They Might Be Giants (1971)

Director:

Anthony Harvey

Writers:

James Goldman (play)
James Goldman (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 February 1972 (Sweden)

Genre:

Mystery | Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

When they reach out for each other... they touch every heart... with warmth, charm and laughter!

Plot:

They Might be Giants chronicles the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in modern-day New York City...

Plot Keywords:

Sherlock Holmes | Psychiatrist | Mental Patient | Supermarket | Hermit

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

George C. Scott	...	Justin Playfair
Joanne Woodward	...	Dr. Mildred Watson
Jack Gilford	...	Wilbur Peabody
Lester Rawlins	...	Blevins Playfair
Al Lewis	...	Messenger
Rue McClanahan	...	Daisy Playfair
Ron Weyand	...	Dr. Strauss
Oliver Clark	...	Mr. Small
Theresa Merritt	...	Peggy
Jenny Egan	...	Miss Finch
Jane Hoffman	...	2nd Telephone Operator
Michael McGuire	...	Telephone Guard
Eugene Roche	...	Policeman
James Tolkan	...	Mr. Brown
Kitty Winn	...	Grace
Sudie Bond	...	Maud
Staats Cotsworth	...	Winthrop
F. Murray Abraham	...	Clyde (the usher)
Paul Benedict	...	Chestnut Man
M. Emmet Walsh	...	1st Sanitation Man
Louis Zorich	...	2nd Sanitation Man
Ted Beniades	...	Taxi Driver
Worthington Miner	...	Mr. Bagg
Frances Fuller	...	Mrs. Bagg
Ralph Clanton	...	Supermarket Manager
John McCurry	...	Lieutenant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Candice Azzara	...	Teenage Girl (uncredited)
Tony Capodilupo	...	Chief (uncredited)
Matthew Cowles	...	Teenage Boy (uncredited)
Dorothy Greener	...	Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Jacques Sandulescu	...	Mr. Brown's driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Anthony Harvey

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
James Goldman		play
James Goldman		screenplay

Produced by
Frank Caffey	....	associate producer
John Foreman	....	producer
Jennings Lang	....	producer
Paul Newman	....	producer

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
Victor J. Kemper

Film Editing by
Gerald B. Greenberg

Production Design by
John Robert Lloyd

Set Decoration by
Herbert F. Mulligan

Costume Design by
Fern Buchner
Ann Roth

Makeup Department
Vincent Callaghan	....	makeup artist
Romaine Greene	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Morton Gorowitz	....	unit production manager
Jack Grossberg	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Norman I. Cohen	....	assistant director
Louis A. Stroller	....	assistant director

Art Department
Gene Rudolf	....	scenic chargeman (as Eugene Rudolf)

Sound Department
Nathan Boxer	....	sound mixer
Al Nahmias	....	sound editor (as Albert Nahmias)
Sanford Rackow	....	sound editor
Dick Vorisek	....	sound re-recordist

Stunts
M. James Arnett	....	stunt coordinator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joseph G. Aulisi	....	associate costume designer
Marilyn Putnam	....	wardrober

Music Department
John Barry	....	music supervisor
Ken Thorne	....	conductor
Ken Thorne	....	music arranger
Ken Thorne	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Barbara Rittenberg	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MCA Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:G

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The title refers to Miguel de Cervantes' novel "Don Quixote." Quixote tilted at windmills because "they might be giants."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Scott and Woodward are riding in a taxi, from his angle the cab is stopped; from her angle the cab is moving.

Quotes:

Justin Playfair: Just keep saying to yourself "I'm adequate."

Movie Connections:

References Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1937)

Beautifully-written fantasy fable

James Goldman's most beautiful and literary script, a fragile and delicate fantasy/comedy that delivers on its initial promise. Beautifully acted by Scott, Woodward and Gilford, and with a dozen or more cameos that are truly memorable, this is truly a feel-good movie for the literate and the intelligencia. I would rank it among my top half-dozen.