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 Posted:   Apr 17, 2012 - 7:24 AM   
 By:   Jim Phelps   (Member)

Has anyone here seen this movie and/or remember the score? Was the film as "controversial" as the novel? How does it hold up? Why are so few Richard Benjamin films on DVD? wink

After learning of author Philip Roth's influence on Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry (1997), I stumbled upon Portnoy's Complaint, via the casting of Richard Benjamin in both films. So while trawling youtube for Philip Roth interviews I found Michel Legrand's theme to Portnoy's Complaint and it's delightfully lounge/easy listening. How is the score in context with the movie? Whatever the case, I like the recording from a 45 single released at the time the film was out.



http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069112/

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 17, 2012 - 7:48 AM   
 By:   Robert0320   (Member)

It's perfect to masterbate to.

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 17, 2012 - 8:42 AM   
 By:   Bond1965   (Member)

This theme is on that Legrand box from Universal France.

James

 
 Posted:   Apr 18, 2012 - 4:02 AM   
 By:   Jim Phelps   (Member)

This theme is on that Legrand box from Universal France.

James


Thanks.

I wonder when the last time the film itself was broadcast? Whatever the case, it's a Warner Brothers production and would appear to be ripe for a Warner Archive release.

I regret not calling this thread "Star Trek's Complaint." Then I would have had a whole crapload of responses about every detail and nuance of this movie, from conception to reception.

...or maybe even "Movie with the Guy from That Yul Brynner Robot Cowboy Movie."

As dan the [walking cliché] man would say, "Live and Learn."

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 18, 2012 - 1:16 PM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

I missed “Portnoy’s Complaint” when it was released in the summer of 1972, and I’ve been waiting to see it ever since. I’m hoping that the Warner Archive will get around to its release eventually.

In “Portnoy’s Complaint,” Ernest Lehman’s onscreen credit reads: “Written for the screen and directed by.” Lehman, a celebrated screenwriter of such films as “Sweet Smell of Success” (1957) and “North by Northwest” (1959), produced, wrote and, for the first time, directed “Portnoy’s Complaint.” Philip Roth’s critically acclaimed 1969 novel of the same name, written as a monologue delivered by “Alexander Portnoy” to his analyst, used black humor and what was then considered shockingly scatological language to examine Portnoy’s sexual frustration and guilt caused by his controlling parents, as well as the nature of Jewish life in America. Despite the exaggerated and sometimes stereotypical situations and characters, Roth’s satirical tone was considered by most critics to elevate the book above cliché.

Prior to the novel's publication, producer Sidney Beckerman acquired the film rights to the novel for $250,000. Initially, Beckerman was to produce the film in late 1969 as part of a three-picture deal with Twentieth Century-Fox, and Ernest Lehman's company, Chenault Productions, would make the film in association with Beckerman.

Many critics were skeptical that the idiosyncratic novel could be adapted satisfactorily to the screen. There were concerns over the book’s explicit sexual content, but Lehman was unconcerned, although he had been quoted as calling the script “the trickiest of my career.” Gene Wilder was named as a possible star, and Elliott Gould, George Segal, Dustin Hoffman, Jerry Orbach, Ron Leibman, Tony Curtis, Barry Newman and Woody Allen were also considered as actors for the role of Alexander. Mike Nichols urged Lehman to cast Richard Benjamin, who had acted in Nichols’ 1970 film “Catch-22.” Benjamin had previously appeared in 1969's “Goodbye, Columbus,” another Roth novel adapted to the screen.

By October 1970, Fox had given up on “Portnoy’s Complaint” and Warner Bros. took over, paying all costs that Fox had invested. Producer Richard D. Zanuck had supervised the project at Fox but brought it with him when he was fired by Fox and joined Warner Brothers. Some sources state that Fox dropped the film because of the critical drubbing received by the studio's other non-mainstream films, such as “Myra Breckinridge.” Others speculated that Fox passed on the film because of the cost and the possibility of it garnering an [X] rating.

Some scenes were shot on location in New York City; Dorset, VT; Rome; Athens; and Tel Aviv, as well as at the Warner Bros. studio. Upon its release, the picture, which contains very little nudity or explicit sex, received an [R] rating, sparking protest from several critics and religious groups. The National Council of Protestant Churches objected to the “explicit and vulgar language” in the film, and suggested that it warranted an [X] rating. In addition, the U.S. Catholic Conference, the Protestant Film Bulletin and the Jewish Film Review condemned the film, and the Chicago police department declared it “adults only” entertainment.

