The Tiger Makes Out ** (1967, Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, Bob Dishy) – Classic Movie Review 9025

Director Arthur Hiller’s 1967 offbeat drama The Tiger Makes Out stars Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson, who re-create their stage roles in Murray Schisgal’s two-hander, one-act off-Broadway play The Tiger as an embittered, middle-aged New York City postman living in Greenwich Village and the suburban homemaking housewife Gloria he kidnaps  by mistake. Of course she has her problems too, and naturally soon they are getting on like a house on fire.

Schisgal writes the screenplay, so the satirical barbs of the original are intact, and there are quite a lot of laughs. But the piece’s impact is greatly dissipated in its screen opening out, though in principle there is nothing wrong with the shots of New York and all the character cameos.

The very pleasing star playing of Wallach and Jackson is the main reason to watch. Alas the esteemed married couple were not asked to do the film version of Schisgal’s other playlet in the same double bill, Luv (also 1967), which starred Jack Lemmon, Peter Falk and Elaine May. It is Wallach and Jackson’s first film collaboration, forming Elan Productions to produce it, with financing from Columbia Pictures, who released it.

It is Dustin Hoffman’s first feature film, already aged 30. He was paid $200 for a single day’s work. Swoosie Kurtz appears in her film debut in a single shot, wearing a butterscotch-colored turtleneck. And it is John P Ryan’s film debut too.

Also in the cast are Bob Dishy, John Harkins, Ruth White, Roland Wood, David Burns, Rae Allen, Dustin Hoffman, Charles Nelson Reilly, Sudie Bond, Jack Fletcher, Bibi Osterwald, Frances Sternhagen, Elizabeth Wilson and Kim August.

The Tiger Makes Out is directed by Arthur Hiller, runs 94 minutes, is made by Elan Productions and Columbia Pictures, is released by Columbia, is written by Murray Schisgal, based on Murray Schisgal’s one-act play The Tiger, is shot in Technicolor by Arthur J Ornitz, is produced by George Justin, is scored by Milton (Shorty) Rogers, and is designed by Paul Sylbert.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9025

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