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The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds

Play trailer Poster for The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds PG 1973 1h 40m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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77% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Widow Beatrice Hunsdorfer (Joanne Woodward) likes to say she's planning to open an upscale tea room, but in reality she's incapable of handling even the most pedestrian of life's responsibilities. A terrible homemaker and a questionable parent, she's a constant embarrassment to her two daughters. Ruth (Roberta Wallach) is given to rebellious acting out and seems destined to turn out like her mother, while Matilda (Nell Potts) is more thoughtful and likely to transcend her unfortunate childhood.

Critics Reviews

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John Russell Taylor Sight & Sound It sounds like a masochist's orgy, but through the combined ingenuities of Paul Newman, who directed it, Joanne Woodward, who plays Beatrice, and Alvin Sargent, who adapted the play to the screen, it is nothing of the sort. Mar 18, 2020 Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times The talents of everyone connected with it are unmistakable, including those of Mr. Newman... It's just that the basic material calls for a kind of second-rate bravura performance from everyone, from the production designer to the actors. Jan 14, 2014 Full Review Jay Cocks TIME Magazine Sentimental without really being tender, naturalistic without being real. Jan 14, 2014 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Newman's direction is as understated as Woodward's performance is magnified. Rated: 3/4 Aug 31, 2021 Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com Plays like a fantastically unearthed time capsule from a particularly potent period of American filmmaking. Underneath its obscured corrosion, it shines like the radioactive particle it is. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 25, 2020 Full Review Judith Crist Texas Monthly Paul Newman's second film as director, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, based on Paul Zindel's 1971 Pulitzer Prize play, not only confirms his abilities but, with a screenplay by Alvin Sargent, transcends the original. Jun 11, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member If you're not into the acting or the stage play feel of it all you will not like this movie The late Paul Newman does get some good mileage out of these actresses trying to find their own way Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 12/20/22 Full Review steve d There isn't much new or interesting here. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Incredible hard to get through, but supported by an excellent cast. Special mention goes to Roberta Wallach, who is just as much of a natural performer as her parents were, but has her own unique acting style. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member good character driven drama with just about the stupidist title 4 a movie ever Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member I gather it was largely dismissed by film critics at the time of its release. Paul Zindel and Alvin Sargents' adaptation of the play is brilliantly directed by Paul Newman and features an unforgettable performance by the great Joanne Woodward. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the most painful and beautiful movie experiences I have ever endured. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds

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The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds

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Movie Info

Synopsis Widow Beatrice Hunsdorfer (Joanne Woodward) likes to say she's planning to open an upscale tea room, but in reality she's incapable of handling even the most pedestrian of life's responsibilities. A terrible homemaker and a questionable parent, she's a constant embarrassment to her two daughters. Ruth (Roberta Wallach) is given to rebellious acting out and seems destined to turn out like her mother, while Matilda (Nell Potts) is more thoughtful and likely to transcend her unfortunate childhood.
Director
Paul Newman
Producer
Paul Newman
Screenwriter
Alvin Sargent
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 40m