A New Leaf | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Elaine May |
Screenplay by | Elaine May |
Story by | Jack Ritchie |
Produced by | Hillard Elkins Howard W. Koch Joseph Manduke[1] |
Starring | Walter Matthau Elaine May Jack Weston George Rose James Coco |
Cinematography | Gayne Rescher |
Edited by | Don Guidice Fredric Steinkamp |
Music by | Neal Hefti |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 102 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $1.8 million (planned) $4 million (final) |
Box office | $5 million (US/Canada) (rentals)[2] |
A New Leaf is a 1971 American black comedy film written and directed by Elaine May in her directorial debut based on the short story "The Green Heart" by Jack Ritchie. It stars May, Walter Matthau, Jack Weston, George Rose, James Coco, and Doris Roberts.[1] Prior to the film, May was better known for her collaboration as a stage comedian with The Graduate director Mike Nichols.
In the film, a Patrician New York City playboy has run out of money. He decides to find a rich bride for himself, and soon enough finds a shy heiress. He takes charge of her finances after their wedding, and gets rid of her disloyal staff. He is carefully planning to poison her, but even his own best laid plans, go awry.
The film was a critical success upon its initial release. However, despite several accolades, award nominations, and a Radio City Music Hall run,[3] A New Leaf fared poorly at the box office and remains little known by the general public. It is now considered a cult classic.[4] In 2019, the film was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[5]
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