Natural Enemies: Difference between revisions

Natural Enemies
Natural Enemies
Directed by	Jeff Kanew
Written by	Jeff Kanew
Based on	Natural Enemies; by Julius Horwitz
Produced by	John E. Quill
Starring	Hal Holbrook; Louise Fletcher; Viveca Lindfors; José Ferrer
Cinematography	Richard E. Brooks
Edited by	Jeff Kanew
Music by	Don Ellis
Production; company	Utopia
Distributed by	Cinema 5 Distributing
Release date	November 1, 1979;
Running time	100 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$700,000

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Natural Enemies is a 1979 American drama film directed by Jeff Kanew based on the 1975 novel Natural Enemies written by Julius Horwitz. The film stars Hal Holbrook and Louise Fletcher as a married couple whose relationship is strained and threatened by the husband's interest in getting rid of his wife, including resorting to murder.^[2] The man, Paul (Hal Holbrook) ultimately hires five hookers to fulfill a final fantasy before killing himself and his family.

Summary

Paul Steward is a 48 year old magazine editor who in his words wishes he could rewrite his life. As the film opens he is standing by his bed in his isolated Connecticut farmhouse after a sleepless night as his alarm clock ticks saying that this is the day he will take a rifle and kill his wife, three children and then himself. In his narration, Steward professes that all men for various reasons have thought about killing their families. He mentions that he and his wife Miriam have not slept together in eight months. Miriam has attempted suicide and has a history of instability having had shock treatments. As she drives him to the train station, Steward laments that there is no longer tenderness between them and that they are only married because of the children. Steward meets a former astronaut at work who wants to write an article for him. As he interviews the man, Steward is intrigued by his description of loneliness on the moon and feels the connection to his own inner torment. Steward talks to a friend at the office about men who kill their families and what it means. His friend is a Holocaust survivor who is frustrated that so many have forgotten the horrors of Nazi Germany. Steward hires five hookers to service him in a final act of indulgence on his last day. He shares memories with them of his and Miriam's life together, and of their failing relationship. In the film's shocking conclusion a radio voiceover reveals that Paul indeed followed through with his murder-suicide scenario.

Cast

Hal Holbrook as Paul Steward
Louise Fletcher as Miriam Steward
Peter Armstrong as Tony Steward
Elizabeth Berridge as Sheila Steward
Stephen Austin as Alex Steward
Jim Pappas as Fred Russo
Ellen Barber as Anne
John Bartholomew as Arthur Eaton
Charles Randall as Doctor
José Ferrer as Harry Rosenthal
Lisa Carroll as The Madam
June Berry as Jan
Alisha Fontaine as Sharon
Patricia Mauceri as Patricia
Michele O'Brien as Leslie
Claire Reilly as Gloria
Viveca Lindfors as Dr. Baker
Frank Bongiorno as Taxi Driver
Harry Daley as Conductor
Patricia Elliott as Woman on Train
Robert Perry as Newscaster
Casey Kanew as The Dog

Reception

Film historian Leonard Maltin gave the picture 1.5 out of a possible 4 stars; he denounced the movie as "Cold and uninvolving, not to mention strange..."^[3] Screenwriting instructor Irwin Blacker seemed to agree, calling the film "...a total failure, despite good performances and direction, since the Holbrook character fails to make any moral decision; rather than confronting and resolving the issues behind his discontent, he evades them."

References

^ "AFI|Catalog".
^ {via Google News)Janet Maslin (November 1, 1979). "Natural Enemies". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
^ Maltin's TV, Movie, & Video Guide

External links

[1] "AFI|Catalog".

[2] {via Google News)Janet Maslin (November 1, 1979). "Natural Enemies". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2015.

