I Ought to Be in Pictures (film)
Encyclopedia
Neil Simon's I Ought to Be in Pictures (also known simply as I Ought to Be in Pictures) is a 1982
American
comedy film directed by Herbert Ross
and based on Neil Simon
's play of the same name
. The film stars Walter Matthau
, Ann-Margret
, and Dinah Manoff
(the only one to reprise her role in the movie). Other actors who have supporting roles are Lance Guest
, Eugene Butler, David Faustino
, Martin Ferrero
and Michael Dudikoff
.
The film was released on March 26, 1982, a year after the original broadway show ended and was filmed mainly in Los Angeles, California
.
cemetery, and informs that she was moving to Hollywood to become an actress and find her father, Screenwriter Herbert Tucker. Libby takes the bus to Denver, then hitchhikes the rest of the way. Libby then tries to call Herb but gets nervous and hangs up.
The next morning, Libby goes to the house Herb lives where she meets his girlfriend, Steffy Blondell (Ann-Margret) who invites Libby in. Libby and Steffy find out about each other's past and the reason why Libby is in town. After Steffy steps out, Herbert Tucker (Walter Matthau) awakens to see Libby after a 16 year gap. The two chat about their pasts and Libby fills Herbert in on the family he left behind including Libby. The two eventually begin arguing about Libby's goal of becoming an actress just as Steffy returns, and ran out, leaving them behind.
Herbert later finds Libby at a motel and eventually persuades her to come back to the house where she would redecorate. Steffy helps out Libby by having her go to a Drama School; She would meet a young man named Gordon there. One night, Libby comes home at 3:00 A.M. to tell Herbert that he was out meeting famous people and putting cards on their car windshields saying, "Sunset Valet Parking. No party is too big or too small" while on the back it says, "Libby Tucker, New York, Trained Actress. No part is too big or too small" with the phone number attached. He tells her that there is no chance of becoming an actress; later they would talk about sex. Eventually, Libby realizes she is unsure if she wants to be an actress. After a few more days she decides to return home. After packing up, Libby makes a long distance phone call to mom and gets Herbert to talk to her for the first time in 16 years. Libby goes back home after taking his pictures. On the bus, she ends the film by saying that she was unsure of her future as she was "sort of in a transitional period." Libby waves goodbye to Herbert and Steffy as she goes back home to New York.
and written by Carole Bayer Sager
and Marvin Hamlisch
. An instrumental version of "One Hello" is heard at various points in the movie as well. Hamlisch composed the main music for the movie.
in 1980 and the original cast starred Ron Leibman
as Herbert Tucker, Joyce Van Patten
as Steffy and Dinah Manoff
as Libby Tucker; as mentioned, Manoff reprises her role in the movie. For the film version, most of the script from the play is the same with even more settings such as Dodger Stadium
and the Hollywood Park Racetrack.
by CBS Fox Video on December 1, 1982 and reprinted in 1984. To date, it has never been released on DVD
or Blu-Ray.
The film has aired on Fox Movie Channel
on various occasions and is available on Netflix.
1982 in film
-Events:* March 26 = I Ought to Be in Pictures, starring Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret and Dinah Manoff is released. Manoff would not appear in another movie until 1987's Backfire.* June = PG-rated film E.T...
American
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
comedy film directed by Herbert Ross
Herbert Ross
Herbert Ross was an American film director, producer, choreographer and actor.-Early life and career:Born Herbert David Ross in Brooklyn, New York, he made his stage debut as Third Witch with a touring company of Macbeth in 1942...
and based on Neil Simon
Neil Simon
Neil Simon is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has written numerous Broadway plays, including Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and The Odd Couple. He won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Lost In Yonkers. He has written the screenplays for several of his plays that...
's play of the same name
I Ought to Be in Pictures
I Ought to Be in Pictures is a play by Neil Simon.The three-character comedy-drama focuses on Herbert Tucker, a struggling, writer's-blocked screenwriter who abandoned his New York family 16 years earlier...
. The film stars Walter Matthau
Walter Matthau
Walter Matthau was an American actor best known for his role as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and his frequent collaborations with Odd Couple star Jack Lemmon, as well as his role as Coach Buttermaker in the 1976 comedy The Bad News Bears...
, Ann-Margret
Ann-Margret
Ann-Margret Olsson is a Swedish-American actress, singer and dancer whose professional name is Ann-Margret. She became famous for her starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, The Cincinnati Kid, Carnal Knowledge, and Tommy...
, and Dinah Manoff
Dinah Manoff
Dinah Beth Manoff is an American stage, film and television actress and television director best known for her roles as Elaine Lefkowitz on Soap, Marty Maraschino in the film Grease, Libby Tucker in both the stage and film adaptations of I Ought to Be in Pictures, for which she won a Tony award,...
