A Thousand Clowns (United Artists) (1965)

Still TC-38 OR Mat 2B Barbara Harris co-stars with Jason Robards in “A Thousand Clowns,” opening United Artists release. at the Playing a social worker, she comes to Theatre, through investigate Jason Robards and finds him a curious contradiction of clown and commentator on life’s absurdities. The film, introducing Barry Gordon as Nick, was directed and produced by Fred Coe and written by Herb Gardner. Film Debut for Barbara Harris With Her ‘Thousand Clowns’ Role Barbara Harris, making her film debut opposite Jason Robards in “A Thousand Clowns,” opening ..... vip at the ye bv eas iies Theatre, through United Artists release, is one of the most talked-about, imitated and award-winning actresses to emerge in years. Yet only a few short years ago she made her first Broadway appearance in an improvisational revue titled “From The Second City.” Before that she was performing in a Chicago cabaret called the Compass, with performers including Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Alan Arkin and Paul Sands. Born in Evanston, Ill., Barbara grew up in Chicago where she attended Wright Junior College, the Goodman School of Theatre and the University of Chicago. It was as an apprentice at the Playwrights’ Theatre that Barbara made her first professional appearances, playing a wide variety of roles in repertory. She appeared on daytime TV serials, did a season of summer stock, then came to New York. Nothing. Next, Hollywood—where she picked up a few TV credits before returning to Chicago and the Compass group. After a year they re-formed under the name of “Second City” where they were seen by TV impresario Max Liebman, who helped them construct a full-length revue. Under his aegis they appeared in Los Angeles and on SS Still TC-49 Mat ID In “A Thousand Clowns,” William Daniels plays a_ social worker come to _ investigate Jason Robards, whose ward has written an essay for school on the advantages of unemployment insurance. Barry Gordon plays the precocious youth and Barbara Harris is Daniels’ partner from the Child Welfare Department. Broadway, where Barbara was singled out as a deft, offbeat comedienne with, as one critic described Ttjact . a piquant blend of innocence and intuitive womanliness.” Before the revue had run its Broadway course, Barbara was tapped by director Jerome Robbins for the plum role of the adolescent seductress in Arthur Kopit’s marathon-titled comedy, “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You in the Closet and I’m Feelin’ So Sad.” Her performance again received rave reviews and won for her every available off-Broadway prize, including the Vernon Rice Award and the “Obie.” It led her back to Hollywood, where she recreated her role in the film version of the play. She has also appeared on Broadway in Bertold Brecht’s “Mother Courage” and in an Actors’ Studio musical, “Dynamite Tonight.” Currently starring on Broadway in the musical by Lerner and Lane, “On A Clear Day You Can See Forever,’ Barbara frequently finds time to rejoin her colleagues in “Second City” in New York’s Greenwich Village. William Daniels Plays Stuffy Social Worker William Daniels, who plays the well-meaning but stuffy social worker in “A Thousand Clowns,” ODCMINO Farrier es at the Theatre, through United Artists release, first gained prominence in Edward Albee’s “The Zoo Story.” His performance won him the coveted “Obie” award and the Clarence Derwent award. Later he appeared in “Rosemary” and “The Alligator,” a dual bill off-Broadway. He was selected for the role of the social worker in the stage production of “A Thousand Clowns” and to featured roles in “Dear Me, The Sky is Falling” with Gertrude Berg, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,”’ with Kirk Douglas, and the part of the school principal in the film “Ladybug, Ladybug.” Looking forward to directing as well as acting, he was Jerome Robbins’ assistant when the latter directed the stage productions of “Gypsy” and “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You in the Closet and I’m Feelin’ So Sad.” Film Director Fred Coe Arrives Via TV, Fred Coe’s magic touch has left its mark on television, the stage and films. Director of “A Thousand Clowns,” opening ..... at the. .... Theatre, through United Artists, Coe also co-produced it with Ralph Rosenblum and author Herb Gardner. It is a natural sequence, since Coe also co-produced and directed the stage version of “Clowns” which ran for 429 performances on Broadway. Jason Robards, who created the role of Murray Burns in the play, recreates his antic role for the movie. Born in Alligator, Mass., Coe spent part of his childhood in Kentucky and was graduated from Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn. At the age of 12 he wrote his first play for school production. At 18, he was producing and directing plays for the Nashville Community Theatre and acting