[3] Maltin's TV, Movie, & Video Guide

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox film
 | name           = Natural Enemies
 | image          =
 | caption        =
 | director       = [[Jeff Kanew]]
-| writer         = [[Jeff Kanew]] (based on the novel by Julius Horowitz)
+| writer         = Jeff Kanew
-| narrator       = [[Hal Holbrook]]
+| narrator       =
-| starring       = [[Hal Holbrook]]
+| starring       = [[Hal Holbrook]]<br>[[Louise Fletcher]]<br>[[Viveca Lindfors]]<br>[[José Ferrer]]
 | music          = [[Don Ellis]]
+| based_on       = {{Based on|''Natural Enemies''|Julius Horwitz}}
 | producer       = John E. Quill
 | cinematography = Richard E. Brooks
@@ Line 17: / Line 18: @@
 | country        = United States
 | language       = English
+| budget         = $700,000<ref>{{cite web | url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/56932-NATURAL-ENEMIES | title=AFI&#124;Catalog }}</ref>
-| budget         =
 | gross          =
-| website        =
-| amg_id         =
 }}
-'''''Natural Enemies''''' is a 1979 American [[drama (film and television)|drama film]] directed by [[Jeff Kanew]]. The film stars [[Hal Holbrook]] and [[Louise Fletcher]] as a married couple whose relationship is strained and threatened by the husband's interest in getting rid of his wife, including resorting to murder.<ref>{via Google News){{cite news|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 1, 1979|author=[[Janet Maslin]]|title=Natural Enemies|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D04EEDB1039E732A25752C0A9679D946890D6CF|accessdate=December 22, 2015}}</ref> The man, Paul (Hal Holbrook) ultimately hires five hookers to fulfill a final fantasy before killing himself and his family.
+'''''Natural Enemies''''' is a 1979 American [[drama (film and television)|drama film]] directed by [[Jeff Kanew]] based on the 1975 novel Natural Enemies written by Julius Horwitz. The film stars [[Hal Holbrook]] and [[Louise Fletcher]] as a married couple whose relationship is strained and threatened by the husband's interest in getting rid of his wife, including resorting to murder.<ref>{via Google News){{cite news|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 1, 1979|author=Janet Maslin|author-link=Janet Maslin|title=Natural Enemies|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D04EEDB1039E732A25752C0A9679D946890D6CF|accessdate=December 22, 2015}}</ref> The man, Paul (Hal Holbrook) ultimately hires five hookers to fulfill a final fantasy before killing himself and his family.
+==Summary==
+Paul Steward is a 48 year old magazine editor who in his words wishes he could rewrite his life. As the film opens he is standing by his bed in his isolated Connecticut farmhouse after a sleepless night as his alarm clock ticks saying that this is the day he will take a rifle and kill his wife, three children and then himself. In his narration, Steward professes that all men for various reasons have thought about killing their families. He mentions that he and his wife Miriam have not slept together in eight months. Miriam has attempted suicide and has a history of instability having had shock treatments. As she drives him to the train station, Steward laments that there is no longer tenderness between them and that they are only married because of the children. Steward meets a former astronaut at work who wants to write an article for him. As he interviews the man, Steward is intrigued by his description of loneliness on the moon and feels the connection to his own inner torment. Steward talks to a friend at the office about men who kill their families and what it means. His friend is a Holocaust survivor who is frustrated that so many have forgotten the horrors of Nazi Germany. Steward hires five hookers to service him in a final act of indulgence on his last day. He shares memories with them of his and Miriam's life together, and of their failing relationship. In the film's shocking conclusion a radio voiceover reveals that Paul indeed followed through with his murder-suicide scenario.
 == Cast ==
-===Main===
 * [[Hal Holbrook]] as Paul Steward
 * [[Louise Fletcher]] as Miriam Steward
 * Peter Armstrong as Tony Steward
