Some Kind of a Nut (1969)
89 mins | Comedy | 25 September 1969
Director:
Garson KaninWriter:
Garson KaninProducer:
Walter MirischCinematographers:
Gerald Hirschfeld, Burnett GuffeyEditor:
Richard FarrellProduction Designer:
Albert BrennerProduction Companies:
The Mirisch Corp., DFI--TFT ProductionsOn 14 Jun 1967, DV announced the teaming of producer Walter Mirisch and actor Dick Van Dyke with Garson Kanin, who planned to direct his latest original screenplay titled The One With the Fuzz, beginning the following summer. A 28 May 1968 LAT news item reported that Jessica Walter turned down the role of Van Dyke’s onscreen wife because she did not want to bleach her hair. Florence Henderson was cast instead, but was forced to bow out several months later due to scheduling conflicts when the 10 Oct 1968 DV stated that the bulk of principal photography had been postponed until Jan 1969. The 29 Apr 1967 DV later revealed that she was already committed to star in Song of Norway (1970, see entry), and had secured the leading role of “Carol Brady” in ABC’s The Brady Bunch (26 Sep 1969—8 Mar 1974). Angie Dickinson was hired in her place.
Despite earlier reports of the delay in shooting, the 4 Oct 1968 DV indicated that the film was “already in partial production.” A 15 Jan 1969 LAT item explained that some location shooting in New York City had been completed six months earlier, during the summer of 1968, to take advantage of the weather necessary for “springtime” sequences. The production then took an extended hiatus while Van Dyke completed other film projects, and resumed on the West Coast on 6 Jan 1969, according to a 10 Jan 1969 DV production chart. The 7 Feb 1969 DV stated that ...
On 14 Jun 1967, DV announced the teaming of producer Walter Mirisch and actor Dick Van Dyke with Garson Kanin, who planned to direct his latest original screenplay titled The One With the Fuzz, beginning the following summer. A 28 May 1968 LAT news item reported that Jessica Walter turned down the role of Van Dyke’s onscreen wife because she did not want to bleach her hair. Florence Henderson was cast instead, but was forced to bow out several months later due to scheduling conflicts when the 10 Oct 1968 DV stated that the bulk of principal photography had been postponed until Jan 1969. The 29 Apr 1967 DV later revealed that she was already committed to star in Song of Norway (1970, see entry), and had secured the leading role of “Carol Brady” in ABC’s The Brady Bunch (26 Sep 1969—8 Mar 1974). Angie Dickinson was hired in her place.
Despite earlier reports of the delay in shooting, the 4 Oct 1968 DV indicated that the film was “already in partial production.” A 15 Jan 1969 LAT item explained that some location shooting in New York City had been completed six months earlier, during the summer of 1968, to take advantage of the weather necessary for “springtime” sequences. The production then took an extended hiatus while Van Dyke completed other film projects, and resumed on the West Coast on 6 Jan 1969, according to a 10 Jan 1969 DV production chart. The 7 Feb 1969 DV stated that scenes were shot at Los Angeles, CA’s Garden Court Apartments on Hollywood Boulevard. A 2 Apr 1969 Var brief announced the completion of principal photography.
According to a 24 Jan 1969 LAT article, Van Dyke wore a fake beard for the role, since his natural beard grew in white.
An announcement published in the 13 Jan 1969 DV claimed that Beverly Todd had a role in the picture, while the 14 Feb 1969 edition also reported appearances by belly-dancers Kanen Ciral, Valya Granada, Tania Lemani, Desiree Patterson, and Poupee Bocar.
On 22 Apr 1969, DV announced that the title was changed to Some Kind of a Nut. According to a 30 Jul 1969 Var Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) ratings report, the film was designated with an “M” rating, suggested for mature audiences.
First-run box-office listings in the 1 Oct 1969 Var indicated that the picture was due to open that day in New York City, but had already been playing in theaters in Denver, CO, and Kansas City, MO. Los Angeles showings began one week later.
Reviews were negative, and the 23 Feb 1970 DV suggested that The Mirisch Co. had yet to earn back their investment at the box-office.
Bank teller Fred Amidon, who has three weeks before receiving the final divorce papers from his bossy wife, Rachel, is stung on the chin by a bee while having a picnic in Central Park with co-worker and new fiancée, Pamela Anders. As a result, Fred is unable to shave during a cross-country vacation trip they take. Upon his return to the office, Fred decides, despite Pamela's objections, to keep his now fully-grown beard; and when his boss orders him to shave it off, Fred, who has been a lifelong conformist, refuses. He is promply fired, but he becomes a cause célèbre for his fellow workers, who support him by growing beards and calling a sympathy strike. They are joined in the picket line by a group of hippies and a jazz band. Before long their demonstration attracts the attention of the news media and Fred becomes an overnight television celebrity. Though Rachel is impressed by her husband's newfound independence, Pamela is not, and she schemes to get rid of the beard and restore Fred's position. One night, she drugs Fred's champagne, waits for him to pass out, and enlists her two brothers to give Fred a shave. Fred wakes up when the job is only half done; he flees, attired only in shoes, socks, and undershorts; is chased through the streets; and is eventually arrested in Central Park and taken to a psychiatric ward. Rachel bails him out and effects a reconciliation before their divorce decree becomes final. Once back in his apartment, Fred shaves off his beard--he never liked it ...
Bank teller Fred Amidon, who has three weeks before receiving the final divorce papers from his bossy wife, Rachel, is stung on the chin by a bee while having a picnic in Central Park with co-worker and new fiancée, Pamela Anders. As a result, Fred is unable to shave during a cross-country vacation trip they take. Upon his return to the office, Fred decides, despite Pamela's objections, to keep his now fully-grown beard; and when his boss orders him to shave it off, Fred, who has been a lifelong conformist, refuses. He is promply fired, but he becomes a cause célèbre for his fellow workers, who support him by growing beards and calling a sympathy strike. They are joined in the picket line by a group of hippies and a jazz band. Before long their demonstration attracts the attention of the news media and Fred becomes an overnight television celebrity. Though Rachel is impressed by her husband's newfound independence, Pamela is not, and she schemes to get rid of the beard and restore Fred's position. One night, she drugs Fred's champagne, waits for him to pass out, and enlists her two brothers to give Fred a shave. Fred wakes up when the job is only half done; he flees, attired only in shoes, socks, and undershorts; is chased through the streets; and is eventually arrested in Central Park and taken to a psychiatric ward. Rachel bails him out and effects a reconciliation before their divorce decree becomes final. Once back in his apartment, Fred shaves off his beard--he never liked it anyway.
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