Because the long-running Broadway smash, Barefoot within the Park, wound up its run in 1967, the movie model
was launched.
The play’s unique male lead, Robert Redford, wasn’t certain
that he needed to repeat himself with the movie adaptation of Barefoot within the Park. I discover this
questionable, since Redford had been in movies for 5 years, with no hit
film. The movie model of Barefoot
proved to be simply as large on the film field workplace because the play was on Broadway.
Natalie Wood was first provided the feminine lead, which might have been her third
time as Robert Redford’s co-star. Wooden opted as an alternative to take a while off from
film-making, and got here again two years in one other intercourse comedy, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.
We first meet newlyweds Paul and Corie Bratter in the course of the
opening credit, on a horse and carriage experience round NYC, as a dippy
sitcom-esque theme by the normally marvelous Johnny Mercer drones on the
soundtrack. The final feeling is of a gap to a sixties sitcom.
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| Robert Redford & Jane Fonda are honeymooners in 1967’s “Barefoot within the Park.” After a carriage experience, they honeymoon hibernate at NYC’s Plaza Resort. |
NYC’s Plaza Hotel is prominently featured within the opening
scenes of Barefoot within the Park. This
is the place Fonda and Redford’s Corie and Paul Bratter honeymoon for six nights.
As soon as they arrive up for air and take a look at of the Plaza, the majority of the movie is devoted
to their subsequent 4 days as newlyweds, settling into their new house.
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| Do not acknowledge the maid? As quickly as she talks, you already know that is Doris Roberts! She has a enjoyable bit because the maid reacting to the honeymooners in “Barefoot within the Park.” |
Barefoot within the Park is so lightweight, it is a
cinematic soufflé. Tasty, sure; substantial, no. Whereas Simon’s dialogue is
intelligent and humorous, the plot is basically non-existent and all the level of
the film is whaaat? Barefoot within the Park debuted on Broadway
in1963, a month earlier than the Kennedy assassination. The movie model got here out in
1967, simply earlier than censorship game-changer The Graduate. Curiously, Mike Nichols received Greatest Director Tony for the Barefoot play and his solely Greatest Director Oscar for The Graduate. What was as soon as risqué 4 years earlier now appeared a bit passé with Barefoot within the Park the film. Rather more of successful with audiences
than critics, Barefoot was akin to the bogus ’67 comedy, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? Paradoxically, each Barefoot stars had been
thought-about for the leads within the following 12 months’s Rosemary’s Baby. Think about the Bratters as New Yorkers Rosemary and Man
Woodhouse, with greater issues than a gap of their house skylight!
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| Jane Fonda’s a free spirit and Robert Redford’s a stuffed shirt, as newlyweds in 1967’s “Barefoot within the Park.” That is principally the comedic battle, people! |
The present IMDB website rankings/opinions charge Barefoot within the Park a lot decrease than
older opinions; this appears to point that the film has not aged effectively to
youthful viewers.
Right here’s my Facebook entertainment page, FYI!
Producer Hal Wallis
and director Gene Saks had been strong however not essentially the most scintillating filmmakers for
Barefoot within the Park, given the saucy
materials. Other than the opening horse experience and Redford’s enacting the movie’s
title within the finale, the ensuing film appears like a filmed play. Saks’ movie
and stage profession was principally directing Simon performs or his movie variations, so
his strongest swimsuit was that he understood Simon’s needs. Neil Simon insisted
on writing the screenplay for Barefoot.
After Simon’s first large hit, Come Blow
Your Horn, was shoehorned to suit 50-ish Frank Sinatra as a 30-something
swinging bachelor who’s actually only a good Jewish boy—a situation he did not
needed to repeat! Actually, after Horn,
Neil Simon wrote all of the screenplays to his stage performs.
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| Jane Fonda & Robert Redford kiss so much in 1967’s “Barefoot within the Park.” Properly, they play newlyweds and he IS Robert Redford, in spite of everything! |
Robert Redford as buttoned-down lawyer Paul appears essentially the most
up to date of the forged. Whereas his co-stars are simply advantageous, too, their
characters and performances appear of the period, whereas Redford’s angle and taking part in
of his character nonetheless appears present right this moment. And I say this as somebody who’s not
the most important Redford fan. Robert may typically be distant as an actor, however his
understatement is ideal for Paul Bratter. Bob’s dry humorousness will get to
shine, particularly when he zings Fonda’s high-strung bride. When she accuses him
of being excellent, ‘60s excellent Redford retorts, “That’s a rotten factor to say!”
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| Robert Redford’s lawyer takes exception to spouse Jane Fonda calling him excellent, in 1967’s “Barefoot within the Park.” |
Jane Fonda typically comes
off as humorless in individual, but has a pure aptitude for comedy. Jane’s verbally
and bodily humorous, but in scenes which have critical undertones, as the place
Corie desires Paul’s approval of the house, may be very interesting. That is one among
Jane’s finest comedy performances, solely undercut by the dated writing of Corie’s
character. Fonda’s vitality, intelligence, and charisma steadiness the downsides of
the light-weight bride position. Off-topic: Listening to younger Jane Fonda discuss at all times
jogs my memory of the later Laura Linney.
