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      A Thousand Clowns

      Released Dec 13, 1965 1h 58m Comedy List
      72% 18 Reviews Tomatometer 88% 1,000+ Ratings Audience Score Determined to avoid employment, Murray Burns (Jason Robards), an eccentric former TV writer, lives with his 12-year-old nephew, Nick (Barry Gordon), in a messy New York City apartment. When Nick's unconventional home life is discovered, Murray comes under the scrutiny of social worker Sandra Markowitz (Barbara Harris), whom he quickly charms. Attempting to be responsible for both Nick and Sandra, Murray begrudgingly looks for a job -- but can he truly commit to a more conventional life? Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Variety Staff Variety Terrif dialog to match Robards' scenery-chewing create a sock impact. Jul 22, 2008 Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times The humor is still surprising, and Mr. Robards is still full of spice with his clownish wise-cracks and the map of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey stamped all over his face. Rated: 3.5/5 May 9, 2005 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: 5/5 Nov 18, 2004 Full Review Judith Crist New York Herald Tribune A Thousand Clowns comes to the screen with a joyous vitality and a probing compassion that are irresistible. Aug 10, 2022 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy With a cast this good and dialogue this witty, the film holds onto its modest charms. Rated: 3/4 May 12, 2020 Full Review TV Guide This warm and wonderful comedy-drama is a paean to non-conformity. Rated: 4/4 Jan 30, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Gary T One of my all time favorite films. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/24/24 Full Review steve d Deeply unfunny and not at all cute. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member What promise this film had as it captured New York City in all it's vibrancy and beauty and appeared to have a smart, funny screenplay that could delve into serious issues without becoming bogged down. Unfortunately while the film still boasts ample charms it doesn't achieve the greatness I initially expected it to be capable of reaching and I couldn't help feeling slightly let down when the film ended. The film's biggest issue was it's screenplay as it was based upon a play and all of the long pontificating monologues that would have worked so well on stage have not been adapted to suit the screen. For lovers of theatre this film will probably be to their taste but I wanted to feel more invested in the lives of these people and when they seemed so unnatural it was hard to care about their problems. Willfully unemployed former television writer Murray Burns, Jason Robards, lives with his precocious nephew Nick Burns, Barry Gordon, in New York City where he spends his days telling jokes and romancing women. Their quite lifestyle is interrupted when two social workers arrive at Burns' house to investigate whether the environment is safe for Nick to be living in. Burns takes a liking to one of the social workers, Dr. Sandra Markowitz, Barbara Harris, and they start a relationship despite him not getting a job as she would like him to. He decides to try and get and job when he realizes that he could lose Nick if he does not obtain one but his reservations about selling out prevent him from taking on any job. His frustrated manager and brother Arnold, Martin Balsam, lectures him about his irresponsible nature which pushes Burns to attempt to return to his former employers whom he detested. When he notices that Nick is worldly enough to live without his tutelage and returns to his old job. Possibly the most remarkable part of the film was the cinematography as it was the sort of rich black and white that you associate with Woody Allen movies, cliché I know, which complemented it's New York City setting. I was impressed by the Midnight Cowboy (1969) style shots of New Yorkers wandering the streets which we witness while Robards talks to Nick or goes off on a long monologue. We really feel the joy and excitement of being in a city so large and full of fascinating, lively people who have comical exchanges worthy of being documented. Surprisingly cinematographer Arthur Ornitz did not receive much recognition for his work as the Academy preferred to recognize the work of Burnett Guffey on King Rat (1965) who produced a markedly inferior product. Also delightful was the spirited performance of Harris who manages to be sweet, neurotic and concerned without slipping into late career Diane Keaton territory. She is so lovely and sympathetic that you wonder how a creature of such strength could settle for such a self righteous bum which is one of the biggest points that the film makes. Gordon also plays the precocious child trope well as his joke delivery and gentleness in dealing with his uncle differentiate him from your average Haley Joel Osment kid. Balsam, who won an Academy Award for his performance, really excels in one scene where he smacks some sense into his wayward brother and conveys all of the wistful sadness of Melvyn Douglas in Hud (1963). Sadly, the lead actor in the film gives a performance that really hurts the film as while he delivers almost all of the dialogue that sounds like it was copied and pasted from the play his delivery doesn't help it to sound natural. I felt myself tuning out as he plays to the back row with his loud voice and intensely ponderous dialogue. Robards has been very good in other films, notably Parenthood (1989), but he's just too much here and when Harris' characterization appears so lived in and precious it is hard to feel anything for our main character. This is still a film that I would recommend as it has it's fair share of bright spots but I couldn't help feeling as though it would have been a much better film had the screenplay been just slightly better. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member The best comedy movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review jona i Funny script, though patchy story. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review ashley h A Thousand Clowns is an okay. It is about a middle-aged iconoclast who faces the prospect of losing custody of his young nephew. Jason Robards and Barbara Harris give decent performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Fred Coe did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the humor and romance. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      A Thousand Clowns

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Determined to avoid employment, Murray Burns (Jason Robards), an eccentric former TV writer, lives with his 12-year-old nephew, Nick (Barry Gordon), in a messy New York City apartment. When Nick's unconventional home life is discovered, Murray comes under the scrutiny of social worker Sandra Markowitz (Barbara Harris), whom he quickly charms. Attempting to be responsible for both Nick and Sandra, Murray begrudgingly looks for a job -- but can he truly commit to a more conventional life?
      Director
      Fred Coe
      Distributor
      United Artists
      Production Co
      United Artists
      Genre
      Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Dec 13, 1965, Original
      Release Date (DVD)
      Apr 20, 2011
      Runtime
      1h 58m