A Fine Madness

Released Jun 29, 1966

1 hr. 44 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

33%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

33%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

After years of failure, hapless poet Samson Shillitoe (Sean Connery) is at the end of his rope. But no more so than is his current wife, Rhoda (Joanne Woodward), who suffers through his daily and casual philandering. But after Rhoda reports his erratic behavior to famously brilliant psychiatrist Dr. Oliver West (Patrick O'Neal), the sociopathic Shillitoe finds himself institutionalized -- though within arm's reach of West's gorgeous partner, Dr. Vera Kropotkin (Colleen Dewhurst).

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Audience Member

This movie is a horse that's a camel made by a committee. Awful. Disjointed, tries too hard to be funny. I can't imagine that any of the stars in this were satisfied with this movie. A good example of a strong cast and a weak script.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Solomon M

Sean Connery plays a frustrated poet fighting writer's block while also dealing with his violent nature.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/19

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie is a hot mess, nevermind a fine madness. It is supposed to be a comedy, but the ending, where Samson assaults his apologetically pregnant wife is a disturbingly sad comment on what someone thought was funny at the time. Joanne Woodward shouts all her lines, giving me a headache. Sean Connery enjoyed insulting women so much in the role, that he is totally unlikeable in it. The premise had so much potential... A poet and a psychiatrist and the exploration of sex... But it didn't deliver.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The off-beat A Fine Madness succeeds on the level of breezy lightweight entertainment.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Sean Connery can play comedy. This movie made me laugh out loud.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One ill-directed film with a lot of talent going to waste.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

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Irvin Kershner

Director

Sean Connery

Samson Shillitoe

Joanne Woodward

Rhoda Shillitoe

Jean Seberg

Lydia West

Patrick O'Neal

Dr. Oliver West

Colleen Dewhurst

Dr. Vera Kropotkin

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Elizabeth Sussex

Sight & Sound

All this is a well-tried type of nonsense, with a sound grounding in verisimilitude, that needs the right touch to emerge as both wild and funny. [Irvin] Kershner has this touch and his film never loses our amused attention.

Apr 2, 2020

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a decent-enough premise that's employed to increasingly (and aggressively) unwatchable effect...

Rated: 0/4

Jan 4, 2021

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: C

Jan 24, 2013

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Never finds its own voice.

Rated: C+

Sep 1, 2007

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

FulvueDrive-in.com

The off-beat A Fine Madness succeeds on the level of breezy lightweight entertainment.

Rated: B-

Jul 2, 2006

Full Review

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

I've never seen such an ill-advised film and such amazing talent put to such little ultimate effect.

Rated: 1.5/5

Jun 23, 2006

Full Review

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Synopsis

After years of failure, hapless poet Samson Shillitoe (Sean Connery) is at the end of his rope. But no more so than is his current wife, Rhoda (Joanne Woodward), who suffers through his daily and casual philandering. But after Rhoda reports his erratic behavior to famously brilliant psychiatrist Dr. Oliver West (Patrick O'Neal), the sociopathic Shillitoe finds himself institutionalized -- though within arm's reach of West's gorgeous partner, Dr. Vera Kropotkin (Colleen Dewhurst).

Director: Irvin Kershner
Screenwriter: Elliott Baker
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 29, 1966, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016

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