Mikey and Nicky
Encyclopedia
Mikey and Nicky is a 1976
film written and directed by Elaine May
. Using three cameras that she sometimes left running for hours, May captured spontaneous interaction between Peter Falk
and John Cassavetes
. This unusual technique and the resulting performances suggests the film exceeds the conventions of the gangster movie
.
Mikey and Nicky was released in New York City
on December 21, 1976. The film was originally intended as a summer 1976 release, then moved to Christmas 1976 due to editing problems.
May missed the film's delivery date by almost a year because of her well-known perfectionism in the editing process. Litigation followed between the director and Paramount, with Paramount gaining possession of the film with final cut privilege
. May didn't direct again for nearly 12 years.
The film's original $1.8 million budget had grown to nearly $4.3 million ($16.6 million, in contemporary dollars) by the time May turned the film over to Paramount. She shot 1.4 million feet of film, almost three times as much as that taken for Gone with the Wind
. At one point, Cassavetes and Falk had both left the set and the cameras remained rolling for several minutes. A new camera operator said "Cut!" only to be immediately rebuked by May for usurping what is traditionally a director's command. He protested that the two actors had left the set. "Yes", replied May, "but they might come back".
Angered over May's contentiousness during filming and editing, Paramount booked the completed film into theaters for a few days to satisfy contractual obligations, but they failed to give the film its full support. Ten years later, a new version of the film—approved by May—was shown at the Museum of Modern Art
in New York City (Directors Guild of America, Fiftieth Anniversary Tribute), November 17, 1986.
The film was also shown at the United States Film Festival in Park City, Utah (Tribute to John Cassavetes) January 25, 1989.
May originally cast Paramount president Frank Yablans
as a gangster, but the chairman of parent company Gulf+Western
, Charles Bluhdorn
, was not amused, and demanded that she recast.
1976 in film
The year 1976 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*March 22 - Filming begins on George Lucas' Star Wars science fiction film...
film written and directed by Elaine May
Elaine May
Elaine May is an American film director, screenwriter and actress. She achieved her greatest fame in the 1950s from her improvisational comedy routines in partnership with Mike Nichols...
. Using three cameras that she sometimes left running for hours, May captured spontaneous interaction between Peter Falk
Peter Falk
Peter Michael Falk was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo...
and John Cassavetes
John Cassavetes
John Nicholas Cassavetes was an American actor, screenwriter and filmmaker. He acted in many Hollywood films, notably Rosemary's Baby and The Dirty Dozen...
. This unusual technique and the resulting performances suggests the film exceeds the conventions of the gangster movie
Mob film
Mob films are a subgenre of crime films dealing with organized crime, often the Mafia. Especially in early mob films, there is some overlap with film noir.-History:...
.
Mikey and Nicky was released in New York City
New 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...
on December 21, 1976. The film was originally intended as a summer 1976 release, then moved to Christmas 1976 due to editing problems.
May missed the film's delivery date by almost a year because of her well-known perfectionism in the editing process. Litigation followed between the director and Paramount, with Paramount gaining possession of the film with final cut privilege
Final cut privilege
Final cut privilege is a film industry term, usually used when a director has contractual authority over how a film is ultimately released for public viewing.- Condition :...
. May didn't direct again for nearly 12 years.
The film's original $1.8 million budget had grown to nearly $4.3 million ($16.6 million, in contemporary dollars) by the time May turned the film over to Paramount. She shot 1.4 million feet of film, almost three times as much as that taken for Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind (film)
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American historical epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel of the same name. It was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming from a screenplay by Sidney Howard...
. At one point, Cassavetes and Falk had both left the set and the cameras remained rolling for several minutes. A new camera operator said "Cut!" only to be immediately rebuked by May for usurping what is traditionally a director's command. He protested that the two actors had left the set. "Yes", replied May, "but they might come back".
