Thursday's Game

Thursday's Game
Also known as	The Birk
Genre	Comedy
Written by	James L. Brooks
Directed by	Robert Moore
Starring	Gene Wilder Ellen Burstyn Bob Newhart Cloris Leachman Nancy Walker Valerie Harper Norman Fell Rob Reiner Martha Scott
Music by	Billy Goldenberg
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producer	James L. Brooks
Cinematography	Joseph Biroc
Editors	Diane Adler Fredric Steinkamp
Running time	100 minutes
Production company	ABC Circle Films
Original release
Network	ABC
Release	April 14, 1974 (1974-04-14)

Thursday's Game (also known as The Berk) is a 1974 American made-for-television comedy film starring Gene Wilder and Bob Newhart, written by James L. Brooks and directed by Robert Moore. Though filmed in 1971, it was originally broadcast April 14, 1974, on ABC.

In addition to Wilder and Newhart, Thursday's Game starred many actors familiar to 1970s television viewers including John Archer, Ellen Burstyn, Norman Fell, Cloris Leachman, Valerie Harper, Rob Reiner, Richard Schaal, Martha Scott and Nancy Walker. The film was lauded by critics for its perceptive look at adult relationships, and furthered James L. Brooks's reputation as a writer and producer.

Plot

Harry Evers and Marvin Ellison are long time friends who meet each Thursday to play poker and get away from their wives Lynn and Lois. After the weekly game breaks up over a disagreement, the two men decide to continue meeting for other activities, which leads to friendship and rivalry as the men's lives take on very different paths.

Cast

• Gene Wilder as Harry Evers
• Bob Newhart as Marvin Ellison
• Ellen Burstyn as Lynn Evers
• Cloris Leachman as Lois Ellison
• Martha Scott as Mrs. Reynolds
• Nancy Walker as Mrs. Bender
• Valerie Harper as Ann Menzente
• Rob Reiner as Joel Forester
• Norman Fell as Melvin Leonard
• Ric Mancini as Bartender

External links

• Thursday's Game at IMDb
• Thursday's Game at the TCM Movie Database