Alt Name: | The Birk |
Genre: | Comedy |
Director: | Robert Moore |
Starring: | Gene Wilder Ellen Burstyn Bob Newhart Cloris Leachman Nancy Walker Valerie Harper Norman Fell Rob Reiner Martha Scott |
Music: | Billy Goldenberg |
Country: | United States |
Language: | English |
Producer: | James L. Brooks |
Editor: | Diane Adler Fredric Steinkamp |
Cinematography: | Joseph Biroc |
Runtime: | 100 minutes |
Company: | ABC Circle Films |
Network: | ABC |
Thursday's Game (also known as The Berk) is a 1974 American made-for-television comedy film starring Gene Wilder and Bob Newhart, written by James L. Brooks and directed by Robert Moore. Though filmed in 1971, it was originally broadcast April 14, 1974, on ABC.
In addition to Wilder and Newhart, Thursday's Game starred many actors familiar to 1970s television viewers including John Archer, Ellen Burstyn, Norman Fell, Cloris Leachman, Valerie Harper, Rob Reiner, Richard Schaal, Martha Scott and Nancy Walker. The film was lauded by critics for its perceptive look at adult relationships, and furthered James L. Brooks's reputation as a writer and producer.
Harry Evers and Marvin Ellison are long time friends who meet each Thursday to play poker and get away from their wives. After the weekly game breaks up over a disagreement, the two men decide to continue meeting for other activities, which leads to friendship and rivalry as the men's lives take on very different paths.