(the only one to reprise her role in the movie). Other actors who have supporting roles are Lance Guest
Lance Guest
Lance R. Guest is an American film and television actor.-Biography:Guest developed a serious interest in acting in the ninth grade, and he majored in theater while attending UCLA. He has starred in many theatrical films including his role as Jimmy alongside actress Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween...
, Eugene Butler, David Faustino
David Faustino
David Anthony Faustino is an American actor and rap artist primarily known for his role as Bud Bundy on the sitcom Married with Children.-Early life:...
, Martin Ferrero
Martin Ferrero
Martin Ferrero is an American stage and film actor.Ferrero joined the California Actors Theater in Los Gatos, California. In 1979, he moved to Los Angeles and began to act in Hollywood. He is widely remembered for his role as the ill-fated lawyer Donald Gennaro in Jurassic Park...
and Michael Dudikoff
Michael Dudikoff
Michael Joseph Dudikoff II is an American actor who has been in numerous films, including the American Ninja series , Tron , Bachelor Party , Platoon Leader , River of Death , Soldier Boyz , Ringmaster , and The Silencer , to name a few...
.
The film was released on March 26, 1982, a year after the original broadway show ended and was filmed mainly in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Plot
The film starts with 19-year-old Brooklynite Libby Tucker (Dinah Manoff) visiting her dead grandma's grave at a New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
cemetery, and informs that she was moving to Hollywood to become an actress and find her father, Screenwriter Herbert Tucker. Libby takes the bus to Denver, then hitchhikes the rest of the way. Libby then tries to call Herb but gets nervous and hangs up.
The next morning, Libby goes to the house Herb lives where she meets his girlfriend, Steffy Blondell (Ann-Margret) who invites Libby in. Libby and Steffy find out about each other's past and the reason why Libby is in town. After Steffy steps out, Herbert Tucker (Walter Matthau) awakens to see Libby after a 16 year gap. The two chat about their pasts and Libby fills Herbert in on the family he left behind including Libby. The two eventually begin arguing about Libby's goal of becoming an actress just as Steffy returns, and ran out, leaving them behind.
Herbert later finds Libby at a motel and eventually persuades her to come back to the house where she would redecorate. Steffy helps out Libby by having her go to a Drama School; She would meet a young man named Gordon there. One night, Libby comes home at 3:00 A.M. to tell Herbert that he was out meeting famous people and putting cards on their car windshields saying, "Sunset Valet Parking. No party is too big or too small" while on the back it says, "Libby Tucker, New York, Trained Actress. No part is too big or too small" with the phone number attached. He tells her that there is no chance of becoming an actress; later they would talk about sex. Eventually, Libby realizes she is unsure if she wants to be an actress. After a few more days she decides to return home. After packing up, Libby makes a long distance phone call to mom and gets Herbert to talk to her for the first time in 16 years. Libby goes back home after taking his pictures. On the bus, she ends the film by saying that she was unsure of her future as she was "sort of in a transitional period." Libby waves goodbye to Herbert and Steffy as she goes back home to New York.
Cast
- Walter MatthauWalter MatthauWalter Matthau was an American actor best known for his role as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and his frequent collaborations with Odd Couple star Jack Lemmon, as well as his role as Coach Buttermaker in the 1976 comedy The Bad News Bears...
as Herbert Tucker - Ann-MargretAnn-MargretAnn-Margret Olsson is a Swedish-American actress, singer and dancer whose professional name is Ann-Margret. She became famous for her starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, The Cincinnati Kid, Carnal Knowledge, and Tommy...
as Steffy Blondell - Dinah ManoffDinah ManoffDinah Beth Manoff is an American stage, film and television actress and television director best known for her roles as Elaine Lefkowitz on Soap, Marty Maraschino in the film Grease, Libby Tucker in both the stage and film adaptations of I Ought to Be in Pictures, for which she won a Tony award,...
as Libby Tucker - Lance GuestLance GuestLance R. Guest is an American film and television actor.-Biography:Guest developed a serious interest in acting in the ninth grade, and he majored in theater while attending UCLA. He has starred in many theatrical films including his role as Jimmy alongside actress Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween...
as Gordon - Calvin Ander as The Rabbi
- Shelby Balik as Shelley
- Larry Barton as Harry
- Eugene Butler as Marty
- Bill Cross as Truck Driver
- Michael DudikoffMichael DudikoffMichael Joseph Dudikoff II is an American actor who has been in numerous films, including the American Ninja series , Tron , Bachelor Party , Platoon Leader , River of Death , Soldier Boyz , Ringmaster , and The Silencer , to name a few...
