The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)

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Jack Nicholson

David Staebler

Bruce Dern

Jason Staebler

Ellen Burstyn

Sally

Julia Anne Robinson

Jessica

Scatman Crothers

Lewis
(as Benjamin 'Scatman' Crothers)

Charles LaVine

Grandfather

Arnold Williams

Rosko

John P. Ryan

Surtees
(as John Ryan)

Sully Boyar

Lebowitz

Josh Mostel

Frank

William Pabst

Bidlack

Garry Goodrow

Nervous Man
(as Gary Goodrow)

Imogene Bliss

Magda

Ann Thomas

Bambi

Tom Overton

Spot Operator

Maxwell 'Sonny' Goldberg

Sonny

Van Kirksey

Messenger #1

Tony King

Messenger #2

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Trivia
According to Burstyn's autobiography "Lessons in Becoming Myself", Burstyn and Julia Anne Robinson fell off the back of the golf cart in the Miss America scene when Bruce Dern took off too fast. Robinson hit her head and spent a few days in the hospital as a result.

Goofs
David listens to tape recording he made but during close-up of tape recorder, none of the buttons that would allow it to play are depressed.

Quotes
Jessica: What's going on?
David Staebler: Your mother's gonna murder one of us. So far the only one she hasn't nominated is you.

Crazy credits
The Columbia Pictures logo does not appear on this film.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Coneheads/Benefit of the Doubt/Poetic Justice/Another Stakeout/Hocus Pocus (1993)

Soundtracks
Steppin' Out With My Baby
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Heard when Jessica dances

I thought this superior to CARNAL KNOWLEDGE and am a bit surprised by the reaction to it at time of release. After FIVE EASY PIECES and before STAY HUNGRY this '72 film was thrown aside and dismissed. I guess Nicholson wasn't using his eyebrows enough for public taste. Bruce Dern gives a superb performance as his shyster-dreamer brother with big plans. Ellen Burstyn is paranoid justifiably and gives a lovely performance. The young girl Julie Ann Robinson is terrible.

A 7 out of 10. Best performance = Bruce Dern. Throw in Scatman and John Ryan and you have a fascinating mood piece. What happened to Bob Rafelson?