The House of Blue Leaves (film) explained

Director:Kirk Browning
Jerry Zaks
Starring:Swoosie Kurtz
John Mahoney
Christine Baranski
Julie Hagerty
Ben Stiller
Richard Portnow
Country:United States
Language:English
Editor:Alfred Müller
Runtime:113 minutes
Network:PBS

The House of Blue Leaves is a 1987 television play adapted from the John Guare play of the same title.

Summary

The telefilm is set in Sunnyside, Queens in 1965, the day of Pope Paul VI's visit to New York City. The black comedy focuses on Artie Shaughnessy, a zookeeper who dreams of making it big in Hollywood as a songwriter, and his wife Bananas, a schizophrenic destined for the institution that provides the play's title. Artie wants to take his girlfriend Bunny with him to Hollywood. The story features nuns eager to see the Pope, a political bombing, and Ronnie, Artie's son, a GI headed for Vietnam who goes AWOL.

Cast and characters

Source:IMDb;[1] tv.com

Production

The telefilm was directed by Kirk Browning and Jerry Zaks, and was filmed on-stage before a live audience at the Plymouth Theatre. The telefilm was broadcast in May 1987 on the PBS series American Playhouse.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093222/ The House of Blue Leaves
  2. http://www.tv.com/shows/american-playhouse/the-house-of-blue-leaves-939094/cast/ "The House of Blue Leaves Cast and Crew"
  3. Drake, Silvie. "Tv Review : The Force Is Still With 'House Of Blue Leaves'" Los Angeles Times, 25 May 1987
  4. Roberts, Jerry. "Jerry Zaks", Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors, Scarecrow Press, 2009,, p. 640
  5. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/464995/House-of-Blue-Leaves-The/ '"The House of Blue Leaves' Film"