The Star-Spangled Girl
Encyclopedia
The Star-Spangled Girl is a comedy written by Neil Simon
. The play, set in the San Francisco in the 1960s, concerns three characters: Andy, Norman and Sophie. The original Broadway
cast featured Anthony Perkins
as Andy, Richard Benjamin
as Norman and Connie Stevens
as Sophie. It opened on Broadway on December 21, 1966 at the Plymouth Theatre and ran 261 performances.
The story is a love triangle, mixed with politics. Andy and Norman are radicals who barely make a living working on their magazine, Fallout, which is dedicated to fighting "the system" in America. Sophie, a former Olympic
swimmer, is an all-American, Southern girl who moves into the apartment next door. It's love at first sight (or, as the play has it, first smell) for Norman, but his feelings are not reciprocated. Norman's obsession with Sophie makes Andy hire her just to keep the magazine going. Then Sophie falls for Andy, though they are at odds politically, threatening to destroy the magazine and the men's friendship.
The play was inspired by a political argument Simon witnessed between liberal
writer Paddy Chayefsky
and a conservative
woman. While it features Simon's lively comic style—still on display on Broadway in Barefoot in the Park
and The Odd Couple
when The Star-Spangled Girl debuted—it was not well-received. Critic Walter Kerr
memorably wrote "Neil Simon didn't have an idea for a play this year, but he wrote it anyway." Simon concurred, feeling it was one of his weakest works. There were laughs, but to many the plot seemed unbelievable and the characters contrived. Furthermore, while Simon could write about people—especially New Yorkers—he seemed out of his element writing about politics.
The original production was directed by playwright George Axelrod
. Perhaps sensing trouble, Mike Nichols
, who had directed Simon's previous two smashes, and would direct his next big hit, Plaza Suite
, did not accept the assignment.
The play was adapted into a movie in 1971. Jerry Paris
directed and the screenplay was by Arnold Margolin and Jim Parker. The leads are Tony Roberts
as Andy, Todd Susman
as Norman and Sandy Duncan
as Amy
--renamed from Sophie. It was no better received than the play. The movie also features Davy Jones
singing "Girl," which he also sang in an episode of The Brady Bunch
.
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...
. The play, set in the San Francisco in the 1960s, concerns three characters: Andy, Norman and Sophie. The original Broadway
Broadway 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...
cast featured Anthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins was an American actor, best known for his Oscar-nominated role in Friendly Persuasion and as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho , and its three sequels.-Early life:...
as Andy, Richard Benjamin
Richard Benjamin
Richard Benjamin is an American actor and film director. He has starred in a number of productions, including Goodbye, Columbus , based on the novella by Philip Roth, and Westworld .-Life and career:...
as Norman and Connie Stevens
Connie Stevens
Connie Stevens is an American actress and singer, best known for her roles in the television series Hawaiian Eye and other TV and film work.-Early life:...
as Sophie. It opened on Broadway on December 21, 1966 at the Plymouth Theatre and ran 261 performances.
The story is a love triangle, mixed with politics. Andy and Norman are radicals who barely make a living working on their magazine, Fallout, which is dedicated to fighting "the system" in America. Sophie, a former Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
swimmer, is an all-American, Southern girl who moves into the apartment next door. It's love at first sight (or, as the play has it, first smell) for Norman, but his feelings are not reciprocated. Norman's obsession with Sophie makes Andy hire her just to keep the magazine going. Then Sophie falls for Andy, though they are at odds politically, threatening to destroy the magazine and the men's friendship.
The play was inspired by a political argument Simon witnessed between liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
writer Paddy Chayefsky
Paddy Chayefsky
Sidney Aaron "Paddy" Chayefsky , was an American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. He is the only person to have won three solo Academy Awards for Best Screenplay....
and a conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
woman. While it features Simon's lively comic style—still on display on Broadway in Barefoot in the Park
Barefoot in the Park
This article is about the Broadway production. For the film adaptation see Barefoot in the Park .Barefoot in the Park is a romantic comedy by Neil Simon. The original Broadway production, directed by Mike Nichols, opened October 23, 1963, with the four lead roles taken by actors Elizabeth Ashley ,...
and The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple is a 1965 Broadway play by Neil Simon, followed by a successful film and television series, as well as other derivative works and spin offs, many featuring one or more of the same actors. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates, one neat and uptight, the other more easygoing and...
when The Star-Spangled Girl debuted—it was not well-received. Critic Walter Kerr
Walter Kerr
For the RN admiral see Lord Walter KerrWalter Francis Kerr was an American writer and Broadway theater critic. He also was the writer, lyricist, and/or director of several Broadway plays and musicals.-Biography:...
memorably wrote "Neil Simon didn't have an idea for a play this year, but he wrote it anyway." Simon concurred, feeling it was one of his weakest works. There were laughs, but to many the plot seemed unbelievable and the characters contrived. Furthermore, while Simon could write about people—especially New Yorkers—he seemed out of his element writing about politics.
The original production was directed by playwright George Axelrod
George Axelrod
George Axelrod was an American screenwriter, producer, playwright and film director, best known for his play, The Seven Year Itch , which was adapted into a movie of the same name starring Marilyn Monroe...
. Perhaps sensing trouble, Mike Nichols
Mike Nichols
Mike Nichols is a German-born American television, stage and film director, writer, producer and comedian. He began his career in the 1950s as one half of the comedy duo Nichols and May, along with Elaine May. In 1968 he won the Academy Award for Best Director for the film The Graduate...
, who had directed Simon's previous two smashes, and would direct his next big hit, Plaza Suite
Plaza Suite
Plaza Suite is a comedy play by Neil Simon.-Plot:The play is composed of three acts, each involving different characters but all set in Suite 719 of New York City's Plaza Hotel...
, did not accept the assignment.
The play was adapted into a movie in 1971. Jerry Paris
Jerry Paris
Jerry Paris was an American actor and director best known for playing Jerry Helper, the dentist and next door neighbor of Rob and Laura Petrie, on The Dick Van Dyke Show.-Life and career:...
directed and the screenplay was by Arnold Margolin and Jim Parker. The leads are Tony Roberts
Tony Roberts (actor)
David Anthony "Tony" Roberts is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in several Woody Allen movies, usually cast as Allen's best friend.-Early life:...
as Andy, Todd Susman
Todd Susman
Todd Susman is an American actor. His better-known roles include Officer Shifflett on Newhart and the unseen P.A. system announcer on the television series M*A*S*H, a role he shared with Sal Viscuso...
as Norman and Sandy Duncan
Sandy Duncan
Sandra Kay "Sandy" Duncan is an American singer, dancer and actress of stage and television, recognized through a blonde, pixie cut hairstyle and perky demeanor...
as Amy
Amy
Amy is a given name, sometimes short for Amelia or Amanda. In French, the name is spelled "Aimée", which means beloved. In ancient Irish it has been translated as "little it".- Notable people with the given name Amy :*Amy Acker, American actress...
--renamed from Sophie. It was no better received than the play. The movie also features Davy Jones
Davy Jones (actor)
David Thomas "Davy" Jones is an English rock singer-songwriter and actor best known as a member of the Monkees.-Early life:...
singing "Girl," which he also sang in an episode of The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis. The series revolved around a large blended family...
.