A Thousand Clowns Movie Review

One of the best movies of 1965 is Fred Coe's A Thousand Clowns, written by Herb Gardner. Jason Robards plays Murray Burns, the sort of parent every kid would love to have: funny, flexible, free, and fearless. The only problem is, he isn't the sort of parent who receives grown-up approval. In fact, he isn't even a parent, although you wouldn't know it from the warm relationship he has built with his nephew Nick, precociously played by Barry Gordon. Social worker Barbara Harris enters their lives with antiseptic William Daniels in tow. Daniels is a grown-up with a capital “G,” but Harris recognizes fellow free spirits when she sees them. Unfortunately, concessions to reality must be made and they drain a bit of the fearlessness from both Murray and his nephew. For his performance as Murray's brother, a New York businessman with “a gift for surrender,” Martin Balsam (1914–96) won an Oscar, and future director Gene Saks set the standard for nauseating kiddie show hosts with his lacerating performance as Chuckles the Chipmunk. A thoughtful and hilarious film, A Thousand Clowns.

1965 118m/B Jason Robards Jr., Barry Gordon, William Daniels, Barbara Harris, Gene Saks, Martin Balsam; D: Fred Coe; W: Herb Gardner; C: Arthur Ornitz. Academy Awards ‘65: Best Supporting Actor (Balsam); Nominations: Academy Awards ‘65: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture, Best Original Score. VHS