Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad (Paramount Pictures) (1967)

Hugh Griffith Cuts Dashing Figure In “Oh Dad, Poor Dad” Hugh Griffith, the distinguished, Academy Award-winning Welsh actor, is effusively enthusiastic about the dashing figure of a man he cuts in the Richard Quine production, “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You In The Closet And I’m Feelin’ So Sad,” a Seven Arts presentation in Technicolor for Paramount Pictures, opening . at the: . o> heatre: Famed for his superb character acting, Griffith has had somewhat less than a romantic image in the past. The well-established bawdy manner, lecherous spirit and shaggy beard have been refined and carefully re-shaped, however, for his role in the wildly funny Technicolor film which also stars Rosalind Russell, Robert Morse, Barbara Harris and Jonathan Winters. The screen traces the outrageous lives and times of Madame Rosepettle, a wealthy widow and over-dominating mama, and her repressed son during a trip to a tropic island. Griffith portrays Commodore Roseabove, mama’s amour and the owner of a hugh, lavish yacht. Resplendent in a doublebreasted blazer, his magnificent beard artfully trimmed, he emerges a handsome and suave leading man. “Tt’s rather fun donning a dinner jacket and being chivalrous for a change,” the actor has_ stated. “After all, I’ve done so many flamboyant characters. Of course, I do have that scene where I chase the pretty young thing (Miss Harris) around the yacht.” As a matter of fact, though his Commodore may not rival the Madame in bizarre qualities, there is an ever-so-restrained touch of the lecher rearing its ugly head. With the perfect portrait of wicked glee, he rollicks in hectic pursuit of a young curvy babysitter. Griffith glows with pride over his calculatedly unkempt, luxurious red beard, and admits to a moment of sadness when the special cutting and shaping were deemed necessary for the cruising Commodore. He’s seldom considered for a part that doesn’t require the beard, and most producers would undoubtedly write such a minor change into any character to win his services. His recent film credits include his Academy Award-winning performance in “Ben Hur,” “Exodus,” and “Tom Jones,” for which he received an Academy Award nomination. “Oh Dad, Poor Dad .. .,” produced by Stark and directed by Quine was written for the screen by Ian Bernard. Still #20026/15 Mat 1E MEDALED AND MUDDLED... Hugh Griffith stars with Rosalind Russell, Robert Morse, Barbara Harris and Jonathan Winters in Seven Arts’ “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You In The Closet And I’m Feelin’ So Sad.” a Paramount Picture which opens. 4.6.4.2. at LL Tee hey ee Theatre. Still #20026/51 Mat 2C WHO ME? Hotel “‘Baby-sitter’? Barbara Harris sets her sights on millionaire Hugh Griffith in Seven Arts’ wild and very weird new comedy, “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You In The Closet And I’m Feelin’ So Sad,”’ which opens .......... atthe sou sus ses Theatre. Produced by Ray Stark and Stanley Rubin, and directed by Richard Quine for Paramount Pictures, the Technicolor film also stars Rosalind Russell, Robert Morse and Jonathan Winters. Clinging Mamma Gives Birth to Mayhem In New Madcap Film Producer Ray Stark and director Richard Quine, exhibiting the qualities of dedicated physicians who refuse to let the patient out of their sight, have nurtured their new film, “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You In The Closet And I’m Feelin’ So Sad,” a Seven Arts presentation in Technicolor for Paramount Pictures release opening .... at the .... Theatre, into the most madcap comedy of any known hemisphere. Both of the distinguished filmmakers were excited about the screen potential of the story when they first saw the Arthur Kopit stage hit in New York. Stark set out to create the proper conditions for transferring the improper antics onto film, and sought out collaborators who shared his fondness for way-out humor. Quine, whose previous pictures had included many hit comedies, seemed a perfect choice as director of the Technicolor production which stars Rosalind Russell, Robert Morse, Barbara Harris, Hugh Griffith and Jonathan Winters. When the team joined forces, they found themselves in complete agreement as to the changes necessary for the screen version. From that moment on, either one or the other hovered over every aspect of the production. Long hours of hard work by Quine and writer Ian Bernard were spent in expanding the screenplay, which the director has described as “A funny nightmare. It’s off-beat, about three feet off the ground.” Underlying the comedy, however, is a savage indictment of momism. It was the monumental task of creating a farcical treatment of the deadly serious subject of smothering mothering which brought the men so close to their assignment. Stark chose the lush island of Jamaica for location sequences, and searched out a luxurious hotel in Montego Bay for a setting. In his superb directing, Quine has pulled out all the stops to maintain an utterly zany pace. A lover of odd-ball props and gadgets, he has carefully worked in a hugh assortment of the wildest paraphernalia, from man-eating plants to a coffin on wheels complete with taillights and black fringed awning. Teamed before for “The World of Suzie Wong,” the Stark-Quine craftsmanship which fashioned “Oh Dad, Poor Dad” has scored resoundingly with