The Pumpkin Eater (1964)

Director:

Jack Clayton

Writers:

Penelope Mortimer (novel)
Harold Pinter (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 November 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A Much Married Woman Who Drifts From Husband to Husband!

Plot:

The study of a marriage. Jo has five children and husband number two when she meets writer Jake Armitage...

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Abortion | Writer | Children | Screenwriter

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Anne Bancroft	...	Jo Armitage
Peter Finch	...	Jake Armitage
James Mason	...	Bob Conway
Janine Gray	...	Beth Conway
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Mr. James - Jo's father
Rosalind Atkinson	...	Mrs. James - Jo's mother
Alan Webb	...	Mr. Armitage - Jake's father
Richard Johnson	...	Giles
Maggie Smith	...	Philpot
Eric Porter	...	Psychiatrist
Cyril Luckham	...	Doctor
Anthony Nicholls	...	Surgeon
John Franklyn-Robbins	...	Parson
John Junkin	...	Undertaker
Yootha Joyce	...	Woman at Hairdressers

Runtime:

USA:118 min | 110 min (TCM Print) | UK:118 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:X (original rating) | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Harrods, Knightsbridge, London, England, UK

Company:

Romulus Films

Trivia:

Patricia Neal was offered the lead, but it was not 100% confirmed she would get the role. She then opted, to her later regret, to make Psyche 59 (1964) instead, since it was an official offer.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The long tracking shot near end of film (in which camera begins on Jo smoking in bed, then winds through closeups of mementos in her living room) was shot backward; at beginning of shot smoke is going into her cigarette, not out of it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Who Killed Teddy Bear (1965)

I saw this film as a mother of 5 and identified completely with it .

As a mother of 5 at the time, I saw this film and never forgot the opening scene of Ann Bancroft in a department store--Harrod's?--having the best nervous breakdown I've ever seen. Believe me , identification doesn't say enough about my feelings. I adored this film and wondered if I would ever see it again. Delighted to find it on your web-site though the one Video available is pretty pricey--any other possibilities for purchase? Also surprised to see that Maggie Smith has a part as Phillpot but I don't recall that character. Certainly Peter Finch was gorgeous and also sensitive, but it was here that I first discovered Ann Bancroft and followed her career for many years. It is a great pleasure to find it again and that others are so fond of it also. I thought the title referred to the child's nursery rhyme "Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater, had a wife and couldn't keep her" great title also, very moving all the way through. James Mason was the "other" I believe. That's all i can manage after so many years.