in radio shows. Finally, he attended the Yale Drama School and later became di Balsam’s ‘Oscar’ Has Him Worried! Now that Martin Balsam is an “Oscar” winner, he’s worried. Until he won the Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his perform“A Thousand : ance in Clowns,’ Openitiqwetasn aaneees anes a. at the ate Case Theatre, through United Artists release, Balsam had a highly successful and secure career as one of Hollywood’s best-known and least identifiable actors. In demand by almost every producer and director, he had his pick of the juciest parts and had a ball playing every kind of character in every kind of story. In recent years, howBalsam’s name has become ever, as familiar as his face on both motion picture and _ television screen, and he has grown increasingly concerned about being typed. The Academy Award, he feels, will restrict him to “important” roles that will be continually measured against his performance as Jason Robard’s brother in “A Thousand Clowns.” Other actors — and his fans — consider this a “handicap” much to be envied! Rae Stull TC-48 Mat 1C MARTIN BALSAM Bronx born Balsam set his sights on acting early in life. He performed in every school play he could, joined community center drama groups, played in revue skits and MCd at resorts. He attended acting classes at the New School for Social Research and acted in summer stock, making his Broadway debut in “Ghost for Sale.” A solid five year run followed off Broadway. Way off — China, in fact! With the Air Force. Upon his discharge from the service, Balsam resumed his acting career in the then new medium of television, where he soon found himself in great demand. His success led to increasingly important roles on the Broadway stage and in films. His first big break came when he played Edward G. Robinson’s_ brother-inlaw in “Middle of the Night,” repeating the same role later in the film. Recognition led to featured roles in other moyies, including “On The Waterfront,” “Time Limit,” “Marjorie Morningstar,” “Twelve Angry Men,” “Psycho,” “Cape Fear,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “Seven Days in May” and “The Carpetbaggers.” Stage Route rector and general factotum of the Civic Theatre in Columbia, South Carolina. His assault on Broadway was not especially rewarding so he investigated a then infant medium: television. His pioneering has become legend. As a producer and director for the Philco-Goodyear Playhouse, he numbered among his regular contributors such talented writers (then unknown) as Paddy Chayefsky, N. Richard Nash, Robert Alan Arthur, Davis Shaw, Tad Mosel and Horton Foote. It was Foote’s “The Trip to Bountiful” that finally brought Coe to Broadway as a producer. His next theatrical venture, “Two For the Seesaw,” was written by William Gibson, directed by Arthur Penn and _ introduced a dynamic young actress to Broadway: Anne Bancroft. It was an overwhelming success and a few years later Penn, Coe, Gibson and Bancroft were reunited for “The Miracle Worker,” which was later transferred to the sceen by Coe. Coe’s next production, in cosponsorship with Arthur Cantor, was Tad Mosel’s “All The Way Home.’ It won the Drama Critics Award and the Pulitzer Prize. They next produced Paddy Chayefsky’s “Gideon.” After that, Coe again took a chance on an unknown author, Herb Gardner. He and Cantor produced Gardner’s first play, “A Thousand Clowns.” Coe’s magic touch did it again. The play was an enormous success. Now on the screen, it stars Jason Robards, Barbara Harris and Martin Balsam with Gene Saks and William Daniels and introduces Barry Gordon as Nick. ‘AThousand Clowns’ In Movie Version (General Advance) The film version of one of Broad ways most enthusiastically acclaimed comedies, “A Thousand Clowns,” opens ...... atvthes a. Theatre, with many of the play’s performers in their originals roles. The United Artists release stars Jason Robards, Barbara Harris and Martin Balsam, with Gene Saks and William Daniels and introduces Barry Gordon as Nick. Robards, Gordon, Saks and Daniels all appeared in the Broadway production of the story, which concerns a nonconformist TV writer whose apparently offhand way of raising his nephew involves him in the bureaucratic red tape of the Welfare Department. Portrayed by Robards, the writer struggles against the human and mechanical elements of that impersonal organization—and the world which made it. . . ultimately becoming involved with the beautiful social worker who represents it. Herb Gardner wrote the script, based on his original play. Fred Coe produced and directed, filming entirely on location in New York City. How Logical! When the hit Broadway play “A Thousand Clowns” was filmed by United Artists, four of the six principal characters were cast in their original roles—something so logical it is seldom done in Hollywood. But the film, opening ..... al the..... Theatre, was not made in