Bunny O'Hare

Last updated

Bunny O'Hare
Bunny O'Hare.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Gerd Oswald
Written by Stanley Z. Cherry
Coslough Johnson
Produced by Samuel Z. Arkoff
James H. Nicholson
Starring Bette Davis
Ernest Borgnine
Jack Cassidy
Joan Delaney
John Astin
Cinematography Loyal Griggs
John M. Stephens
Edited by Fred R. Feitshans Jr.
Music by Billy Strange
Distributed by American International Pictures
Release date
  • October 18, 1971 (1971-10-18)
Running time
91 min
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$900,000 [1]

Bunny O'Hare is a 1971 American comedy film directed by Gerd Oswald, starring Bette Davis and Ernest Borgnine. The screenplay by Coslough Johnson and Stanley Z. Cherry focuses on a pair of senior citizens who, disguised as hippies, engage in a crime spree.

Contents

Plot

The title character, a widow whose savings have been depleted by her selfish, middle-aged children, Lulu and Ad, finds herself homeless when the bank forecloses on her mortgage. She becomes friendly with Bill Green, an aging itinerant salvaging the house's plumbing, who she soon discovers is really fugitive bank robber William Gruenwald. Hoping to recoup her losses from the bank that took her home, Bunny blackmails Bill into teaching her how to rob the institution in exchange for keeping his identity a secret. She wears a long blonde wig, oversized hat, and sunglasses, while he dons a fake beard, leather vest, and bell-bottom pants, and the two pull off the caper and escape on a 250cc Triumph TR25W Trophy motorcycle. Buoyed by their success, Bunny convinces Bill to join her in more heists, and the different modus operandi they use – setting free a canary to distract the guard, setting off smoke bombs – make it difficult for police lieutenant Horace Greeley and criminologist R. J. Hart to profile their suspects.

Cast

Production

The working titles for the film were Bunny and Claude, Bunny, Betty and Claude, and Bunny and Billy.[ citation needed ] The film marked the second on-screen pairing of Bette Davis and Ernest Borgnine, who co-starred in The Catered Affair in 1956.[ citation needed ] The American International Pictures release was filmed partially on location in Belen and Albuquerque. New Mexico Governor David F. Cargo made a cameo appearance as a state trooper.[ citation needed ]

The film led to two lawsuits for American International Pictures. Davis, who had script approval, was upset with changes made in editing. Davis had insisted on using an expletive in the film that would have garnered an R rating, so Samuel Z. Arkoff hired an actress who did a Bette Davis impression to reloop the dialogue with a less objectionable word. [2] Davis sued the company for loss of income and damage to her career for changing the film into a "slapstick" production instead of the "humorous social commentary" for which she had signed. The suit eventually was dropped. Writer Cherry sued for $13,400, the balance of his fee, and also asked for 5% of the film's net profits. The outcome is unknown. [3]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack includes the following vocals:

Reception

Bette Davis was unhappy with the final film and sued AIP for $3.3 million in damages. [4]

Critical reception

In his review in The New York Times , Vincent Canby described the film as "a silly, foolishly entertaining movie ... nonsense of a quite acceptable order, filled with absurd chases and stock characters who have been conceived and played with affection." Of its star he observed, "Miss Davis ... gives a performance that may be one of the funniest and most legitimate of her career." [5] In the Cleveland Press , Toni Mastroianni said, "Bette Davis and Ernest Borgnine play a Bonnie and Clyde of the Geritol set and the result is about as satisfying as a bad television show." [6] Time Out London called it an "embarrassingly unfunny caper". [7] According to TV Guide , "This clever script is ineptly directed by Oswald, who has no idea of how to embellish the comedy with pace, movement, or wit. Davis and Borgnine are excellent, though, showing that years of training and professionalism can overcome just about anything." [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>All About Eve</i> 1950 US drama film by Joseph L. Mankiewicz

All About Eve is a 1950 American drama film written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. It is based on the 1946 short story "The Wisdom of Eve" by Mary Orr, although Orr does not receive a screen credit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bette Davis</span> American actress (1908–1989)

Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis was an American actress of film, television, and theater. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history, she was noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic, sardonic characters and was known for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional comedies, although her greatest successes were her roles in romantic dramas. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, was the first person to accrue ten Academy Award nominations for acting, and was the first woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. In 1999, Davis was placed second on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest female stars of classic Hollywood cinema.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernest Borgnine</span> American actor (1917–2012)

Ernest Borgnine was an American actor whose career spanned over six decades. He was noted for his gruff but relaxed voice and gap-toothed Cheshire Cat grin. A popular performer, he also appeared as a guest on numerous talk shows and as a panelist on several game shows.

<i>Sweet and Lowdown</i> 1999 American film

Sweet and Lowdown is a 1999 American comedy-drama mockumentary written and directed by Woody Allen. Loosely based on Federico Fellini's film La Strada, the film tells the story of jazz guitarist Emmet Ray who falls in love with mute laundress Hattie. Like several of Allen's other films, the film is occasionally interrupted by interviews with critics and biographers like Allen, Nat Hentoff, Daniel Okrent, and Douglas McGrath, who comment on the film's plot as if the characters were real-life people.

