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IMDbPro

Happy Birthday, Wanda June

  • 1971
  • R
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
386
YOUR RATING
Happy Birthday, Wanda June (1971)
ComedyDrama

A family reacts to the return of the patriarch who abandoned them seven years earlier.A family reacts to the return of the patriarch who abandoned them seven years earlier.A family reacts to the return of the patriarch who abandoned them seven years earlier.

  • Director
    • Mark Robson
  • Writer
    • Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
  • Stars
    • Rod Steiger
    • Susannah York
    • George Grizzard
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    386
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mark Robson
    • Writer
      • Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
    • Stars
      • Rod Steiger
      • Susannah York
      • George Grizzard
    • 22User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos8

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    Top cast11

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    Rod Steiger
    Rod Steiger
    • Harold Ryan
    Susannah York
    Susannah York
    • Penelope Ryan
    George Grizzard
    George Grizzard
    • Dr. Norbert Woodley
    Don Murray
    Don Murray
    • Herb Shuttle
    William Hickey
    William Hickey
    • Looseleaf Harper
    Steven Paul
    • Paul Ryan
    Pamelyn Ferdin
    Pamelyn Ferdin
    • Wanda June
    Pamela Saunders
    • Mildred Ryan
    Louis Turenne
    Louis Turenne
    • Major von Koningswald
    C.C. Whitney
    • Mrs. Kestenbaum
    Lester Goldsmith
    • Mr. Kestenbaum
    • (as Lester M. Goldsmith)
    • Director
      • Mark Robson
    • Writer
      • Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    6.1386
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    Featured reviews

    grantch

    One of 1971's Best!

    What happened to this movie? I've recommended it for 3 decades as one of the finest of the surreal comedies and it seems to have vanished. Who owns the rights? Please reissue this farcical drama. Like "Where's Poppa?" Central Park represents the evils of the world. The heaven-related references are hilarious. Ms. York was never prettier. Rod Steiger delivers a (not unexpectedly) bravura performance. It's based on a Kurt Vonnegut story. What more need I say? If you enjoyed "A Boy and His Dog", you certainly will savor the sophisticated and sly humor to be found in "Happy Birthday, Wanda June."
    8roger-212

    Lost and wonderful Vonnegut film/play worth reviving

    "Happy Birthday Wanda June" is out there...somewhere, because a print has just surfaced in San Francisco for a small festival showing in August of 2007. I first read about this film way back in Cinefantastique and of course it hasn't surfaced since, not on VHS or DVD.

    Written probably as Vonnegut was really hitting his stride, around the time of "Slaughterhouse 5" it explores the meaning of humanity on this planet, the madness of men (the gender) and the blindness of following what we thing is valuable but isn't.

    Smaller in scale than "S5" or "Sirens of Titans" this originally was a play and the film shows this provenance. It's practically one-set, and the acting is rather broad. Mark Robson seems to be making sure everyone pitches it out to the back rows. The child and the 2 male friends of Susannah York's character are particularly grating. But Rod Steiger, whose role is a bombastic man's man (somehow reminiscent of Ernest Hemingway or John Huston), manages to play his loud and obnoxious role with a graceful (if unhumble) bravado. He is perhaps more in on the joke - that he is a fool and a dinosaur embracing out-of-date ideas - than he initially proclaims.

    The flashes to Heaven, mentioned in previous posts, makes this vintage absurdist Vonnegut, with the underlying message that everyone goes to Heaven, so murdering someone is actually not a bad thing - you're doing them a favor. It makes the complains down in the Manhattan apartment about whether they should kill animals, be "savage" or civilized, rather moot in retrospect.

    An important work that deserves reviving. It's dated and a bit obvious in its symbolism (the violin hanging like a corpse above the fireplace) but beats "Visit to a Small Planet" anytime. And William Hickey is great as Steiger's sidekick who also returns after 8 years.

    Interesting side note when Steiger reveals he was drugged on "blue soup" for 7 1/2 of the 8 years. Did he actually see what life without the "action, the killing" might be like...and recoil in horror? And the last shot - not what you would expect, also raises an ironic eyebrow that will keep this film in your mind for days.
    evans3

    Great film if you can see it!

    Bill Hickey is fabulous as Col. Harper, Rod Stieger chews the scenery as Harold Ryan. This movie is very confusing, I have only met one person who saw it in a theater, ABC used to show it late at night, the last time I saw it they showed the reels out of order, nice guys, no way you could possibly have a clue.

    It is the Homecoming of Odesius from the Trojan Wars, Penelope (Susanah York) has two lovers, a doctor and a vacuum cleaner salesman. Ryan and Harper have been lost for seven years, and they return without warning having found diamonds the size of grapefruits.

    I have not been able to locate this film other than on 1 inch video tape, I would love to get a good copy of it.
    8hylinski

    Stagey but hits the spot

    This is one of my favourites, so I admit to being terrible biased about its merit. As a movie it's a bit clunky in places, but the cast is wonderful. For me the best of these is William Hickey. He often has the best lines in the fashion of the fool in Shakepeare. A drunken broken man whose one defining moment (in his friend's eyes anyway) he regrets totally. The movie is worth a look just for him. If you don't understand or enjoy Kurt Vonnegut's cynicism you won't enjoy this film. All of the "living" characters leave something to be desired, and there is little to inspire here. But it is funny in an ironic kind of way, and so indicative of humanity. The deceased characters (who all play shuffleboard in heaven on Jesus' team) are a hoot as well.
    Michael9137

    Irony,Madness and Desperation

    The first time I've watched this remarkable movie, was on commercial TV..I was sincerely amazed with this exquisite blend of irony,madness and desperation that was a trademark of Mr.Vonegut's works.But, there was something really new coming on that flick...the urges of a mankind behind those solid characters, Steiger and Hickey, this last one the bomber that wasted Hiroshima, and his Master, a frontiersman Steiger,both back from a disastrous expedition to Africa, that lasted years...Their families, in the face of those presumed deceased...What about an effervescent and mutating world of the early 70's?They should portrait the Vietnam fighters, being cursed for the flower power generation...Blended with superb interpretations from all the cast, with poisonous 'sensa huma'and political uncorrectioness all over the place.Those were the days, dude. A really must see...

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The original Broadway production of "Happy Birthday, Wanda June" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. opened at the Edison Theater on December 22, 1970, ran for 96 performances and closed on March 14, 1971.
    • Quotes

      Penelope Ryan: Doctor Woodley, I would like you to meet Harold, my husband. Harold, I would like you to meet Doctor Woodley, my fiancé. Good night, dear.

      [kisses Harold]

      Penelope Ryan: Good night, dear.

      [kisses Dr. Woodley]

      Penelope Ryan: . Stay or go; talk or sulk; laugh or cry--as you wish. Do whatever seems called for. My mind is gone. Good night.

      [she closes and locks door]

    • Connections
      Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: 12 to the Moon (1994)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 9, 1971 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s Happy Birthday, Wanda June
    • Production companies
      • Red Lion
      • Sourdough
      • The Filmakers Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 45m(105 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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