Hollywood—it was shot on location in New York City by producer-director Fred Coe, who also directed the play. He recast Jason Robards as Murray, the unemployed, non-conformist television writer; Barry Gordon as Nick, his 13 year old nephew; William Daniels as the stuffy social worker .. . and Gene Saks as the ebullient but slightly obnoxious TV performer known as Chuckles the Chipmunk. Newcomers to their roles are Barbara Harris and Martin Balsam. Written by Herb Gardner, who also penned the play, the movie is about a talented television writer who rebels against the barriers of silence and humbug that make it impossible for people to communicate with each other. Barry Gordon at Fifteen Vet of Entertainment World Legend has it that Barry Gordon belted out a rousing chorus of “Bye Bye Blues” at the age of ten months. In show business, legends sprout easily——but in Barry’s case it just might be true! Now 15, he has a list of show credits in all media that could match any actor’s twice his age and height (he’s still under five feet). “A Thousand Clowns,” opening at the Theatre, through United Artists release, introduces him as Jason Robards’ nephew, in the parts they both created on the Broadway stage. Barbara Harris and Martin Balsam also star in the comedy, which was directed and produced by Fred Coe. Born in Brookline, Mass., Barry’s family moved to Albany, New York where he was singing for neighbors nightly by the time he was two. One of these fans subsequently submitted his name to Ted Mack, then hosting the Original Amateur Hour, and at three, Barry’s talent won over 600 contestants in a tri-city competition. The producer of a children’s TV show called “Startime” signed him and during the next three years he made personal appearances with Jackie Gleason, Jack Paar, Perry Como and Milton Berle. At six he recorded “Nuttin’ cor Christmas,” which has sold over 2,000,000 copies! When he was seven he made “Rock Around With Mother Goose,” which sold 200,000. After that Barry joined Ken Murray’s “Blackouts” review for 16 weeks in Las Vegas. Too young to gamble, he was the only member of the company to leave town financially ahead. When Barry was eight years old he began appearing on TV, eventually being booked on all the top shows. One of the Hitchcock plays in which he played a dramatic role was seen by Herb Gardner, then writing a play with a large part for a small boy. Gordon was signed for Gardner’s play and the young actor won unqualified raves from all the critics. “Clowns” ran for more than a year on Broadway and Barry later went on tour with it. Now he has made the movie version, a giant step for a little boy with a big talent! Three for N. Y. “A Thousand Clowns,” opening Sbetie: CoN Theatre, through United Artists release, is the third film in a row for which Arthur J. Ornitz has been called upon to capture New York City on celluloid . .. and the second starring Jason Robards. “Act One,” was the other, and Ornitz also photographed “The World of Henry Orient”—all on location on what he considers the best set ever built! Ornitz numbers among his other films “The Goddess,” “The Young Doctors,” “Requiem For a Heavyweight” and “The Connection.” “A Thousand Clowns” also stars Barbara Harris and Martin Balsam, with Gene Saks and William Daniels and introduces Barry Gordon as Nick. Still TC-40 Still TC-47 Barry Gordon, who garnered raves from the critics for his performance in the stage version of “A Thousand Clowns,” repeats his role and the accolades in the motion picture which stars Jason Robards and Barbara Harris. “‘A Thousand Clowns” is being released by United Artists and is currently playing at the ...... Theatre. Mat IE Tale of a Kite When Fred Coe told Jason Robards to go fly a kite, he didn’t have to duck. Coe, producer director of “A Thousand Clowns,” opening ea hes atthe ..... Theatre, through United Artists release, was calling for a scene in which Robards, starring in the comedy, flys a box-kite from the roof of a brownstone apartment house in New York’s west seventies. But the scene wasn’t easy to get on film. Robards couldn’t very well run along the roof-top ... and prop men tried for hours to get the kite alof1. They finally hoisted it with helium filled balloons... which remained out of camera range. of cheating by Lauren Bacall, Robards wife, Coe said, “If you think its easy—you go fly a kite!” He thus has the distinction of being the only producer Accused who told two actors in a row to fly a kite ... and lived to tell the tale! Mat 2C Jason Robards reminds Barbara Harris of the little red car in the circus that throws open its doors to emit a thousand clowns, whooping and hollering. Clowns,” opening ...... ONS ey ow as: Its a key seene from “A Thousand at the Theatre, through United Artists release. The comedy introduces Barry Gordon as Robards’ nephew, and was written by Herb Gardner, author of the original Broadway hit. PAGE 9