The April Fools
The April Fools | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Directed by | Stuart Rosenberg |
Written by | Hal Dresner |
Produced by | Gordon Carroll |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Michel Hugo |
Edited by | Bob Wyman |
Music by | Marvin Hamlisch |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | National General Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $4.5 million (US/Canadarentals)[3][2] |
The April Foolsis a 1969 Americanromantic comedyfilm directed byStuart Rosenbergand starringJack LemmonandCatherine Deneuve.
Plot
[edit]Wall Streetbroker Howard Brubaker is married to Phyllis, who does not love him. Catherine is the stunning French wife of an equally uncaring husband, Howard's philandering boss, Ted Gunther.
The evening of the day Ted promotes Howard, Howard attends Ted's house party where Ted urges him to pick up an available woman there and proceeds to show him how. Howard reluctantly tries it on Catherine, who instantly accepts. The two leave the party and go out for a little adventure on the town. Ted is oblivious, as he is concentrating on other women at the party.
The two find their marriages are loveless as they discover more about each other that night and decide to run away together the next evening. However, Ted does not realize the other man is Howard until Howard and Catherine are about to board the plane to Paris.
Cast
[edit]- Jack Lemmonas Howard Brubaker[4]
- Catherine Deneuveas Catherine Gunther[5]
- Peter Lawfordas Ted Gunther
- Myrna Loyas Grace Greenlaw[6]
- Charles Boyeras Andre Greenlaw
- Jack Westonas Potter Shrader
- Janice Carrollas Mimsy Shrader
- Sally Kellermanas Phyllis Brubaker
- Gary Dubinas Stanley Brubaker
- Melinda Dillonas Leslie Hopkins
- Kenneth Marsas Les Hopkins
- David Doyleas Orlow P. Walters
- Susan Barrett ashouse party singer[7][8][9]
- Dee Gardner as Naomi Jackson
- Harvey Kormanas Matt Benson
- Lisa Todd as Safari Club waitress
Production
[edit]The female lead was originally going to be played byShirley MacLaine,but she was not available due to commitments onSweet Charityand campaigning forRobert F. Kennedy.Catherine Deneuve was cast instead.[10]On 22 July 1968, filming began inNew York City.[2]On 23 October 1968,Varietyannounced filming completion.[2]
Release
[edit]The film opened on May 28, 1969 at theNew Embassy Theatreand the Pacific East theatre in New York City.[11]It grossed $42,000 in its opening week.[12]After three weeks exclusively in New York, it also opened in Chicago and Philadelphia before expanding to 18 more cities a week later.[13]It reachednumber oneat the US box office in July after eight weeks of release.[14]
Reception
[edit]A reviewer forThe New York Timeswrote that the film "manipulates its stereotypes with elegance and style.... The best things in the movie, however, are the extraordinarily good supporting performances by Peter Lawford (as Miss Deneuve's husband), Jack Weston, Harvey Korman, Sally Kellerman, and by two stars who invented movie elegance almost 30 years ago, Charles Boyer and Myrna Loy."[15]
Paperback novelization
[edit]Published slightly in advance of the film's release (as was the usual custom of the era), a paperback screenplaynovelizationby the tie-in scribeWilliam Johnstonwas issued byPopular Library.
Home media
[edit]The April Foolswas released on DVD byCBS Home EntertainmentthroughParamount Home Media Distributionon January 28, 2014, as a Region 1 Widescreen DVD.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"THE APRIL FOOLS US ONE SHEET POSTER JACK LEMMON CATHERINE DENEUVE 1969".Rendezvous Cinema.Retrieved13 March2023.
- ^abcdThe April Foolsat theAFI Catalog of Feature Films
- ^"Big Rental Films of 1969".Variety.January 7, 1970. p. 15.
- ^"Jack Lemmon Fools".Getty Images.Retrieved13 March2023.
- ^"1969 Press Photo Jack Lemmon and Catherine Deneuve in" The April Fools "".eBay.Retrieved13 March2023.
- ^"1968 Press Photo Actors Myrna Loy & Jack Lemmon on set of" The April Fools "".eBay.Retrieved13 March2023.
- ^"Susan Barrett Fools".Getty Images.Retrieved13 March2023.
- ^Sullivan, Dan (25 August 1967)."Susan Barrett at Persian Room; Young Singer Has Familiar Face Repertory Receives Sock Applause".The New York Times.Retrieved13 March2023.
- ^"Songs from The April Fools".sweet soundtrack.com.Retrieved13 March2023.
- ^"Lemmon Chooses Co-Star for 'Fools'".Los Angeles Times.June 25, 1968. p. f6.
- ^"B'way Catching Breath for Holiday; 'Winning,' $200,000; 'Columbus,' 60G 'Curious,' 41G, 12th; 'Slime' $35,000".Variety.May 28, 1969. p. 8.
- ^"50 Top-Grossing Films".Variety.June 11, 1969. p. 9.
- ^"Isn't this something? (advertisement)".Variety.July 2, 1969. pp. 20–21.
- ^"50 Top-Grossing Films".Variety.July 30, 1969. p. 15.
- ^"April Fools' Arrives".The New York Times.May 29, 1969. p. 0.RetrievedJanuary 3,2023.
External links
[edit]- 1969 films
- 1969 comedy-drama films
- 1969 romantic comedy films
- 1960s American films
- 1960s English-language films
- 1960s romantic comedy-drama films
- American romantic comedy-drama films
- Cinema Center Films films
- Films about infidelity
- Films directed by Stuart Rosenberg
- Films produced by Gordon Carroll
- Films scored by Marvin Hamlisch
- Films set in New York City
- Films shot in New York City