Cactus Flower
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| Cactus Flower | |
|---|---|
| Image:Cactus flower dvd cover.jpg | |
| Directed by | Gene Saks |
| Produced by | M. J. Frankovich |
| Written by | Abe Burrows (play), Pierre Barillet (Fleur de cactus), Jean-Pierre Grédy (Fleur de cactus), I.A.L. Diamond (screenwriter) |
| Starring | Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, Goldie Hawn |
| Music by | Quincy Jones |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) | December 16, 1969 |
| Running time | 103 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $3,000,000 (est.) |
| IMDb profile | |
Cactus Flower is a 1969 comedic film directed by Gene Saks and starring Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, and Goldie Hawn. The film is adapted from an earlier Broadway stage play, written by Abe Burrows, which in turn was based upon the French play Fleur de cactus.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The film begins with 21-year-old Toni Simmons (Goldie Hawn) trudging across the road at night to post a letter. Subsequently, she returns to her apartment and attempts to gas herself using a "second-hand" stove. Fortunately for her, her neighbor, Igor Sullivan (Rick Lenz), smells the smoke and rescues her from imminent death using rescue breathing, which evolves into a French kiss after Toni regains consciousness.
The movie then moves to the cause of the suicide attempt. Julian (Walther Matthau), a dentist and philanderer, had previously told Toni that he has a wife and three kids, in order to avoid commitment issues. However, upon learning of the suicide attempt, he decides to rethink his bachelor status and to marry Toni, resulting in him needing a wife to divorce.
In order to resolve his dilemma, Julian decides to ask Miss Stephanie Dickinson (Ingrid Bergman), his spinsterish Swedish assistant of ten years, to pose as his wife. At first unwilling, she ultimately accepts the role, since she has secretly developed a crush on Julian. However, upon meeting Miss Dickinson, Toni intuitively senses Miss Dickinson's love for Julian. This causes her to ask Julian to help Miss Dickinson find another man, in order for everyone to be happy. In order to resolve the situation, Julian involves several other characters, including Julian's friend Harvey (Jack Weston), Señor Arturo Sánchez (Vito Scotti), and Toni's neighbor Igor. Ultimately, Toni finds out about the lie and leaves Julian for Igor, while Julian falls in love with Miss Dickinson.
The namesake of the film is a prickly cactus that Miss Dickinson keeps on her desk at the dentist's office. Similar to Miss Dickinson, the cactus is cold and inhospitable. However, by the end, both the cactus and Miss Dickinson have bloomed.
[edit] Awards and nominations
Goldie Hawn won the 1969 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture for her role. She was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. In addition, Ingrid Bergman was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
[edit] Trivia
- An Indian Bollywood remake was created under the title Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya.
- Lauren Bacall played the part of Miss Dickinson in the Broadway stage play.
- It was the seventh highest grossing film of 1970.
[edit] Memorable lines
- Julian: "I'll divorce my wife."
- Toni: "But what about the children?"
- Julian: "I'll divorce them, too"
- Miss Dickinson: "Your girlfriend has a 7 a.m. appointment."
- Harvey: "But I'll be in bed then."
- Miss Dickinson: "The appointment is for your friend."
- Harvey: "She'll be in bed too!"
- Miss Dickinson gives him an icy stare.
- Harvey: "Does that shock you?"
- Miss Dickinson: "No, but it must shock her."
- Miss Dickinson(reading a wine bottle label): "I didn't know they made champagne in Idaho!"
- Miss Dickinson: "Well... I am no sex goddess, but I haven't spent my life up on a tree."
[edit] External links
- Cactus Flower at the Internet Movie Database
- Cactus Flower at the TCM Movie Database
