If A New Leaf was a romantic comedy with a tinge of attempted murder that ultimately gave way to sweetness, The Heartbreak Kid is a murderless romantic comedy that is much more brutal. Directed by Elaine May and written by Neil Simon, The Heartbreak Kid tells the story of Lenny Cantrow (Charles Grodin), a newlywed who falls out of love with his wife Lila (Jeannie Berlin) during their honeymoon, only to become infatuated with the beautiful and unattainable Kelly (Cybill Shepherd). What ensues is maybe the earliest example of what today we might call cringe comedy. And, despite the film attaining a classic status, good luck finding it by traditional means.
Today’s show features insights from Elizabeth Purchell, Carrie Courogen, Ethan Warren, and Matt Singer about the film’s production history, bizarre distribution purgatory, and legacy. Purchell is currently working with theaters around the country to bring The Heartbreak Kid back to the big screen from a newly discovered print. Courogen is the author of the upcoming Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood’s Hidden Genius, which will be available wherever you get books on June 4th. Warren wrote about The Heartbreak Kid in his Bright Wall/Dark Room essay “Still Heartbroken After All These Years.” And Singer is the author of Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever.
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Tune in next week for our episode on Mikey and Nicky.
17. Finding The Heartbreak Kid