ReFocus: The Films of Elaine May (ReFocus: The American Directors Series)

This book explores the diverse career of director, screenwriter, comic and actor, Elaine May Spanning from obscurity to notoriety, the films of director, screenwriter, actor and comic Elaine May have recently experienced a long-overdue renaissance. Although she made only four films — A New Leaf (1971), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), Mikey and Nicky (1976) and Ishtar (1987) — and never reached the level of acclaim of her frequent collaborator Mike Nichols, May’s work is as enigmatic, sophisticated and unceasingly fascinating as her own complicated, reluctant star persona. This collection focuses both on the films she has directed, and also emphasises her work with other high profile collaborators such as John Cassavetes and Otto Preminger. Explores the diverse career of director, screenwriter, comic and actor, Elaine MaySpanning from obscurity to notoriety, the films of director, screenwriter, actor and comic Elaine May have recently experienced a long-overdue renaissance. Although she made only four films -- A New Leaf (1971), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), Mikey and Nicky (1976) and Ishtar (1987) -- and never reached the level of acclaim of her frequent collaborator Mike Nichols, May's work is as enigmatic, sophisticated and unceasingly fascinating as her own complicated, reluctant star persona. This collection focuses both on the films she has directed, and also emphasises her work with other high profile collaborators such as John Cassavetes, Warren Beatty and Otto Preminger.Case studies A New Leaf (Elaine May, 1971)The Heartbreak Kid (Elaine May, 1972)Mikey and Nicky (Elaine May, 1976)Ishtar (Elaine May, 1987)American Masters: Mike Nichols (Elaine May, 2016)Such Good Friends (Otto Preminger, 1971)The Birdcage (Mike Nichols, 1996) Primary Colors (Mike Nichols, 1998)ContributorsClem Bastow, University of MelbourneDean Brandum, independent researcherJeremy Carr, Arizona State University Samm Deighan, Associate Editor of Diabolique Magazine Mark Freeman, Swinburne UniversityAllie Hagan, screenwriter Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, film critic Paul Jeffery, independent researcher Tim O'Farrell, Victorian College of the ArtsMaya Montañez Smukler, New School, Otis College of Art and Design, the New York Film Academy and UCLAJake Wilson, freelance writer and film reviewer ReFocus: The Films of Elaine May 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Figures and Tables 8 Notes on Contributors 9 Acknowledgments 11 Introduction: Who’s Kidding?-Approaching Elaine May 12 part 1 Beginnings 32 1 Teenagers on Stage-The Comedy of Elaine May and Mike Nichols 34 Part 2 Critically Situating Elaine May 50 2 Hollywood Can’t Wait: Elaine May and the Delusions of 1970s American Cinema 52 3 Dangerous Business-Elaine May as Existential Improviser 74 Part 3 Elaine May’s Films as Director 94 4 Kneeling on Glass-Elaine May’s A New Leaf (1971) as Screwball Black Comedy 96 5 “Don’t Put A Milky Way in Someone’s Mouth When They Don’t Want It”: A Contemporary Feminist Rereading of Elaine May’s The Heartbreak Kid (1972) 115 6 Mikey and Nicky (1976)-Elaine May and the Cassavetes Connection 130 7 Cartographies of Catastrophe-Elaine May’s Ishtar (1987) 150 Part 4 Collaborations/Revelations 174 8 In/Significant Gestures-Elaine May, Screen Performance, and Embodied Collaboration 176 9 Otto É. May(zo)-Elaine May’s Screenplay of Otto Preminger’s Such Good Friends (1971) as Affirmation that Hell is Other People 192 10 Spectral Elaine May-The Later Mike Nichols Collaborations and the Myth of the Recluse 213 Conclusion 230 11 interview with allie hagan When in Doubt, Seduce: An Interview with Screenwriter Allie Hagan 232 Bibliography 245 Index 255 "Spanning from obscurity to notoriety, the films of director, screenwriter, actor and comic Elaine May have recently experienced a long-overdue renaissance. Although she made only four films - A New Leaf (1971), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), Mikey and Nicky (1976) and Ishtar (1987) - and never reached the level of acclaim of her frequent collaborator Mike Nichols, May's work is as enigmatic, sophisticated and unceasingly fascinating as her own complicated, reluctant star persona. This collection focuses both on the films she has directed, and also emphasises her work with other high profile collaborators such as John Cassavetes, Warren Beatty and Otto Preminger"-- Provided by publisher Spanning From Obscurity To Notoriety, The Films Of Director, Screenwriter, Actor And Comic Elaine May Have Recently Seen A Long-overdue Renaissance. Although She Made Only Four Films - A New Leaf (1971), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), Mikey And Nicky (1976) And Ishtar (1987) - And Never Reached The Level Of Acclaim Of Her Frequent Collaborator Mike Nichols, May's Work Is As Enigmatic, Sophisticated And Unceasingly Fascinating As Her Own Complicated, Reluctant Star Persona. This Collection Focuses On The Films She Has Directed And Emphasises Her Work With Other High-profile Collaborators Such As John Cassavetes, Warren Beatty And Otto Preminger. This collection focuses both on the films Elaine May has directed, and also emphasises her work with other high profile collaborators such as John Cassavetes, Warren Beatty and Otto Preminger.