (Barbara Harris) and "Albert" (William Daniels), social workers from the New York City Child Welfare Board, visit Murray and threaten to take Nick away. Fred Coe directed the film, in which Jason Robards, Gene Saks ("Leo"), William Daniels, and Barry Gordon recreated their stage roles. Barbara Harris replaced Sandy Dennis, who had played "Sandra" on Broadway, and won the 1963 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. Harris was nominated for a Golden Globe award as "Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy," but lost to Julie Andrews for THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Although Don Walker was Oscar-nominated for "Best Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment," the film's music remains unreleased. Barbara Harris and Jason Robards in A THOUSAND CLOWNS
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Aug 21, 2018 - 11:55 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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Barbara Harris co-starred with Rosalind Russell and Robert Morse in the 1967 comedy OH DAD, POOR DAD, MAMMA'S HUNG YOU IN THE CLOSET AND I'M FEELIN' SO SAD. The film finds "Madame Rosepettle" (Russell) arriving at a tropical island with her doting 25-year-old son, "Jonathan" (Morse), her collection of Venus flytrap plants, and a coffin containing the stuffed body of her late husband. Her actions are carefully watched from a heavenly cloud by "Dad" himself (Jonathan Winters). Determined to make a man of his simpering son, Dad arranges for "Rosalie" (Harris), a seductive babysitter, to meet Jonathan. Richard Quine directed the film, which was adapted from Arthur L. Kopit's 1961 play. Barbara Harris had originated the role of "Rosalie" in the Off-Broadway production of the play. Even though Harris won an Obie Award as Best Actress for her role in the play, when the production moved to Broadway, she was replaced by Alix Elias. Neal Hefti's score for the film was released on an RCA LP, which was subsequently re-issued on CD by RCA Spain (1999), Kritzerland (2014), and Vocalion (2015).
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Posted: |
Aug 22, 2018 - 12:52 AM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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A stage actress at heart, Barbara Harris appeared in her third film based on a play, with Neil Simon's 1968 comedy PLAZA SUITE, which was filmed in 1971. It was the second Simon-penned film to be directed by Arthur Hiller. The story is comprised of three segments, all taking place at New York's Plaza Hotel. The Broadway show starred Maureen Stapleton and George C. Scott, who played the main roles in all three segments. But for the film, it was initially decided that the six main roles would be split among six actors. Paramount announced that the movie's three vignettes would pair George C. Scott and Maureen Stapleton; Peter Sellers and Barbra Streisand; and Walter Matthau and Lucille Ball. However, Walter Matthau requested to play all three male roles, and the producers acceded to his wishes, despite Simon's reluctance to have him do so. Barbara Harris replaced Streisand, and Lee Grant replaced Lucille Ball. Harris appears in the second segment. In that tale, famed Hollywood producer "Jesse Kiplinger" (Matthau) arrives at the Plaza. The smarmy, lecherous middle-aged man flirts with every woman within sight, and once in the suite, calls several women to find one who will visit him for an afternoon tryst. Finally, high school flame "Muriel Tate" (Harris) agrees. Maurice Jarre's score for the film was released by Intrada in 2014. Walter Matthau and Barbara Harris in PLAZA SUITE
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Posted: |
Aug 22, 2018 - 2:29 AM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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Barbara Harris co-starred with Dustin Hoffman in 1971's WHO IS HARRY KELLERMAN AND WHY IS HE SAYING THOSE TERRIBLE THINGS ABOUT ME?. Hoffman plays songwriter "Georgie Soloway," a man who, while wildly successful, has been contemplating suicide. Harris plays "Allison Densmore," an aspiring actress who auditions for Soloway's latest show. She sings weakly and is too fearful to leave the stage. Entranced by her vulnerability and warmth, Georgie talks to her until she is calm enough to leave with him. When adapting his short story into a screenplay, Herb Gardner wrote the character of "Allison Densmore" with Barbara Harris in mind. Gardner, Harris, Hoffman, and director Ulu Grosbard were friends and had worked together for years before the inception of the film. In 1965, Harris had starred in the film version of A THOUSAND CLOWNS, which Gardner produced and adapted from his stage play. Although most reviews considered the film a failed experiment, the entire cast was lauded, especially Harris and Hoffman, and the Hollywood Reporter called the picture "a classic of sorts, and one of the best American films of the year." Barbara Harris received her only Oscar nomination, as Best Supporting Actress, for "Who Is Harry Kellerman..." She lost to Cloris Leachman for THE LAST PICTURE SHOW. Since the film did not have a background score, the LP/cassette release of the soundtrack consisted of two songs by Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show, two Shel Silverstein songs warbled by Dustin Hoffman, an existing Ray Charles tune, and to fill out the remaining rather lengthy running time (50 minutes), considerable dialogue from the film. The album has not had a CD re-issue. Barbara Harris and Dustin Hoffman