American International Pictures LLC is an American film production company owned by Amazon MGM Studios. In its original operating period, AIP was an independent film production and distribution company known for producing and releasing films from 1955 until 1980, a year after its acquisition by Filmways in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Z. Arkoff</span> American producer of B movies (1918–2001)

Samuel Zachary Arkoff was an American film producer, known as the co-founder of American International Pictures.

<i>Johnny Guitar</i> 1954 film

Johnny Guitar is a 1954 American independent Western film directed by Nicholas Ray and starring Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden, Mercedes McCambridge, Ernest Borgnine and Scott Brady. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures. The screenplay was adapted from a novel of the same name by Roy Chanslor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beach party film</span> Film genre

The beach party film is an American film genre of feature films which were produced and released between 1963 and 1968, created by American International Pictures (AIP), beginning with their surprise hit, Beach Party, in July 1963. With this film, AIP is credited with creating the genre. In addition to the AIP films, several contributions to the genre were produced and released by major and independent studios alike. According to various sources, the genre comprises over 30 films, with the lower-budget AIP films being the most profitable.

<i>Beach Party</i> 1963 film by William Asher

Beach Party is a 1963 American film and the first of seven beach party films from American International Pictures (AIP) aimed at a teen audience. This film is often credited with creating the beach party film genre.

<i>Truck Turner</i> 1974 film by Jonathan Kaplan

Truck Turner, also known as Black Bullet, is a 1974 American blaxploitation film, starring Isaac Hayes and Yaphet Kotto, and directed by Jonathan Kaplan. The screenplay was written by Michael Allin, Leigh Chapman, and Oscar Williams. Hayes also scored the music for the soundtrack. The film was released by American International Pictures as a double feature with Foxy Brown.

<i>Under Age</i> (1964 film) 1964 film by Larry Buchanan

Under Age is a 1964 black-and-white film written and directed by Larry Buchanan and starring Annabelle Weenick, Judy Adler and Roland Royter. The film was shot in Dallas, Texas.

<i>The Badlanders</i> 1958 film by Delmer Daves

The Badlanders is a 1958 American western caper film directed by Delmer Daves and starring Alan Ladd and Ernest Borgnine. Based on the 1949 novel The Asphalt Jungle by W. R. Burnett, the story was given an 1898 setting by screenwriter Richard Collins.

Karen Arthur is an American television and film director, producer, and actress. She directed more than 40 feature and made-for-television movies, miniseries, and television series. In 1985 she become the first woman to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Robinson</span> American actor (1930–2013)

Jay Robinson was an American actor specializing in character roles. He achieved his greatest fame playing Emperor Caligula in the film The Robe (1953) and its sequel Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954), and years later portraying the boss of the character played by Warren Beatty in Shampoo (1975).

<i>The Catered Affair</i> 1956 film by Richard Brooks

The Catered Affair is a 1956 American comedy drama film directed by Richard Brooks and produced by Sam Zimbalist from a screenplay by Gore Vidal, based on a 1955 television play by Paddy Chayefsky. The film stars Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine, Debbie Reynolds, Barry Fitzgerald and Rod Taylor. The Catered Affair marked the first appearance of Bette Davis in a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. It was also Rod Taylor's first film for MGM after signing a long-term contract with the studio. The film score was by André Previn and the cinematographer was John Alton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernest Haller</span> American cinematographer (1896–1970)

Ernest Jacob HallerASC, sometimes known as Ernie J. Haller, was an American cinematographer.

<i>The Rich Are Always with Us</i> 1932 film

The Rich Are Always with Us is a 1932 American pre-Code romantic comedy-drama film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Ruth Chatterton, George Brent, and Bette Davis. The screenplay by Austin Parker is based on the novel of the same name by Ethel Pettit.

<i>The Man Who Came to Dinner</i> (1942 film) 1942 film by William Keighley

The Man Who Came to Dinner is a 1942 American screwball comedy film directed by William Keighley, and starring Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan and, as the titular character, Monty Woolley. The screenplay by Julius and Philip G. Epstein is based on the 1939 play The Man Who Came to Dinner by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. The supporting cast features Jimmy Durante and Billie Burke.

<i>Violent Saturday</i> 1955 film by Richard Fleischer

Violent Saturday is a 1955 American CinemaScope crime film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Victor Mature, Richard Egan and Stephen McNally. Set in a fictional mining town in Arizona, the film depicts the planning of a bank robbery as the nexus in the personal lives of several townspeople. Filmed on location in Bisbee, Arizona, the supporting cast was particularly strong, with Lee Marvin, Sylvia Sidney, and Ernest Borgnine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loyal Griggs</span> American cinematographer (1906–1978)

Loyal Griggs, A.S.C. was an American cinematographer.

References

  1. ↑ Aljean Harmetz (Aug 4, 1974). "The dime-store way to make movies-and money". New York Times. p. 202.
  2. ↑ Arkoff, Samuel Z.; Trubo, Richard (1992). Flying Through Hollywood By The Seats Of My Pants. Birch Lane Press. p. 193. ISBN   1-55972-107-3.
  3. ↑ Bunny O'Hare at Turner Classic Movies
  4. ↑ "The Contract and the Cutting Room Floor". The Washington Post and Times-Herald. Aug 21, 1971. p. E2.
  5. ↑ The New York Times review
  6. ↑ Cleveland Press review
  7. ↑ Time Out London review Archived June 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ TV Guide review
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.