as Boy on bus - Gillian Farrell as Waitress
- David FaustinoDavid FaustinoDavid Anthony Faustino is an American actor and rap artist primarily known for his role as Bud Bundy on the sitcom Married with Children.-Early life:...
as Martin - Martin FerreroMartin FerreroMartin Ferrero is an American stage and film actor.Ferrero joined the California Actors Theater in Los Gatos, California. In 1979, he moved to Los Angeles and began to act in Hollywood. He is widely remembered for his role as the ill-fated lawyer Donald Gennaro in Jurassic Park...
as Monte Del Rey - Allan Graf as Baseball Fan
- Samantha Harper as Larane
- Noberto Kerner as Groundskeeper
- Art LaFleurArt LaFleur-Life and career:La Fleur was born in Gary, Indiana. He played football in 1962 as a redshirt at the University of Kentucky under Coach Charlie Bradshaw as chronicled in a 2007 book, The Thin Thirty....
as Baseball Fan - Nomi Mitty as Baseball Fan
- Santos Morales as Mexican Truck Driver
- Charles Parks as Baseball Fan
- José Rabelo as Groundskeeper
- Lewis SmithLewis Smith-Early life:Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He graduated from Lookout Valley High School in 1974.-Career:Smith is best known for the role of Charles Main on the first and second part of North and South miniseries, He also played "Curly Bill" Brocious in the Kevin Costner film Wyatt Earp...
as Soldier - Virginia Wing as Auto Cashier
- Wayne Woodson as Baseball Fan
- Tom WrightTom Wright (actor)Tom Wright is a television and theatre actor. He was born in Englewood, New Jersey and attended West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania....
as Baseball Fan - Muni Zano as Motel Cashier
- Halbert W. Jalikeakek as Baseball Fan (uncredited)
- Norris Maxwell as Cashier (uncredited)
- Thomas Wright as Baseball Fan (uncredited)
Soundtrack
"One Hello" was performed at the end of the movie by Randy CrawfordRandy Crawford
Randy Crawford is an American jazz and R&B singer. She has been more successful in Europe than in the United States, where she has not entered the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist...
and written by Carole Bayer Sager
Carole Bayer Sager
Carole Bayer Sager is an American lyricist, songwriter, singer, and painter.-Introduction:Born in New York City, Sager graduated from New York University, where she majored in English, dramatic arts and speech...
and Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Frederick Hamlisch is an American composer. He is one of only thirteen people to have been awarded Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and a Tony . He is also one of only two people to EGOT and also win a Pulitzer Prize...
. An instrumental version of "One Hello" is heard at various points in the movie as well. Hamlisch composed the main music for the movie.
Filming and production
I Ought to Be in Pictures was originally produced for BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in 1980 and the original cast starred Ron Leibman
Ron Leibman
-Career:Leibman was a member of the Compass Players in the late 1950s. He has appeared in many films such as Phar Lap; Where's Poppa?; The Hot Rock; Slaughterhouse-Five; The Super Cops; Up the Academy; Norma Rae; Romantic Comedy; Zorro, The Gay Blade; Garden State; and Rhinestone...
as Herbert Tucker, Joyce Van Patten
Joyce Van Patten
Joyce Benignia Van Patten is an American stage, film and television actress.-Personal life:Van Patten was born in New York City, the daughter of Josephine Rose , an Italian American magazine advertising executive, and Richard Byron Van Patten, a Dutch American interior decorator.She is the younger...
as Steffy and Dinah Manoff
Dinah Manoff
Dinah Beth Manoff is an American stage, film and television actress and television director best known for her roles as Elaine Lefkowitz on Soap, Marty Maraschino in the film Grease, Libby Tucker in both the stage and film adaptations of I Ought to Be in Pictures, for which she won a Tony award,...
as Libby Tucker; as mentioned, Manoff reprises her role in the movie. For the film version, most of the script from the play is the same with even more settings such as Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
and the Hollywood Park Racetrack.
Reception
The film had an opening weekend gross of $2,170,397 in the United States. It would make go on to make $6,968,359 in six weeks.Availability
I Ought to Be in Pictures was released on VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
by CBS Fox Video on December 1, 1982 and reprinted in 1984. To date, it has never been released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
or Blu-Ray.
The film has aired on Fox Movie Channel
Fox Movie Channel
The Fox Movie Channel is a channel which shows movies uncut and commercial-free.-Overview:Movie content consists mainly of selections from 20th Century Fox's library of releases through the 1990s and movies produced exclusively for television. Widescreen versions are shown whenever available....
on various occasions and is available on Netflix.
External links
- I Ought to Be in Pictures at cineplex.com