They Might Be Giants *** (1971, George C Scott, Joanne Woodward, Jack Gilford, Rue McClanahan) – Classic Movie Review 11,495

The 1972 cult film They Might Be Giants is a fantasy comedy about judge Justin Playfair (George C Scott), who retreats into fantasy on his wife’s death and thinks he is Sherlock Holmes, looked after by psychiatrist Dr Mildred Watson (Joanne Woodward). 

Director Anthony Harvey’s 1972 cult favourite film They Might Be Giants is an off-the-wall fantasy comedy about crazy judge Justin Playfair (George C Scott), who retreats into fantasy after his wife’s death and thinks that he is Sherlock Holmes, and is looked after by psychiatrist Dr (Mildred) Watson, who is played by Joanne Woodward, who becomes fascinated by his case.

They Might Be Giants is gentle, intelligent and superior up-market entertainment, thoroughly diverting for those who appreciate its idea and the appealing performances from the top-rate actors, with George C Scott giving an especial tour-de-force, though Woodward and Jack Gilford (as Peabody) are also outstanding.

The original uncut cinema release, TV, video and Anchor Bay DVD version runs 98 minutes, 11 minutes longer than the original truncated cinema release at only 87 minutes, making it a particularly short main feature, and this is the current DVD and streaming version. Netflix’s streaming version and the 2000 DVD are 91 minutes.

James Goldman scripts from his own 1961 play and is reunited with director Harvey from their very successful The Lion in Winter.

It is Scott’s first film after his Best Actor Oscar for Patton: not a good career move, alas. Despite its evident quality, it was not popular at the box office.

Goldman’s play never opened in the US. It was directed in London by Joan Littlewood in 1961, with Harry H Corbett in the lead, but Goldman believed he ‘never got the play right’ and forbade further productions, though, for the film’s release, he authorised an illustrated paperback tie-in edition of the screenplay.

James Goldman (June 30, 1927 – October 28, 1998) was the brother of screenwriter and novelist William Goldman.

The film’s title was later adopted as the name of a popular US rock music group.

Also in the cast are Jack Gilford, Lester Rawlins, Al Lewis, Rue McClanahan, M Emmet Walsh, Ron Weyand, Oliver Clark, Theresa Merritt, Jenny Egan, Jane Hoffman, Michael McGuire, Eugene Roche, James Tolkan, Kitty Winn, Sudie Bond, Staats Cotsworth, F Murray Abraham, Paul Benedict, Louis Zorich, Ted Beniades, Worthington Miner, Frances Fuller, Ralph Clanton, and John McCurry.

It is F Murray Abraham’s movie debut.

The title comes from Cervantes’ novel Don Quixote, who tilted at windmills because he was sure they were monstrous giants. Justin Playfair states that Quixote was insane to be convinced that windmills are giants but it’s another matter to wonder if they might be giants.

Playfair argues: ‘He thought that every windmill was a giant. That’s insane. But, thinking that they might be… Well, all the best minds used to think the world was flat. But, what if it isn’t? It might be round. And bread mould might be medicine. If we never looked at things and thought of what they might be, why, we’d all still be out there in the tall grass with the apes.’

They Might Be Giants is directed by Anthony Harvey, runs 98 minutes, is made by Newman-Foreman Company, is released by Universal Pictures, is written by James Goldman, based on the play by James Goldman, is shot by Victor J Kemper, is produced by Paul Newman and John Foreman, and is scored by John Barry

It was released on June 9, 1971.

Joanne Woodward is the widow of Paul Newman, with whom she often collaborated as co-star or actress in films directed or produced by him. They married in 1958 and he died in 2008.

The cast are George C Scott as Justin Playfair, Joanne Woodward as Dr Mildred Watson, Jack Gilford as Peabody, Lester Rawlins as Blevins, Al Lewis as Messenger, Rue McClanahan as Daisy, Ron Weyand as Dr. Strauss, Oliver Clark as Mr Small, Theresa Merritt as Peggy, Michael McGuire as Telephone Guard, Eugene Roche as Policeman, James Tolkan as Mr Brown, Kitty Winn as Grace, Sudie Bond as Maud, Staats Cotsworth as Winthrop, F. Murray Abraham as Clyde, Paul Benedict as Chestnut Man, M Emmet Walsh as 1st Sanitation Man, Louis Zorich as 2nd Sanitation Man, Ted Beniades, Worthington Miner, Frances Fuller, Ralph Clanton, and John McCurry.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,495

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/