a successful first attempt at bizarre comedy. Bats Bring Curtain Down Shooting was halted on the “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You In The Closet And I’m Feelin’ So Sad” set when several bats flew into the main lobby of Round Hill Hotel where the opening scene of the picture takes place. The Seven Arts presentation, filmed in Technicolor for Paramount Pictures release, opens ....... EDO cat sealeus ate Theatre. The unwelcome visitors flew right into camera range and caused a scurry among cast and crew. Star Rosalind Russell retreated behind a pillar while Hiram Sherman decided that this was a fine time to take a little walk. But Roz’s co-star, Robert Morse, came to the rescue, using the baby blanket he had been holding in the scene to swat at the bats and making appropriately fierce noises at the same time. Fearless Morse succeeded in chasing off the nocturnal pests and then altered his mien completely, clutching the blanket and becoming once again the timid, frightened mama’s boy he portrays in the film. “Oh Dad, Poor Dad” was produced by Ray Stark and Stanley Rubin, and directed by Richard Quine. In addition to Rosalind Russell and Robert Morse, it stars Barbara Harris and Jonathan Winters. “A Hearse Is Not a Home!” Jonathan Winters plays the role of Albert, Rosalind Russell’s longdead husband whom she transports wherever she goes by an especially constructed, goldplated jeep in “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You In The Closet And I’m Feelin’ So Sad,” a Seven Arts’ presentation for Paramount Pictures in TechniColor opening 222s caw ae at the ecg RS cree Theatre. When asked on the set if he wouldn’t prefer being conveyed by the more conventional means for people in his condition, Winters replied that there certainly was precedent for such a situation. “After all, remember the old saying, ‘A hearse is not a home,’” he stated as he went back to his coffin to take a short rest before lunch. “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You In The Closet And I’m Feelin’ So Sad” produced by Ray Stark and Stanley Rubin, and directed by Richard Quine, also stars Rosalind Russell, Robert Morse, Barbara Harris and Hugh Griffith. “‘Way-Out’ Winters Wins Laughs Even When Hung-Up In Closet Jonathan Winters, the dean of ‘way-out wit,’ proves that his special brand of comedic genius transcends both life and death in the Richard Quine production, “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You In The Closet And I’m Feelin’ So Sad,” a Seven Arts Presentation in Technicolor for Paramount Pictures refeaee Ome naiie oo ae FA || Re et Theatre. The wild young man of a 1000 characters, voices and razorsharp improvisations, creates ‘Dad’ of the title in the Technicolor production also starring Rosalind Russell, Robert Morse, Barbara Harris and Hugh Griffith. His portrayal, with the exception of flashback scenes, is that of an omnipresent corpse. The bizarre comedy is about an extravagantly wealthy widow, Madam Rosepettle, played by Miss Russell, who ferociously dominates her son, and travels the world dragging the boy as well as a coffin—containing the now preserved, dead father—around with her. It’s a unique assignment for the versatile Winters, and he has a ball falling out of closets and generally making a nuisance of himself. ‘Dad is one of the most delightful fellas I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing,” the comic has said. He even takes Madame Rosepettle’s cutting descriptions of him good naturedly. Abhorring men in general, she directs much of that hate to the silent corpse, variously referring to Winters as “a stupid, fat, sweaty man... ugly as a humid day ... with false teeth, elevator shoes, a toupee, bad breath and a ridiculous voice ...a lover of garlic and beans.” “Oh well,” Jonathan has summarized, “in real life I’m actually much prettier than that.” Rarely out of sight in the madcap film, his biggest moment comes when he vaults out of the renowned closet to provide a shuddering interruption to the passionate seduction of his son by a sexy babysitter. Winters possesses abilities to develop and sustain a character that are rare to most stand-up comics, and his variety and depth have already brought him acclaim as an outstanding actor. In the screen version of Arthur Kopit’s hit play, an exhuberant exaggeration full of screwball comedy, underlined by reverberating and dramatic threads of truth, he manages to masterfully fashion an unforgettable ‘comic monster.’ “Ohad. Poor Wades... .DLOduced by Ray Stark and Stanley Rubin, and directed by Quine was written for the screen by Ian Bernard. Family Affair Still FOD/Spec/1 Mat 2D THIS IS DINNER “OH DAD, POOR DAD” STYLE—What starts out to be quiet family dinner does not stay that way in this sequence from the wild and bizarre Seven Arts’ comedy, “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You In The Closet And I’m Feelin’ So Sad.” The Paramount Picture, produced by Ray Stark and Stanley Rubin and directed by Richard Quine in Technicolor, opens at the Theatre. Scooping up a handful of cole slaw, Jonathan Winters lets it fly at co-stars Rosalind Russell and Robert Morse, all who co-star with Hugh Griffith and Barbara Harris. “Oh Dad, Poor Dad” is a zany, but often frightening, story of a mother’s efforts to keep her 25-year-old infant son pure in mind and body while she aggressively attempts to better her own lot in the cruel, cruel world.