Angered over May's contentiousness during filming and editing, Paramount booked the completed film into theaters for a few days to satisfy contractual obligations, but they failed to give the film its full support. Ten years later, a new version of the film—approved by May—was shown at the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
in New York City (Directors Guild of America, Fiftieth Anniversary Tribute), November 17, 1986.
The film was also shown at the United States Film Festival in Park City, Utah (Tribute to John Cassavetes) January 25, 1989.
May originally cast Paramount president Frank Yablans
Frank Yablans
Frank Yablans is an American film producer and screenwriter The son of a Brooklyn cab driver and brother to fellow film producer Irwin Yablans, Yablans' first employers in the film business included Warner Bros., The Walt Disney Company and Filmways...
as a gangster, but the chairman of parent company Gulf+Western
Gulf+Western
Gulf and Western Industries, Inc., for a number of years known as Gulf+Western, was an American conglomerate.- History :Gulf and Western's prosaic origins date to a manufacturer named Michigan Bumper Co. founded in 1934, though Charles Bluhdorn treated his 1958 takeover of what was then Michigan...
, Charles Bluhdorn
Charles Bluhdorn
Charles Blühdorn was a Vienna, Austria-born American industrialist.-Biography:Per a Who's Who in Ridgefield he was considered such a "hellion" that his father sent the 11-year-old to an English boarding school for disciplining...
, was not amused, and demanded that she recast.
Synopsis
When Nicky calls Mikey yet again to bail him out of trouble—this time a contract on his life for money that he stole from his mob boss—Mikey, as always, shows up to help. Overcoming the obstacles of Nicky's paranoia and blind fear, Mikey gets him out of the hotel where he has holed up, and starts to help him plan his escape; however, Nicky keeps changing the plan, and a hit man is hot on their trail. As they try to make their escape, the two friends have to confront issues of betrayal, regret, and the value of friendship versus self-preservation.Cast
- Peter FalkPeter FalkPeter Michael Falk was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo...
.... Mikey - John CassavetesJohn CassavetesJohn Nicholas Cassavetes was an American actor, screenwriter and filmmaker. He acted in many Hollywood films, notably Rosemary's Baby and The Dirty Dozen...
.... Nicky - Ned BeattyNed BeattyNed Thomas Beatty is an American actor who has appeared in more than 100 films and has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain and a Golden Globe Award; won a Drama Desk Award....
.... Kinney - Rose Arrick .... Annie
- Carol GraceCarol GraceCarol Grace was an American actress and author. She is usually referred to as Carol Marcus Saroyan or Carol Matthau....
.... Nellie - William HickeyWilliam Hickey (actor)William Edward Hickey was an American actor. He was best known for his Oscar-nominated role as Don Corrado Prizzi in the John Huston 1985 film Prizzi's Honor, as well as the voice of Dr...
.... Sid Fine - Sanford MeisnerSanford MeisnerSanford Meisner , also known as Sandy, was an American actor and acting teacher who developed a form of Method acting that is now known as the Meisner technique....
.... Dave Resnick - Joyce Van PattenJoyce Van PattenJoyce 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...
.... Jan - M. Emmet WalshM. Emmet WalshMichael Emmet Walsh is an American actor who has appeared in over 100 film and television productions.-Life and career:Walsh was born in Ogdensburg, New York, the son of Agnes Kathrine and Harry Maurice Walsh, Sr., a customs agent...
.... Bus Driver - Sy Travers .... Hotel Clerk
- Peter R. Scoppa .... Counter Man
- Virginia Smith .... Jan's Mother
- Jean Shevlin .... Lady on Bus
- Danny Klein .... Harry
- Martin Wolfson .... Candy Store Man
- Eugene Hobgood .... Mel
- David Pendleton .... Bar Patron
- Will Gill, Jr. .... Bartender
- Marilyn Randall .... Shirley
- Reuben GreeneReuben GreeneReuben Greene is an American film, theater and television actor. Greene, born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, landed the role of Dr...
.... Franklyn