Nuts (1987)

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Tom Topor (play)
Tom Topor (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 November 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Mad As In Angry. Or Just Plain... NUTS

Plot:

A high-class call girl accused of murder fights for the right to stand trial rather than be declared mentally incompetent.

Plot Keywords:

Court | Self Defense | Murder | Freedom | Courtroom Scene

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes.

Cast

Barbra Streisand	...	Claudia Draper
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Aaron Levinsky
Maureen Stapleton	...	Rose Kirk
Karl Malden	...	Arthur Kirk
Eli Wallach	...	Dr. Herbert A. Morrison
Robert Webber	...	Francis MacMillan
James Whitmore	...	Judge Stanley Murdoch
Leslie Nielsen	...	Allen Green
William Prince	...	Clarence Middleton
Dakin Matthews	...	1st Judge
Paul Benjamin	...	Harry Harrison
Warren Manzi	...	Saul Kreiglitz
Elizabeth Hoffman	...	Dr. Johnson
Castulo Guerra	...	Dr. Arantes
Stacy Bergman	...	16 year-old Claudia

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | West Germany:16 (f) | France:Unrated | Canada:14A (TV rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (#28774)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "Nuts" by Tom Topor opened on April 28, 1980 and ran for 96 performances. Anne Twomey was nominated for the 1980 Tony Award (New York City) for Actress in a Play for "Nuts".

Quotes:

Aaron Levinsky: Mrs. Draper, could you tell me your understanding of the legal concept of justifiable force?
Claudia Draper: That's when someone's beating your brains out the back of your head, you're allowed to stop them any way you can.
Aaron Levinsky: Thank you. Now, would you tell us your understanding of the provisions of the 730 process?
Claudia Draper: Yeah. If I lose today, they can commit me for a year. Sixty days before the year is up, the hospital can ask to retain me. If I lose again, I'm gone for another year. And from then on, it's two-thirds of the maximum sentence, which comes out to be 16 or 17 years, and that's without a trial.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Friend of Dorothy (1994)

Soundtrack:

HERE WE ARE AT LAST

Who is trying to Hurt You?

After viewing this superior film, a viewer might wonder where in blazes the original idea came from; The Twilight Zone or ripped from todays headlines. This film is laden with so much talent I'm surprised it didn't establish itself as a mega movie. The premise is that of a talented lawyer, Aaron Levinsky, ably played by Richard Dreyfuss, who is forcibly thrust into a competency case which he does not want. His adversary is a formidably D.A, Francis MacMillan (Robert Webber) who has spent a considerable amount of time putting unwanted criminals and mental undesirables, behind bars. Thus he sees no reason why he should spend more time than necessary on a simple case of mental incompetency. Unfortunately for him the woman in question is spirited, independent Claudia Draper, (Barbra Streisand) who is desperate to have her day in court. Arrayed against her aside from the D.A. are her loving parents, Karl Malden as Arthur Kirk and Maureen Stapleton as Rose Kirk, who guard a terrible family secret. In addition, there is formidable Eli Wallach as Dr. Herbert A. Morrison, a psychiatrist who is convinced that Draper is insane. In Claudia's eyes, everyone seems hell bent on having her locked up in insane asylum. The courtroom drama is superior as Judge Stanley Murdoch, (James Whitmore ) tries to discover why the authorities want Draper incarcerated. A most convincing performance by all to create a memorable film. ****