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A Thousand Clowns Overview:

A Thousand Clowns (1965) was a Comedy - Drama Film directed by Fred Coe and produced by Fred Coe, Ralph Rosenblum and Herb Gardner.

The film was based on the play of the same name written by Herb Gardner performed at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, NY from Apr 5, 1962 - Apr 13, 1963.

Academy Awards 1965 --- Ceremony Number 38 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Supporting ActorMartin BalsamWon
Best Music - ScoringDon WalkerNominated
Best PictureFred Coe, ProducerNominated
Best WritingHerb GardnerNominated
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A Thousand Clowns BlogHub Articles:

A Thousand Clowns

By Alyson on Jul 28, 2014 From The Best Picture Project

For nearly four years now I have been searching for A Thousand Clowns.  This film seemed to be always out of my grasp, never on DVD, never on Netflix and never on TCM.  That is, until a little while ago.  During TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar, I was finally able to catch this elusive best picture nomin... Read full article

A Thousand Clowns (Missing)

By Alyson on Mar 11, 2011 From The Best Picture Project

This is unfortunate.  1965 would seem recent enough for a film to be readily available, but alas I’ve been searching for this film for a while and still come up short.  As always, my search will continue for A Thousand Clowns and the others that are still missing.  Any helpful hints on whe... Read full article

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A Thousand Clowns Quotes:

Murray Burns: [shouting at rows of houses] Campers! The entertainment committee was quite disappointed in the really poor turnout at this morning's community sing. I mean, where's all that old Camp Chickawattamee spirit? I'm sure I speak for all of us here when I say that I...
[pause]
Murray Burns: Now, I'd like to say right now that... that...
[softly]
Murray Burns: Campers, I can't think of anything to say.
Nick: See, lady, he was developing into a bum. I mean, you don't want to see somebody you like developing into a bum and doing nutty things. You know what he does? He hollers. Like, we were on Park Avenue last Sunday, and it's very early in the morning, there's no one in the street, see, just all these big, quiet apartment houses; and he hollers, "Rich people, I want to see you all out on the street for volleyball! Let's snap it up!" And you know, sometimes, if we're in a crowded elevator some place, he'll turn to me and he'll say, "Max, there'll be no more of this self-pity. Now, you're forty; it's time you got used to being a midget!" And everybody stares. He has a wonderful time. What are you gonna do with someone who hollers like that?
Murray Burns: [Takes off his hat] Sandy, I... I'm sorry. I'm very sorry.
[Sandra doesn't respond]
Murray Burns: Well, damn it, lady, that was a beautiful apology. I mean, you gotta love a guy who can apologize so nice. I rehearsed for over an hour. Aw, Sandy, that's the most you should expect from life, a really good apology for all the things you won't get.
Albert Amundsen: Miss Markowitz did not show up in Queens yesterday.
Murray Burns: So?
Albert Amundsen: Her parents are quite upset. I am quite upset. Where is she?
Murray Burns: She's hiding in the closet.
Albert Amundsen: We're really all quite anxious to know where she is.
Murray Burns: Well, I'm not kidding, Albert. She's in the closet.
Albert Amundsen: [Goes to closet, opens door, looks in, closes door, walks back] She is in the closet.
Murray Burns: I wouldn't lie to you, Albert.
Albert Amundsen: Why is she in the closet?
Murray Burns: Well, I don't know. She's got this thing about closets.
Albert Amundsen: That's a very silly thing for her to be in that closet.
Murray Burns: Well, don't knock it until you've tried it.
Murray Burns: Irving R. Feldman's birthday is my own personal national holiday. I did not open it up for the public. He is proprietor of perhaps the most distinguished kosher delicatessen in our neighborhood, and, as such, I hold the day of his birth in reverence.
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A Thousand Clowns Facts
Barbara Harris's film debut.
The original Broadway production of "A Thousand Clowns" by Herb Gardner opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theater in New York on April 5, 1962, ran for 428 performances and was nominated for the 1963 Tony Award for Best Play. Jason Robards, Gene Saks, William Daniels and Barry Gordon recreated their stage roles in the filmed production. Barry Gordon (I)' was nominated for the 1963 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. Sandy Dennis who did not recreate her stage role, won the 1963 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
This movie features a scene where Jason Robards walks in front of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts during its construction.
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