At some point, everybody has to do a bunch of things they do not want to do, right!! Jason Robards plays a character who is plagued with the tedium of monotony and banal laboriousness!! As a result, he throws caution to the wind about accepting basic responsibilities. He and his ward, Nick, are completely capable of conveying messages to each other which involve an entirely different set of priorities than the mass public is accustomed to dealing with. The film "A Thousand Clowns" evokes a very flippant disposition about many ominous circumstances. Being perennially jobless, and living together in a New York City's makeshift definition of a cramped studio apartment, the New York Child Welfare Department does not feel that this is a suitable environment to raise an adolescent boy. The recurring song "Yes Sir,That's My Baby" throughout the entire movie, signifies an extremely nonchalant attitude that both Jason Robards and his ward (Barry Gordon / Nick) purvey in this film!! It's all about asking different questions, and wanting different answers!! Murray and Nick's ultimate desires are to pinpoint what exactly it is they want to do with their lives, and how they want to do it, without threat of fatal repercussions,, Suffice it to say, they are fighting a dreadfully losing battle while attempting such a dubious endeavor!! The movie "A Thousand Clowns" winds up being one big acrimonious jeremiad which denounces boredom and anonymity!! In addition to Jason Robards and Barry Gordon, there were many other terrific acting performances in this movie. Barbara Harris plays the perpetually misunderstood social worker who has her seriously low salary written all over her face. She develops an ideological crush on Murray (Jason Robards). Martin Balsam plays Murray's brother, he gives his brother a lending ear and is Murray's succor for empathy, yet, he realizes the urgency of the prevailing situation. Gene Saks is the total corporate man lock, stock, and barrel. He is painfully aware of the fact that he is not funny. Such a harsh reality can leave permanent scars on your fragile ego, as a result, this clown (literally) becomes Jason Robards' greatest nightmare!! Director, Herb Gardner, is sensational at instigating a catastrophically horrible occurrence, and making it utterly hilarious!! Such a scenario purports the real definition of comedy, especially a dark comedy!! What the film "A Thousand Clowns" ultimately makes provision for is the concept that a prerequisite to getting by in this world does not mean that you must engage in a total capitulation to the conventional!! More to the point, you have to sort of have a compromising relationship with conventionalism in order to feasibly survive!! Like most relationships, there is always give and take!! The film "A Thousand Clowns" takes on a very unique approach to what specific problems are afflicting Murray (Jason Robards), and how Murray's feelings about these dilemmas, affect everyone around him. Marching to a radically different drummer has created a rather fatal side effect of potentially catastrophic devastation regarding any definition of an harmonious family unit between Murray and Nick, or whatever the kid's name is this week!! The visceral reactions from all of the characters in this movie, give the movie audience a crystal clear indication that this film cannot afford the luxury of being ironic!! What was wonderful about this film is that human responses replaced stilted ones!! It is almost as if the title "A Thousand Clowns" translates to a thousand people with a thousand errors!! This domino effect disaster equals a million discrepancies, and so on, and so forth!! Excellent film!! Some off Broadway critics in New York have rated this play turned movie as perhaps the best movie ever written. I don't really agree with this assessment of the film, however, I do feel that "A Thousand Clowns" was superbly done!! A PERFECT TEN!!
Review of A Thousand Clowns