 * [[Elizabeth Berridge (actress)|Elizabeth Berridge]] as Sheila Steward
-* Steve Austin as Alex Steward (Credited as Stephen Austin)
+* Stephen Austin as Alex Steward
 * Jim Pappas as Fred Russo
 * Ellen Barber as Anne
-* [[John Bartholomew]] as Arthur Eaton
+* John Bartholomew as Arthur Eaton
 * Charles Randall as Doctor
-* [[José Ferrer]] as Harry Rosenthal (Credited as Jose Ferrer)
+* [[José Ferrer]] as Harry Rosenthal
 * Lisa Carroll as The Madam
+* June Berry as Jan
+* Alisha Fontaine as Sharon
-===Supporting===
-* [[June Berry]] as Girl in Brothel
+* [[Patricia Mauceri]] as Patricia
+* Michele O'Brien as Leslie
-* Alisha Fontaine as Girl in Brothel
+* Claire Reilly as Gloria
-* [[Patricia Mauceri]] as Girl in Brothel
-* [[Michele O'Brien]] as Girl in Brothel
-* Claire Reilly as Girl in Brothel
 * [[Viveca Lindfors]] as Dr. Baker
 * Frank Bongiorno as Taxi Driver
@@ Line 51: / Line 50: @@
 * Robert Perry as Newscaster
 * Casey Kanew as The Dog
-===Cameo/Uncredited===
-* Michael Sheehan as Extra
-==Summary==
-Paul Steward is a 48 year old magazine editor who in his words wishes he could rewrite his life. As the film opens he is standing by his bed in his isolated Connecticut farmhouse after a sleepless night as his alarm clock ticks saying that this is the day he will take a rifle and kill his wife, three children and then himself. In his narration, Steward professes that all men for various reasons have thought about killing their families. He mentions that he and his wife Miriam have not slept together in eight months. Miriam has attempted suicide and has a history of instability having had shock treatments. As she drives him to the train station, Steward laments that there is no longer tenderness between them and that they are only married because of the children. Steward meets a former astronaut at work who wants to write an article for him. As he interviews the man, Steward is intrigued by his description of loneliness on the moon and feels the connection to his own inner torment. Steward talks to a friend at the office about men who kill their families and what it means. His friend is a Holocaust survivor who is frustrated that so many have forgotten the horrors of Nazi Germany. Steward hires five hookers to service him in a final act of indulgence on his last day. He shares memories with them of his and Miriam's life together, and of their failing relationship. In the film's shocking conclusion a radio voiceover reveals that Paul indeed followed through with his murder-suicide scenario.
 ==Reception==
-Film historian [[Leonard Maltin]] gave the picture 1.5 out of a possible 4 stars; he denounced the movie as "Cold and uninvolving, not to mention strange..." Screenwriting instructor Irwin Blacker seemed to agree, calling the film "...a total failure, despite good performances and direction, since the Holbrook character fails to make any moral decision; rather than confronting and resolving the issues behind his discontent, he evades them."
+Film historian [[Leonard Maltin]] gave the picture 1.5 out of a possible 4 stars; he denounced the movie as "Cold and uninvolving, not to mention strange..."<ref>Maltin's TV, Movie, & Video Guide</ref> Screenwriting instructor Irwin Blacker seemed to agree, calling the film "...a total failure, despite good performances and direction, since the Holbrook character fails to make any moral decision; rather than confronting and resolving the issues behind his discontent, he evades them."
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
 ==External links==
 *{{IMDb title|0079613}}
-*[http://facemeltingfilms.com/?p=2166 Movie Review w/ Screenshots and Clip]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111031000251/http://facemeltingfilms.com/?p=2166 Movie Review w/ Screenshots and Clip]
 {{Jeff Kanew}}
@@ Line 72: / Line 65: @@
 [[Category:1979 films]]
 [[Category:1979 drama films]]
-[[Category:American films]]
 [[Category:American drama films]]
-[[Category:English-language films]]
 [[Category:Films directed by Jeff Kanew]]
 [[Category:Films scored by Don Ellis]]
+[[Category:1970s English-language films]]
+[[Category:1970s American films]]
-{{1970s-drama-film-stub}}
+[[Category:English-language drama films]]