Derek Winnert

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This article was written on 14 Aug 2017, and is filled under Reviews.

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Lovers and Other Strangers **** (1970, Gig Young, Beatrice Arthur, Bonnie Bedelia, Anne Jackson, Harry Guardino, Michael Brandon, Richard Castellano, Diane Keaton, Cloris Leachman) – Classic Movie Review 5910

Director Cy Howard’s funny and clever 1970 sex comedy stars Bonnie Bedelia and Michael Brandon as a young couple who have lived together and get married, only to find out at the wedding their unhapppy families all have love problems.

Gig Young won’t leave his wife Cloris Leachman for their friend Anne Jackson, while the groom’s brother Joseph Hindy is upsetting his parents Richard S Castellano and Beatrice Arthur by divorcing Diane Keaton.

There is sparkling playing from a marvellous, truly special ensemble cast, but especially Young, Leachman, Jackson, Arthur and Castellano, all of whom have been shamefully undervalued. But the main credit goes go the delightful screenplay from Renée Taylor and Joseph Bologna, adapting their own play, first written for Broadway.

Bologna received an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, shared with his wife and David Zelag Goodman. It is based on the true-life circumstances of organising a wedding on short notice with the involvement of Bologna’s Italian extended family and Taylor’s Jewish clan. Several of their relatives performed in the film as extras.

The song ‘For All We Know’ won the 1971 Best Original Song Oscar for Fred Karlin (music) and Robb Royer and Jimmy Griffin (lyrics). Castellano received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

It is the 24-year-old Keaton’s film début, as Joan Vecchio.

Also in the cast are Bob [Robert] Dishy, Anne Meara, Marian Hailey and Anthony Holland.

Castellano (1933–1988) plays the loyal Corleone capo Peter Clemenza who teaches Al Pacino how to shoot a crooked police captain in The Godfather (1972).

Joseph Bologna (30 December 1934 – 13 August 2017).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5910

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

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