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IMDb > The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)
The King of Marvin Gardens
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The King of Marvin Gardens (1972) More at IMDbPro »

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The King of Marvin Gardens (1972) -- In a film that captures all the sadness of an American dream gone wrong, Bruce Dern concocts impossible get-rich-quick schemes and insists on trying them out on his brother and girlfriend.

Overview

User Rating:
6.4/10   1,455 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Jacob Brackman (screenplay)
Bob Rafelson (story) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The King of Marvin Gardens on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 October 1972 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
'It's Monopoly out there'. Jason Staebler, The King of Marvin Gardens, has gone directly to jail, lives... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
A great and unusual film more (28 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jack Nicholson ... David Staebler
Bruce Dern ... Jason Staebler

Ellen Burstyn ... Sally
Julia Anne Robinson ... Jessica
Scatman Crothers ... Lewis (as Benjamin 'Scatman' Crothers)
Charles LaVine ... Grandfather
Arnold Williams ... Rosko
John P. Ryan ... Surtees (as John Ryan)
Sully Boyar ... Lebowitz
Josh Mostel ... Frank
William Pabst ... Bidlack
Garry Goodrow ... Nervous Man (as Gary Goodrow)
Imogene Bliss ... Magda
Ann Thomas ... Bambi
Tom Overton ... Spot Operator
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Philosopher King (USA) (working title)
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Runtime:
103 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Scatman Crothers' favorite role of his career. more
Quotes:
Jason Staebler: You notice how it's Monopoly out there? Remember Boardwalk, Park Place, Marvin Gardens?
David Staebler: Go directly to jail?
Jason Staebler: Well, that's me. Don't pass go, don't collect $200.
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FAQ

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12 out of 13 people found the following review useful.
A great and unusual film, 13 April 2004
8/10
Author: cornishchristopher from New York

A truly great film and sadly overlooked and under rated, following up Five Easy Pieces and showing Nicholson at his most awesome. A far better take on Atlantic City than the Louis Malle's film of that name. Incredible acting from Nicholson, Dern, Burstyn... great direction and cinamatography. The movie is set in a pre-casino Atlantic City, sort of Coney Island perfected. A real actors film that we rarely see anymore. Perhaps difficult to watch because of that yet immensely rewarding. A film that perfectly captures the time and place. Dern plays an over the top hustler while Nicholson, of all things, plays an intellectual radio dweeb. Go on... see it... "no one reads anymore..."

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more (28 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Boxing up old trophys. buy_to_own
One of the most provocative opening scenes in film fivedimensionalmanifold
Brotherly familiarity...(SPOI LERS) civildiscussion7
If you like this film see Bottle Rocket (1996) simonhowson
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