Today is (was) my birthday, so this particular film seems to fit the bill. It's a charming coming of age story about Francis Geminiani (Alan Rosenberg), the son of a gregarious, working class Italian father (Robert Viharo) living in South Philly. Francis is home for the summer from Harvard where he attends on scholarship. He's having some trouble dealing with the culture clash of Harvard vs. South Philly, so when two of his friends from school arrive for a few days unexpectedly he's not quite sure what to do about it. The neighbors are like family - Lucille (Moreno) is his father's girlfriend, and a prim motherly type, but she has a secret, Bunny Weinberger - nee Murphy (Kahn) is the single mother next door who used to be a chorus girl, her style is loud and obnoxious, but, like all the people in the film, her heart is huge. Her son Herschel (Timothy Jenkins) is awkward in oh, so many ways with his asthma, fascination with the history of public transportation and his eagerness to please. Into this mix comes Judith and Randy Hastings, two wealthy WASPs traveling the country on their summer vacation. Judith has a crush on Francis, but he can't return the favor because he thinks he has a crush on Randy.
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The scene above is a turning point for Bunny. She's decided she's had enough and is going to end it all. It was uploaded to YouTube by rppr666. Disregard the incorrect aspect ratio. Madeline Kahn isn't fat in the film. This isn't available on DVD yet, but it was released on VHS and can still be found. It can also be watched in its entirety on YouTube, but the uploader has disabled embedding. Click this link to watch: http://youtu.be/46E-tRiXV2M
Obscurity factor: 9 (not well known, not on DVD, available on YouTube)
On 1st viewing I thought Bunny/Lucille was a double role until I read your text closer. Obscure indeed! You're filling in all my blank spots from the '80s, Ben. Would like to see extended scenes of "Harvard" (David Marshall Grant?) in the pup tent ...
ReplyDeletePS-- & tomorrow it's: J-Lo's BDay!!!
Yes, Grant is adorable in this. Did you see the scene with him in nothing but a speedo?
ReplyDelete¡me la voy a buscar! Not yet, gonna look for it!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that for all the well-known movies (including some classics) that Madeline Kahn was in, she seemed to have been in an equal number of obscurities. Have you heard of "Slapstick of Another Kind" with Jerry Lewis?
ReplyDeleteWow, no, thank you. Look for it in an upcoming post!
ReplyDeleteGlad to help! I saw some of it back in 1984 on HBO, I believe. It was bizarre. I have never seen it in the TV listings since!
ReplyDeleteI just watched a clip on YouTube. It does look weird...
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday and THANKS for sharing all these treasures with us!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's my pleasure...
ReplyDeleteFound the baby blue Speedo scene! YouTube Pt 4 (of5) +/- minutes 12-17. Lucky some-butty ... :P
ReplyDelete