Matilda (1978 film)

Matilda
Matilda
Directed by	Daniel Mann
Written by	Timothy Galfas; Paul Gallico (book)
Produced by	Albert S. Ruddy (producer); Paul Sapounakis (associate producer); Melvin Simon (executive producer); Richard R. St. Johns (executive producer)
Starring	Elliott Gould; Harry Guardino; Art Metrano; Robert Mitchum; Lionel Stander; Roberta Collins; Clive Revill; Gary Morgan
Cinematography	Jack Woolf
Edited by	Allan Jacobs
Music by	Jerrold Immel
Distributed by	American International Pictures
Release date	June 22, 1978;
Running time	1 hr. 45 min.
Country	United States
Language	English

Matilda is a 1978 American comedy film directed by Daniel Mann and starring Elliott Gould, Robert Mitchum and Lionel Stander.

Plot summary

A small-time talent agent discovers an amazing female boxing Kangaroo and figures to use it as his stepping-stone into the big time by having it compete with a human pugilist.

Cast

Elliott Gould - Bernie Bonnelli
Clive Revill - Billy Baker
Harry Guardino - Uncle Nono
Roy Clark - Wild Bill Wildman
Karen Carlson - Kathleen Smith
Art Metrano - Gordon Baum
Lionel Stander - Pinky Schwab
Roberta Collins - Tanya Six
Larry Pennell - Lee Dockerty
Gary Morgan - Matilda
Robert Mitchum - Duke Parkhurst
Lenny Montana - Hood #1
Frank Avianca - Hood #2
Joe De Fish - Hood #3
Pat Henry - Hood #4

Production

The film was budgeted at $5.2 Million. Producer Al Ruddy explained that "we debated over using both a real kangaroo and an actor in costume and opted for the latter as cross-cutting proved too jarring for the viewer. However the costume was a $30,000 investment that paid off as it not only allowed freedom of movement, but we were able to program it with transistors to allow us to direct the actor's tiniest gesture." Critic Tom Allen wrote in The Village Voice that "Matilda is worked by a person in a fur suit and fixed mask. ... The technicians do not even get the ears to wiggle and the mouth to pucker until the final minutes."^[1]

Soundtrack

"When I'm with You, I'm Feelin' Good" - Music by Carol Connors, Lyrics by Ernie Shelton, Sung by Pat Boone & Debby Boone, Record Produced by Mike Curb
"Waltzing Matilda" - (uncredited), Lyrics by A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson, Music by Christina Macpherson

Notes

^ Harry Medved and Michael Medved. The Golden Turkey Awards London, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Manila: Angus and Robertson Publishers, 1980. ISBN 0-207-95968-4. page 157-8.

List of American films of 1978

External links

Matilda at IMDb

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[1] Harry Medved and Michael Medved. The Golden Turkey Awards London, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Manila: Angus and Robertson Publishers, 1980. ISBN 0-207-95968-4. page 157-8.

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