The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972)

Director:

Paul Newman

Writers:

Alvin Sargent (screenplay)
Paul Zindel (play)

Release Date:

1 February 1974 (Finland)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Mother of the Year.

Plot:

From the Pullizer Prize winning play by Paul Zindel, this is the story of Beatrice Hunsdorfer and her daughters...

Plot Keywords:

Classified Ad | Science Fair | Long Title | Epilepsy | Old Lady

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Joanne Woodward	...	Beatrice
Nell Potts	...	Matilda
Roberta Wallach	...	Ruth
Judith Lowry	...	Nanny
David Spielberg	...	Mr. Goodman
Richard Venture	...	Floyd
Carolyn Coates	...	Mrs. McKay
Will Hare	...	Junk Man
Estelle Omens	...	Caroline
Jess Osuna	...	Sonny
Ellen Dano	...	Janice Vickery
Lynne Rogers	...	Miss Hanley
Roger Serbagi	...	Charlie
John Lehne	...	Apartment Manager
Michael Kearney	...	Chris Burns
Dee Victor	...	Miss Wyant

Directed by
Paul Newman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Alvin Sargent		screenplay
Paul Zindel		play

Produced by
John Foreman	....	executive producer
Paul Newman	....	producer

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Adam Holender

Film Editing by
Evan A. Lottman		(as Evan Lottman)

Casting by
Michael Chinich
Don Phillips

Production Design by
Gene Callahan

Set Decoration by
Richard Merrell

Costume Design by
Anna Hill Johnstone

Makeup Department
Fern Buchner	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Roger M. Rothstein	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alice H. Bell	....	second assistant director (as Alice Bell)
John Nicolella	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
C. Robert Fine	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Robert Fine)
Dennis Maitland	....	sound mixer
Al Nahmias	....	sound editor
Katherine Wenning	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Edward R. Brown	....	camera operator (as Edward Brown)
Gary Muller	....	second assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marilyn Putnam	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Craig McKay	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Maurice Jarre	....	conductor

Other crew
Tom Miller	....	unit publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1977) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Certain dialog from Paul Zindel's play remained in the script for the movie. Even though the movie was filmed in Bridgeport, Connecticut, certain references to the location of the play, which takes place in Staten Island, New York (Zindel's hometown) remain. Ruth mentions "Prince's Bay" when reading a classified ad about some property for sale, and Matilda tells her mother that a photographer is going to take pictures of the Science Fair finalists for "The Advance". Prince's Bay is a neighborhood located on the South Shore of Staten Island, and the Staten Island Advance is the local newspaper.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Beatrice tries to watch TV in wee hours of morning but is unable to find anything but test patterns and video snow. However, film takes place in/near New York City where all-night television broadcasts were quite common by 1972, when story was set.

Quotes:

Ruth: Goodnight, Betty the Loon.

The thrill of it has lasted 28 years!

I have only seen this film once, at the Tyneside Cinema, an early arts house independent cinema in the UK. I saw the film in the year of its release. I still treasure memories of Joanne Woodward's performance as the tragi-comic loudmouth of a mother, who is desperate to do things right, but also has little time for the opinions of others. I would dearly love to see it again, but on the few occasions that I have enquired, I have been greeted by bewildered expressions from folk who plainly think that I am having them on when I mention the title. Perhaps this is an apt result, given the way that the star of the film played such an alienated role that fans of the film should now find themselves being looked at in a somewhat dubious way! To those who have not seen it, grab this powerful performance with both hands. It truly is a gem, with a fine range of emotions, and a cast that works fully together. Thank you for giving me the chance to write this.