Apart from a few positive reviews, most critics disliked the film and disparaged Lehman, who never directed another film. The New York Times stated that “Lehman… seems to have absolutely no sense of humor,” while the Chicago Sun-Times’ Roger Ebert called the film “a true fiasco.” Charges of anti-Semitism in the film version were reflected in the letters to the editor section of the New York Times in which both the national director of the Anti-Defamation League of B’Nai B’Rith and an Illinois rabbi argued that “Portnoy’s Complaint” vilified Jews by perpetuating dangerous stereotypes. Perhaps this is why the film has yet to make it onto DVD.

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 18, 2012 - 7:52 PM   
 By:   dan the man   (Member)

it has been a no- no for cable and free TV for years however it was released on VHS in the 80's where i saw it a few times. have not seen it on DVD,I love Michel Legrand's score and main theme, also the great scene with John Carridine and Richard Benjamin. MR Carridine was great in his risque way as he was in Woody Allen's Everything you want to know about sex, the same year. I think despite the fact the film didn't have much or any nudity, it had something that was very rare for a major mainstream film, maybe until movies like There something about Mary and the like, a scene that very explicitly in words talks about the ultimate male sexual act, the climax, think about it, for decades, 68 and on there has been a bunch of movies showing a man's privates [even closeup] The groove tube etc etc, but very rare up until 15 years ago would a mainstream film talk about a man's release.

 
 Posted:   Apr 19, 2012 - 3:59 AM   
 By:   Jim Phelps   (Member)

I missed “Portnoy’s Complaint” when it was released in the summer of 1972, and I’ve been waiting to see it ever since. I’m hoping that the Warner Archive will get around to its release eventually.


That's at least two copies they'll have to manufacture on demand! I'm sure Richard Benjamin won't even want to see this again! wink

Thanks for the rundown on the film's history and critical reception. I read Ebert's, which was probably kind all things considered, but I still want to see "Complaint" because of the Roth/Lehman/Woody Allen connection as well as the "time capsule" aspect a movie like this is bound to have.

In the meantime, it's back to Deconstructing Harry.

 
 Posted:   Apr 20, 2012 - 8:13 AM   
 By:   Jim Phelps   (Member)

I'm not familiar with this youtube movies concept, but according to it, one can watch Portnoy's Complaint for a mere $1.99...here's the film's trailer...oh wait, it's too explicit to post here.

 
 Posted:   Jun 10, 2012 - 8:12 AM   
 By:   Jim Phelps   (Member)

it has been a no- no for cable and free TV for years however it was released on VHS in the 80's where i saw it a few times. have not seen it on DVD,I love Michel Legrand's score and main theme, also the great scene with John Carridine and Richard Benjamin. MR Carridine was great in his risque way as he was in Woody Allen's Everything you want to know about sex, the same year. I think despite the fact the film didn't have much or any nudity, it had something that was very rare for a major mainstream film, maybe until movies like There something about Mary and the like, a scene that very explicitly in words talks about the ultimate male sexual act, the climax, think about it, for decades, 68 and on there has been a bunch of movies showing a man's privates [even closeup] The groove tube etc etc, but very rare up until 15 years ago would a mainstream film talk about a man's release.

Missed your post before, dan. Good stuff.

Special thanks to the Google search engine for finding my own thread. roll eyes wink

 
 Posted:   Jun 10, 2012 - 8:41 AM   
 By:   Valiant65   (Member)

Legrand composed a song called "The Smile I've Never Smiled" with lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman for this film. It was recorded by Babs Streisand in 1973 but unreleased.

An easy Google search will turn up a little bit more info from Barbara-Archives.com.

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 10, 2012 - 11:25 AM   
 By:   Bond1965   (Member)

Legrand composed a song called "The Smile I've Never Smiled" with lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman for this film. It was recorded by Babs Streisand in 1973 but unreleased.

An easy Google search will turn up a little bit more info from Barbara-Archives.com.


Here's the exact page you refer to:

http://barbra-archives.com/record/life_cycles_streisand.html

James

 
 Posted:   Jun 10, 2012 - 5:38 PM   
 By:   Jim Phelps   (Member)

Legrand composed a song called "The Smile I've Never Smiled" with lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman for this film. It was recorded by Babs Streisand in 1973 but unreleased.


Interesting. "The Life Cycle of a Woman" sounds like a feminist Sgt. Pepper's. The song itself must be quite neutral to the tone of "Portnoy", given the film's combative content.

Portnoy's Complaint trailer (warning: explicit 1972 language):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YGsjaZZT5E

 
 
 Posted:   Aug 8, 2012 - 9:01 AM   
 By:   Last Child   (Member)

widescreen MOD dvd just announced from Warner Archive !

 
 
 Posted:   Aug 8, 2012 - 11:49 AM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

widescreen MOD dvd just announced from Warner Archive !


At long last! The disc is supposedly remastered. Available now from the Warner Archive site or in a month from Amazon.

http://www.wbshop.com/product/code/1000336820.do?adid=0812WACNRaEml&ref=EW0812A

 
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