I remember years ago my uncle told me he’d seen a movie he
thought was hilarious called A NEW LEAF. He told me the basic plot and it
sounded interesting but for some reason I never got the chance to see it. Keep
in mind this was years before the first VCR was easily accessed. I seem to
recall seeing it was available on VHS at one time but few if any stores I went
to had it. With Olive Films releasing it as part of their Olive Signature
collection I finally got the chance to see it and I’m glad I did. I just hope
more will make it happen as well.
Written, directed by and starring Elaine May (her first
directorial job) the movie stars Walter Matthau as Henry Graham, a wealthy fop
who spends his time with a fast sport car or at the local racquet club avoiding
his attorney when the movie opens. He’s finally reached and meets with the
attorney who tells him he is broke, no money whatsoever. It turns out he’s
wasted it away his inheritance on his exorbitant lifestyle, both his interest
and principal.
With no one to get money from, no prospects for a job since
he’s never done a single thing in his entire life, he goes from place to place
for one last visit. When he returns home he discusses his plight with his
manservant Harold (George Rose), Harold suggest that he take a short term loan
from his uncle and then use what talents he has to find a suitable wife who is
wealthy. At first reluctant to do so since he’s set in his way and not a very
friendly person willing to share anything he co-opts the idea while keeping to
himself the plan to murder his soon to be wife, whoever she might be.
His uncle Harry (James Coco) agrees laughing all the while.
He forces Henry to put up anything that he has left as collateral and then adds
his own stipulation to their agreement. Henry must find a wife and marry her
within 6 weeks or forfeit everything to Harry.
Henry sets out to find a mate among the wealthy but it isn’t
as easy as he expected. On the last week he meets Henrietta Lowell (May), a clumsy
wallflower with no living relatives who inherited a fortune from her father.
Henrietta is two things: a botanist who teaches because she loves it and a
complete and utter klutz.
As Henry tries to woo her he finds plenty of competition
from those who have a stake in the game. First up is her attorney Andy
McPherson (Jack Weston) who has sights on her wealth as well. Then his uncle
Harry provides Andy with the ammunition needed to shoot down Henry. But this is
a dark romantic comedy we’re talking about here and of course the pair are wed.
Now the question becomes where and how will Henry take out his new wife? And
just who will stand in his way as he makes that attempt?
The laughs in this film are plentiful with most of them
going to Matthau. For some reason Matthau always played a slob of a character,
most notably as Oscar Madison in THE ODD COUPLE. But here he’s well dressed and
coiffed as a bon vivant who turns up his nose at those he feels are beneath him
while depending on Harold to motivate him. Several comments and lines are
funnier spoken in the way only Matthau could say them, my favorite being when
talking to Harold after a night out with Henrietta when he says “Never have I
seen one woman in whom every social grace was so lacking. Did I say she was
primitive? I retract that. She's feral. I've never spent a more physically
destructive evening in my life. I am nauseated. I limp. And I can feel my teeth
rotting away from an excess of sugar that no amount of toothpaste can dislodge.
I will taste those damn Malaga coolers forever. That woman is a menace not only
to health, but to western civilization as we know it.”
May shines here as well playing the shyest of women to walk
this planet while at the same time exuding an innocence and charm that draws
you to her at the same time. When she makes mistakes or does something klutzy
you feel for her. The same holds true knowing what Henry intends to do with her
once he has the opportunity. She is completely unaware of his true intentions
and sees only the good in him, falling for him immediately and enjoying any and
all time spent with him no matter how he might treat her.
May’s direction is superb as well though how much of her
intentions remained once the film was taken from he is up for discussion. Running
over on time, shooting too much footage and taking forever to eventually turn
in a final print, various people in the extras included here note that the film
was taken from her by Paramount who didn’t understand exactly what she was
going for. It’s even noted that the film had a much darker nature than what we
see here. Still what we are offered remains one of the funniest comedies I’ve
seen in some time. Not bad for a movie made back in 1971.
Olive has chosen to offer a high quality restoration from 4K
scan of original camera negative. The extras include a commentary track
featuring film scholar Maya Montanez Smukler, THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR: EDITING A
NEW LEAF featuring an interview with editor Angelo Corrao, WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD:
A TRAGEDY OF COMIC PROPORTIONS featuring an interview with director Amy
Heckerling, the original trailer and a 16 page booklet featuring an essay
entitled ODE ON A GRECIAN NIGHTGOWN written by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and
the short story the film was based on, THE GREEN HEART, written by author Jack
Ritchie.
If you never heard of this film it’s not much of a surprise.
With the exception of the year it was released when it was nominated for
several awards, May was known more for her stand-up comedy with Mike Nichols
and less as an actress then and later and Matthau was an older actor by this
time. As the years passed after its initial release neither was the box office
draw they once were and fans during the early years of video were more inclined
to look for the newest films at the time. Discs has made it possible to
rediscover some of the best movies out there at an affordable price and Olive
is one company leading the way to provide that opportunity. Take my word for
it, this is a movie that’s worth adding to your collection. I know I’ll be
taking it out on occasion when I need a laugh.
Click here to order.
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