Luv ** (1967, Jack Lemmon, Peter Falk, Elaine May) – Classic Movie Review 9026

Director Clive Donner’s weird 1967 comedy Luv is the other one-act playlet in the same double bill as in Murray Schisgal’s two-hander, off-Broadway play The Tiger, filmed as The Tiger Makes Out (also 1967) with stars Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson. Both The Tiger and Luv were played on stage by Wallach and Jackson, but the movie of Luv stars Jack Lemmon, Peter Falk and Elaine May.

Milt Manville (Falk) prevents the suicide of his dysfunctional old classmate Harry Berlin (Lemmon), then dumps on him his neurotic wife Ellen Manville (May) who won’t divorce him, in order to marry someone else. Luv is a disappointing version of the hit off-Broadway play (by Murray Schisgal), which does not know how to solve problem of the show’s single setting (the walkway in the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge) and fails to contain the stars’ too showy performances. Screen-writer Elliott Baker and director Donner fumble the opportunity.

Also in the cast are Severn Darden, Nina Wayne, Eddie Mayehoff, Paul Hartman, Alan DeWitt, Martin Abrahams, Terrayne Crawford, Cap Somers and Harrison Ford as Irate Motorist (uncredited) in a brief appearance as the driver who punches Harry after Ellen backs into his car.

Luv is directed by Clive Donner, runs 93 minutes, is made by Jalem Productions and Columbia Pictures, is released by Columbia, is written by Elliott Baker, based on Murray Schisgal’s one-act play, is shot in Technicolor by Ernest Laszlo, is produced by Gordon Carroll (executive producer) and Martin Manulis, is scored by Gerry Mulligan, and is designed by Albert Brenner.

The original Broadway production of Luv by Murray Schisgal opened at the Booth Theater in New York on 11 November 1964, starred Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson and Alan Arkin, ran for 901 performances, and was nominated for the 1965 Tony Award for the Best Play. Eli Wallach was first offered the part of Harry Berlin after originating the role of Milt Manville on stage.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9026

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