A Thousand Clowns (1965)

Arnold Burns: Murray, you've got a rotten reputation. Even these guys weren't easy to grab. Why do you have to build your own personal blacklist? Why can't you just get blacklisted as a Communist like everybody else?

---

Murray Burns: Five months ago I was on the subway on my way to work, was sitting on the express same as every morning looking out the window watching the local stops go by in the dark with an empty head and my arms folded, not feeling great, not feeling rotten, just not feeling. And for a minute I couldn't remember, I didn't know, unless I really concentrated, whether it was a Tuesday or a Thursday or a... for a minute it could have been any day, Arn.
[Stands up]
Murray Burns: I gotta know what day it is. I gotta know what's the name of the game and what the rules are without anyone else telling me. You gotta own your own days and name 'em, each one of 'em, every one of 'em, or else the years go right by and none of them belong to you. And that ain't just for weekends, kiddo.

---

Albert Amundsen: Miss Markowitz did not show up in Queens yesterday.
Murray Burns: So?
Albert Amundsen: Her parents are quite upset. I am quite upset. Where is she?
Murray Burns: She's hiding in the closet.
Albert Amundsen: We're really all quite anxious to know where she is.
Murray Burns: Well, I'm not kidding, Albert. She's in the closet.
Albert Amundsen: [Goes to closet, opens door, looks in, closes door, walks back] She is in the closet.
Murray Burns: I wouldn't lie to you, Albert.
Albert Amundsen: Why is she in the closet?
Murray Burns: Well, I don't know. She's got this thing about closets.
Albert Amundsen: That's a very silly thing for her to be in that closet.
Murray Burns: Well, don't knock it until you've tried it.

---

read more quotes from A Thousand Clowns...

The original Broadway production of "A Thousand Clowns" by Herb Gardner opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theater in New York on April 5, 1962, ran for 428 performances and was nominated for the 1963 Tony Award for Best Play. Jason Robards, Gene Saks, William Daniels and Barry Gordon recreated their stage roles in the filmed production. Barry Gordon (I)' was nominated for the 1963 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. Sandy Dennis who did not recreate her stage role, won the 1963 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
This movie features a scene where Jason Robards walks in front of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts during its construction.
Barbara Harris's film debut.
read more facts about A Thousand Clowns...