I’ve been slowly catching up on Elaine May’s films as a director. A New Leaf (1971) was apparently a longer, darker film in her original cut before Robert Evans head of Paramount stepped in to make it more audience friendly – still, despite that, I think it is such a funny, wonderful film. A bit odd at first to see the “slob” of the original Odd Couple, Walter Matthau play a snooty, spoilt member of the wealthy elite, who doesn’t realise that he’s blown all his money and needs to find more to avoid becoming poor. Then he enters a wager with a spiteful uncle to find a wealthy woman to marry (who he intends to eventually murder – he can’t stand the thought of sharing such a life of wealth). Enter the picture, the shy wallflower botany professor heiress (May). Each development expands the comedy considerably, the plotting is tied to big gags and throw away lines – Matthau and May are hilarious. It’s both a throwback to old screwball comedies about obtaining wealth, while prefiguring sophisticated cartoonish comedy of people like Steve Martin or Wes Anderson. Heartily recommended.
VHS Tracking 