Cactus Flower (film)

Infobox Film
name = Cactus Flower


imdb_id = 64117
writer = Abe Burrows (play),
Pierre Barillet ("Fleur de cactus"),
Jean-Pierre Grédy ("Fleur de cactus"),
I.A.L. Diamond (screenwriter)
starring = Walter Matthau,
Ingrid Bergman,
Goldie Hawn
director = Gene Saks
producer = M. J. Frankovich
distributor = Columbia Pictures
released = December 16, 1969
runtime = 103 min.
language = English
music = Quincy Jones
awards = 1969 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Goldie Hawn
budget = $3,000,000 (est.)

"Cactus Flower" is a 1969 comedic film directed by Gene Saks and starring Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, and Goldie Hawn. The film is adapted from an earlier Broadway stage play, written by Abe Burrows, which in turn was based upon the French play "Fleur de cactus". The film was the seventh highest grossing film of 1970.

ynopsis

The film begins with 21-year-old Toni Simmons trudging across the road at night to post a letter. Subsequently, she returns to her apartment and attempts to gas herself using a "second-hand" stove. Fortunately for her, her neighbor, Igor Sullivan, smells the gas and rescues her from imminent death using rescue breathing, which evolves into a French kiss after Toni regains consciousness.

The movie then moves to the cause of the suicide attempt. Toni's lover Julian, a dentist and philanderer, had previously told Toni that he has a wife and three kids, in order to avoid commitment issues. However, upon learning of the suicide attempt, he decides to rethink his bachelor status and to marry Toni, resulting in him needing a wife to divorce.

In order to resolve his dilemma, Julian decides to ask Miss Stephanie Dickinson, his spinsterish Swedish assistant of ten years, to pose as his wife. At first unwilling, she ultimately accepts the role, since she has secretly developed a crush on Julian. However, upon meeting Miss Dickinson, Toni intuitively senses Miss Dickinson's love for Julian. This causes her to ask Julian to help Miss Dickinson find another man, in order for everyone to be happy. In order to resolve the situation, Julian involves several other characters, including Julian's friend Harvey, Señor Arturo Sánchez, and Igor. Ultimately, Toni finds out about the lie and leaves Julian for Igor, while Julian falls in love with Miss Dickinson.

The namesake of the film is a prickly cactus that Miss Dickinson keeps on her desk at the dentist's office. Similar to Miss Dickinson, the cactus is cold and inhospitable. However, by the end, both the cactus and Miss Dickinson have bloomed.

Cast

Reception

On release, the film received considerable acclaim from both the critics and the general public, becoming one of the highest grossing films of 1970. Howard Thompson of The New York Times stated that "both the expansive scenario of I. A. L. Diamond and the flexible direction of Gene Saks open up and even ventilate the story." [cite news |first=Howard |last=Thompson |authorlink=Howard Thompson |title='Cactus Flower' Blooms |url=http://movies2.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?_r=1&res=9B03E7D6123CEE34BC4F52DFB4678382679EDE&oref=login |work=New York Times |publisher= |date=1969-12-17 |accessdate=2007-03-23 ] . Roger Ebert declared that "the chemistry works" and "the movie is better than the play." [cite news |first=Roger |last=Ebert |authorlink=Roger Ebert |title=Cactus Flower |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19691229/REVIEWS/912290301/1023 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |publisher= |date=1969-12-29 |accessdate=2007-03-23 ]

In her first major film role, Goldie Hawn, who had earlier been described as the "dizzy cream puff who is constantly blowing her lines [on "Laugh-In"] ," [cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,901660,00.html |title=Laugh-In Dropouts |accessdate=2007-03-23 |work=Time Magazine | date=1969-12-05 ] was especially commended for being "a natural reactress; her timing is so canny that even her tears run amusingly." [cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,941757,00.html |title=Late Bloomer |accessdate=2007-03-23 |work=Time Magazine | date=1969-12-19 ] In fact, her performance in "Cactus Flower" led to her only Academy Award win to date.

Awards

Goldie Hawn won two awards for her supporting role:
* Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress - Goldie Hawn
* Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture - Goldie Hawn

In addition, there was a nomination for Ingrid Bergman and an additional one for Goldie Hawn:
* BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role - Goldie Hawn
* Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy - Ingrid Bergman

Memorable lines

*Julian: "I'll divorce my wife."
*Toni: "But what about the children?"
*Julian: "I'll divorce them, too"

*Miss Dickinson: "Your girlfriend has a 7 a.m. appointment."
*Harvey: "But I'll be in bed then."
*Miss Dickinson: "The appointment is for your friend."
*Harvey: "She'll be in bed too!"
*"Miss Dickinson gives him an icy stare."
*Harvey: "Does that shock you?"
*Miss Dickinson: "No, but it must shock her."

*Miss Dickinson (reading a wine bottle label): "I didn't know they made champagne in Idaho!"

*Miss Dickinson: "Well... I am no sex goddess, but I haven't spent my life up on a tree."

ee also

* "Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya" - A Bollywood remake

Notes

External links

*imdb title | id=64117 | title=Cactus Flower
*tcmdb title | id=12485 | title=Cactus Flower