{"id":73259,"date":"2021-06-23T14:46:43","date_gmt":"2021-06-23T21:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=73259"},"modified":"2023-02-07T14:57:13","modified_gmt":"2023-02-07T21:57:13","slug":"thousand-clowns-a-1965","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=73259","title":{"rendered":"Thousand Clowns, A (1965)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You know, you are not a person, Mr. Burns &#8212; you are an experience!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Poster-194x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-73260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Poster-194x300.png 194w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Poster-663x1024.png 663w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Poster-175x270.png 175w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Poster.png 723w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAn unemployed writer (Jason Robards, Jr.) caring for his 12-year-old nephew (Barry Gordon) refuses to settle down and get a job, even when two social workers (William Daniels and Barbara Harris) come to warn him he&#8217;s under supervision. Will an affair with Harris &#8212; or cajoling by his responsible brother Arnold (Martin Balsam) &#8212; finally convince Murray (Robards, Jr.) to accept a job as a writer for an unfunny children&#8217;s performer (Gene Saks)?\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Barbara Harris Films<\/li>\n<li>Jason Robards Films<\/li>\n<li>Martin Balsam Films<\/li>\n<li>Nonconformists<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptation<\/li>\n<li>Raising Kids<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary writes that the &#8220;cult following has nearly disappeared for Herb Gardner&#8217;s adaptation of his Broadway play,&#8221; which &#8220;was one of the first films that dealt with the theme of nonconformity, rather than merely having a nonconformist lead character.&#8221; Peary argues that &#8220;its sellout conclusion&#8221; &#8220;doesn&#8217;t sit well&#8221; and this &#8220;dated film is predictable, too chatty, and no longer funny&#8230; But it&#8217;s still a pleasure to watch the acting by Robards, Harris, and Gordon, an excellent child actor&#8221; who GFTFF fans will likely recognize from his starring role in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=788\"><em>Out of It<\/em> (1969)<\/a>. I agree with Peary that this film hasn&#8217;t aged all that well, though I disagree that the ending is a sellout; instead, I&#8217;m relieved that Robards, Jr. cares enough for someone other than himself to finally look beyond his narcissistic desire for freedom and rebellion at all costs (that&#8217;s the responsible adult\/parent in me speaking). Harris is delightful in her screen debut, and the supporting cast is all excellent &#8212; including Saks as &#8220;Chuckles the Chipmunk&#8221;, Daniels as Harris&#8217;s no-nonsense colleague, and Oscar-nominated Balsam in a rather thankless role as Robards, Jr.&#8217;s always-supportive brother.    <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jason Robards, Jr. as Murray<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Robards-Jr.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Robards-Jr.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-73265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Robards-Jr.png 800w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Robards-Jr-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Robards-Jr-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Robards-Jr-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Robards-Jr-450x270.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Barbara Harris as Sandra<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Harris.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Harris.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-73264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Harris.png 800w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Harris-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Harris-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Harris-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Harris-450x270.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Barry Gordon as &#8220;Nick&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Gordon.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Gordon.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-73263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Gordon.png 800w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Gordon-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Gordon-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Gordon-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Gordon-450x270.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Gene Saks as Leo (a.k.a. &#8220;Chuckles the Chipmunk&#8221;)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Saks.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Saks.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-73261\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Saks.png 800w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Saks-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Saks-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Saks-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Saks-450x270.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Martin Balsam as Arnold<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Balsam.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Balsam.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-73267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Balsam.png 800w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Balsam-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Balsam-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Balsam-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Balsam-450x270.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>William Daniels as Albert<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Daniels.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Daniels.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-73269\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Daniels.png 800w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Daniels-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Daniels-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Daniels-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Daniels-450x270.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine cinematography by Arthur Ornitz<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-73262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Cinematography.png 800w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Cinematography-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Cinematography-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Cinematography-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Thousand-Clowns-Cinematography-450x270.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s definitely worth a one-time look. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0059798\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=7842&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1965\/12\/14\/archives\/screen-a-thousand-clowns-opensjason-robards-repeats-his-success-of.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/17805\/a-thousand-clowns#articles-reviews?articleId=76286\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You know, you are not a person, Mr. Burns &#8212; you are an experience!&#8221; Synopsis: An unemployed writer (Jason Robards, Jr.) caring for his 12-year-old nephew (Barry Gordon) refuses to settle down and get a job, even when two social workers (William Daniels and Barbara Harris) come to warn him he&#8217;s under supervision. Will an affair with Harris &#8212; or cajoling by his responsible brother Arnold (Martin Balsam) &#8212; finally convince Murray (Robards, Jr.) to accept a job as a&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=73259\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=73259"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73259\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89807,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73259\/revisions\/89807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=73259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=73259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=73259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}