Peter Bogdanovich Recommends: Elaine May

This is part of a series of approximately five-minute reviews and comments about mainly American films; these were all created in the late '80s by Louise Stratten and me for broadcast on television.
I consider this a kind of (I hope) public service to support and encourage film lovers; most of the pictures discussed are available in some form today. PB
*I do not own the rights to any of these film clips and do not mean to infringe on any copyright laws.

[@nalanish]

Mr Peter Bogdanovich🥰🙏ever grateful for Paper Moon and Saint Jack...

[@michelemilesgardiner4522]

Paper Moon was my favorite film, as a kid. I still love it.

[@ringojones959]

She definitely deserves more attention

[@JeffRebornNow]

I saw a New Leaf about 35 years ago and was shocked at how good it was. I'd never even heard of it and as a kid growing up in the 70s with film savvy parents I was surprised I'd never seen it. I actually like the "softened ending," because Walter Matthau learns how ironic life can be, and that what he formerly valued was actually quite valueless.

[@railcatcher2]

Dear Mr. Bogdanovich, thank you for your thoughts on Ms. May. I finally watched "Mikey and Nicky" and if the term "unsung-masterpiece" is deserved, it would be for that film. Five years after "Carnal Knowledge" May outdid (IMHO) Mike Nichols and Jules Pfeiffer in dissecting immature, toxic male friendships. By utilizing the tenets of improvisational techniques but also providing a concise overall and scene-specific structure she created a truly unique cinematic miracle.

[@deeg8849]

A New Leaf is absolutely brilliant.

[@leamanc]

Peter, you were definitely ahead of your time in declaring that Ishtar is not “the worst movie ever made” and it is actually quite good. Thirty-some years later, public opinion is only now coming around on it.

[@schuylervilar462]

One of my favorite movies of all time.

[@shambaby]

Peter I met you in Santa Fe, NM A few years ago when you presented your cut of the last picture show. If you are in touch with Elaine, I hope you can send her this message. Millions of people want to know what was in the hour that was cut out of ARE NEW LEAVE. If she is feeling well enough. Can anyone reach Elaine may and beg her to do a commentary of a new leaf in which she talks about what she originally intended so that we have some semblance of the original cut? Please! And if she could release the original screenplay too!

[@jazzmanchgo]

It's probably apocryphal, but it's said that back during the early days of Second City in Chicago, some arrogant young punk who thought he was hip and sexy somehow got himself let into a cast party, where he decided to walk up to the first attractive woman he saw and try to chat her up with his line of "God's-Gift-To-Women" macho bullschitt. Well, it turned out to be Elaine May. According to the story, they were still scraping pieces of him off the floor several days later.

[@Jonascord]

There would be a certain sadistic glee, to watch that kind of public execution...

[@ManfromuncoolBlogspotstars]

Nice:snappy.

[@Astitwam]

Elaine May being able to survive Cassavetes not reverting to director's mode is quite an achievement

[@Astitwam]

Nichols was so creepy

[@sclogse1]

Hardly. His intelligence might be intimidating.