- The Heartbreak Kid (1972 film)
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The Heartbreak Kid 
Theatrical release posterDirected by Elaine May Produced by Edgar J. Scherick Written by Neil Simon
Bruce Jay Friedman (story)Starring Charles Grodin
Cybill Shepherd
Jeannie Berlin
Eddie Albert
Audra LindleyCinematography Owen Roizman Distributed by 20th Century Fox Release date(s) December 17, 1972 Running time 106 minutes Country United States Language English The Heartbreak Kid is a 1972 dark romantic comedy film directed by Elaine May, written by Neil Simon, and starring Charles Grodin, Jeannie Berlin, and Cybill Shepherd. It is based on the short story "A Change of Plan", written by Bruce Jay Friedman.
Jeannie Berlin was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and Eddie Albert was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
It is #91 on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs, a list of the funniest movies ever made.
It was remade in 2007 as The Heartbreak Kid starring Ben Stiller and Malin Åkerman.
Contents
Plot and theme
A black comedy examination of love and hypocrisy, the satire begins with the New York City traditional Jewish marriage of emotionally-shallow, self-absorbed, "nebbish"-man-boy, Lenny Cantrow, a sporting goods salesman (Charles Grodin). While on honeymoon at the Doral Hotel on Miami Beach, he meets and pursues a tall, blonde, Midwestern, seductively bitchy, but sarcastically witty and gorgeous, student named Kelly Corcoran (Cybill Shepherd). His unsophisticated and emotionally-needy bride, Lila (Jeannie Berlin, daughter of director, Elaine May), refuses to use sunscreen and consequently develops a severe sunburn, which quarantines her in their hotel room. Lenny begins a rendezvous with Kelly, lying to his wife as to his whereabouts. Lenny recklessly and impulsively decides to dump Lila, ending his ephemeral marriage, in order to pursue unloving Kelly, his false ideal, and ultimate fantasy shiksa-goddess. (The girl he was "waiting for all of his life". He just "timed it wrong".) She is attending college in Minnesota, where her somewhat bigoted, suspicious and overly-protective, hostile father (Eddie Albert) is a relentless obstacle.
Because of his lack of depth and lusty adolescent anxiety, an ongoing comedy of errors befalls Lenny during his courtship with Kelly. Each scene peels back the converging of the morally bankrupt superficial and narcissistic personalities of the characters: Lenny, Kelly, and her father. It is hyperbole, irony, pointed disregard, and lack of empathy played out as a moral fable, a lesson for the audience to consider before making any permanent life-changing relationship choices, which a pathetic Lenny, who brought about his own anguish, never fully comprehends.
Awards and honors
American Film Institute recognition
- 2000: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs #91
Cast
- Charles Grodin as Lenny Cantrow
- Cybill Shepherd as Kelly Corcoran
- Jeannie Berlin as Lila Kolodny
- Audra Lindley as Mrs. Corcoran
- Eddie Albert as Mr. Corcoran
- Doris Roberts as Mrs. Cantrow
External links
- 1972 Original full feature length film
- The Heartbreak Kid at the Internet Movie Database
- The Heartbreak Kid at AllRovi
Films directed by Elaine May 1970s 1980s Ishtar (1987)AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs 1–10 11–20 The Producers • A Night at the Opera • Young Frankenstein • Bringing Up Baby • The Philadelphia Story • Singin' in the Rain • The Odd Couple • The General • His Girl Friday • The Apartment
21–30 31–40 41–50 51–60 61–70 What's Up, Doc? • Sherlock, Jr. • Beverly Hills Cop • Broadcast News • Horse Feathers • Take the Money and Run • Mrs. Doubtfire • The Awful Truth • Bananas • Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
71–80 Caddyshack • Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House • Monkey Business • Nine to Five • She Done Him Wrong • Victor Victoria • The Palm Beach Story • Road to Morocco • The Freshman • Sleeper
81–90 91–100 The Heartbreak Kid • Ball of Fire • Fargo • Auntie Mame • Silver Streak • Sons of the Desert • Bull Durham • The Court Jester • The Nutty Professor • Good Morning, Vietnam
AFI 100 Years... Categories:- American films
- English-language films
- 1972 films
- American romantic comedy films
- 20th Century Fox films
- 1970s romantic comedy films
- Black comedy films
- Films set in New York City
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