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Posted: |
Apr 18, 2012 - 1:16 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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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.
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Posted: |
Apr 18, 2012 - 7:52 PM
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By: |
dan the man
(Member)
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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.
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Posted: |
Jun 10, 2012 - 8:12 AM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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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.
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