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| Jane Fonda is most interesting as Corie, right here hoping that Robert Redford’s Paul likes their new house, in 1967’s “Barefoot within the Park.” |
Jane’s physicality as
an actress is well-utilized, in addition to exhibiting off her trim physique at each
alternative, in numerous phases of gown. The one factor Redford reveals off is
his naked ft within the finale of Barefoot
within the Park.
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| Jane Fonda’s determine is on full show and in numerous phases of gown all through 1967’s “Barefoot within the Park,” a preview of coming sights for “Barbarella!” |
Hollywood age shaving
is on show, too. Robert Redford is
forged as 26 at 31, the script doesn’t give Fonda’s age, however she was 30 when this
movie was launched. Corie, as written, may be very infantile, clingy, and naïve—which
appears odd as performed by grownup Jane Fonda. Mrs. Bratter apparently has nothing to do
however furnish the house and watch for Paul to return house from work, to leap his
bones. Sure, he IS Robert Redford! Nonetheless, neither Redford nor Fonda comes off as
younger newlyweds, and their fights
appear juvenile. As for the veteran stars, Mildred Natwick’s mom is 52 and
Boyer’s neighbor is 58. Each actors had been a decade older, and even when taking part in
youthful, the characters are handled like they had been prepared for the previous people’
house.
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| Jane Fonda & Robert Redford as newlyweds, taking inventory of their new house, in 1967’s Neil Simon adaptation, “Barefoot within the Park.” |
I used to be curious why Robert Redford acquired prime billing since this was his first hit
film. And Bob starred in some fairly excessive profile bombs: Inside Daisy Clover, This
Property is Condemned, and The Chase.
Conversely, Jane Fonda had simply starred in Cat Ballou and had some mildly in style intercourse comedies and soaps to
her credit score—although she too had been in some clinkers. Inquiring minds marvel!
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| Jane Fonda & Robert Redford starred in 1967’s “Barefoot within the Park.” Fonda had already starred in a number of romantic comedies and this was Redford’s first hit movie. |
Mildred Natwick and Charles Boyer are two old fashioned execs
having a subject day, as Ethel Banks and Victor Velasco. I’m glad that Natwick
acquired to reprise the position that she originated on Broadway. It might have been
fairly straightforward for producer Hal Wallis to forged Myrna Loy, a a lot beloved film star,
to play the position through which she had toured. And it’s nice to see latter day Charles
Boyer hadn’t misplaced his continental allure or comedic contact. The 2 characters
are arrange for a date by Corie and the hilariously catastrophe of a night is
the movie’s spotlight. Natwick’s character, attempting
to retain her dignity in the course of the comedic chaos, whereas getting drunk, reminded
me of Nathan Lane’s “Mom” in 1996’s The
Birdcage.
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| The evening out sequence of 1967’s “Barefoot within the Park” is the movie’s comedic excessive level. With Charles Boyer, Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, & Mildred Natwick. |
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| Mom Mildred Natwick & son-in-law Robert Redford AFTER an evening out with the eccentric upstairs neighbor & Jane Fonda’s bride, in 1967’s “Barefoot within the Park.” |
Herb Edelman acquired his
likelihood to comically shine as the phone restore man. Mabel Albertson (Bewitched) is Natwick’s girl good friend. James
Stone is the wheezing supply man. And Ted Hartley performs Paul’s fellow lawyer,
who actually telephones in his one scene. Hartley, BTW, died Oct. 5, 2025, simply
shy of his 101st birthday. Principally, Barefoot is a four-character forged, with supporting one-off roles.
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| Ted Hartley, as Robert Redford’s fellow lawyer in ’67’s “Barefoot within the Park,” handed away just lately of this writing, Oct. 5, 2025. Hartley was a prolific actor. |
Barefoot within the Park is superior fluff, with the star quartet
making Neil Simon’s light-weight laughs sing, and bringing coronary heart to their
characters.
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| Mildred Natwick is memorable as Jane Fonda’s staid mom in 1967’s “Barefoot within the Park.” Robert Redford seems on as Fonda’s new husband. |
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| Charles Boyer is an enthralling scene stealer as upstairs neighbor Victor Velasco in 1967’s “Barefoot within the Park.” |
Right here’s my have a look at the
first large display Neil Simon Broadway adaptation that displeased Simon very a lot,
1963’s Come Blow Your Horn. A younger
Jewish playboy who reveals his brother the ropes is became a 50-ish Frank
Sinatra! https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2019/01/when-sinatra-met-simon-come-blow-your.html
Fonda and Redford play
husband and spouse, although they barely have any scenes collectively, in 1966’s The Chase. This all-star bomb revolves
round Redford’s escaped convict, setting off his small southern hometown into
a feeding frenzy. My take right here: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2023/09/all-star-cast-cant-save-chase-1966.html
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| Robert Redford’s buttoned-down lawyer lets his hair down and footwear off on the finale of 1967’s “Barefoot within the Park.” |