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Posted: |
Aug 22, 2018 - 1:11 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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After appearing with Walter Matthau, Barbara Harris next co-starred with the other half of the "Odd Couple," Jack Lemmon, in 1972's THE WAR BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN. Harris also appeared again with Jason Robards, her co-star from her first film, A THOUSAND CLOWNS. In this new film, two quirky Manhattanites crash into each other at an ophthalmologist's office. "Peter Wilson" (Lemmon) is a grouchy cartoonist/author whose vision is failing; divorced mother "Theresa Kozlenko" (Harris) is also reluctant to plunge into a relationship right now. It's not love at first sight - both have their eyes dilated, plus Peter constantly lampoons women in his work, which bookseller Theresa knows well. The film was loosely based on James Thurber's drawings, writings, and life. The comedy-drama was directed by Melville Shavelson. Marvin Hamlisch's score has not had a release. Barbara Harris in THE WAR BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN
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Posted: |
Aug 22, 2018 - 1:25 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In MIXED COMPANY, Joseph Bologna portrays a racially prejudiced basketball coach who is persuaded by his wife (Barbara Harris) to adopt three (more!) kids of mixed ethnic backgrounds. MIXED COMPANY was Harris' first lead role in a feature film. It was also her second film for writer-producer-director Melville Shavelson, who stated that the film’s budget was limited to $1 million because United Artists felt it was not appropriate to hire a cast of celebrities and instead wanted the script to be the “star.” Additionally, UA stipulated that it did not want to cast older actors who were unknown to young audiences and preferred to use up-and-coming talent with whom kids could identify. In the deal with UA, Shavelson agreed to defer half of his salary as a completion bond, which insured that he finished the film within the stipulated time frame and budget. The film was shot in Phoenix, AZ and San Diego, CA. Shavelson used Phoenix television stations, radio shows, and newspaper advertisements to recruit two thousand locals to sit in the audience of a staged Phoenix Suns basketball game at the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, which was planned to be filmed over seven days. Fred Karlin's score for the 1974 family comedy-drama has not had a release.
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Posted: |
Aug 22, 2018 - 1:57 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In the ensemble cast of Robert Altman's 1975 NASHVILLE, Barbara Harris plays "Albuquerque," a woman whose real name is Winifred. Hitchhiking toward Nashville, she plans to have a singing career. But she keeps an eye out for her husband "Star" (Bert Remsen), a farmer who is intent on finding her and taking her back home. The role of the runaway wife had first been offered to Bette Midler and then Bernadette Peters. After seeing the first footage of her work in a traffic jam scene, Harris reportedly ran out of the projection room, went home, and asked Robert Altman to meet with her immediately. Unhappy with her performance, Harris offered to put up her own money to have the scene re-shot. Altman refused. In the final scene, Harris sings her one song in the film: "It Don't Worry Me" with music and lyrics by Keith Carradine. Although her character has presumably been performing on other occasions, Robert Altman reportedly did not want the audience to hear her voice until that finale. Barbara Harris and her co-stars Ronne Blakley, Geraldine Chaplin, and Lily Tomlin received four of the six Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress that year. The four cancelled each other out, and Brenda Vaccaro received the award for ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH. NASHVILLE did not have a background score. The film's songs were released on an ABC Records LP, which was re-issued on CD by MCA Nashville in 2000. Barbara Harris on stage in NASHVILLE
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Posted: |
Aug 22, 2018 - 11:04 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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Barbara Harris appeared in her second film for Disney in THE NORTH AVENUE IRREGULARS, in which she co-starred with Edward Herrmann. In the film, soon after "Reverend Michael Hill" (Herrmann) reports for duty as the new pastor at North Avenue Presbyterian Church, two special investigators from the U.S. Treasury Department, "Marv Fogelman" (Michael Constantine) and "Tom Voorhees" (Steve Franken), discreetly enter the church office and request Michael’s help in recruiting reliable citizens to work undercover to expose a gambling racket. Unable to interest any men, Michael appeals to five of his most loyal female parishioners, "Rose" (Patsy Kelly), "Cleo" (Virginia Capers), divorcee "Claire" (Cloris Leachman), housewife "Vickie" (Barbara Harris), and bride-to-be "Jane" (Karen Valentine). Bruce Bilson directed the 1979 comedy, which had an unreleased score by Robert F. Brunner.
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