MovieChat Forums > A New Leaf (1971) Discussion > Why is this NEVER shown on TV ? SPOILE...

Why is this NEVER shown on TV ? SPOILERS ****

posted 17 years ago by ksf-2
30 replies | jump to latest

SPOILERS below

don't understand why this is NEVER shown on TV; both e. may & w. matthau are big names. Is the humor THAT dry that they think they audience wont get it, or is it an ownership thing? Matthau plays the usual "scheming under the surface" role that he made famous in Charade, Hopscotch, Cactus Flower, and Grumpy old men... he's a meanie, but you root for him, and he turns out to be the nice guy in the end.

Updated Aug 27 2015... just watched "Molly and Me" on TCM. part of that storyline ALSO has the house staff cheating the homeowner for personal gain. although in Molly, its a small part of the plot.

[–] lunaticprophet 17 years ago

At one time this was shown on TV at least once a year. I haven't seen it on TV in many years now but, in the 70s and 80s I would always catch it at least once a year. It is a great movie... very funny, but try as I might I haven't been able to find it on DVD. I'm not sure if it has ever been released on DVD and that's a shame. It's definitely a movie I'd love to add to my collection.

[–] june-sasser 16 years ago

Because that's one less time they could show the cider house rules or something else that is shown 50 times per month!

[–] Larry-115 16 years ago

Because that's one less time they could show the cider house rules or something else that is shown 50 times per month!

Or The Shawshank Redemption, one of the most overrated movies ever.

[–] nutsberryfarm 11 years ago

on tcm right now.

A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.

[–] vontina69 17 years ago

They used to show it on televison late at night and like a fool I didnt tape it now they show junk on tv hate to say it

[–] blackhawkswincup2010 16 years ago

It's not like you're the first to observe that, vontina. Remember the immortal Newton Minow, who coined the line concerning television, "You will observe a vast wasteland." That was in 1961, and he was right then, and he's right now.

I remember they did show this movie on TV in the early 70s. Judith Crist reviewed it (and gushed over it) in TV Guide. She called Matthau a perfect misogynist and May a perfect frump.

[–] suzy8track 15 years ago

I remember seeing this film back in the 90s..but I don't remember what channel I caught it on. Sadly, I have never been able to catch this film again.

[–] Fanchkids 11 years ago

In case you care it's gonna be on Turner Classic Movies tomorrow night at 9.

[–] Jem333 11 years ago

It was on Showtime in 2011 - see the thread "Showing on Showtime!!!" with posts from March 13 to September 29 of that year - including an extended run on Showtime On Demand.

[–] KMPINTJ 11 years ago

On the off chance that someone comes across it tonight (Fri. May 31, 2013), it's on right now on Turner Classic Movies!

[–] activista 11 years ago

It was just shown twice on the new MOVIES digital channel this past week. I actually enjoyed it because I like those weird,dark offbeat in-your-face early '70's comedies (like CATCH-22,COLD TURKEY,LITTLE MURDERS,M.A.S.H.,THE LONGEST YARD,all that.) This is the first time I've seen it, and I liked it right away.

[–] Quicksilver1900 11 years ago

You can watch it on the net - just Google >>watch "A New Leaf" online free.

[–] intofilm 11 years ago

I was overjoyed to see it today on Turner Classic Movies. I LOVE this film and always have, since it first came out.

[–] therealshapeshifter 10 years ago

I saw part of this movie on TV at Christmastime in 1984 while visiting my ex-late-inlaws. I was enjoying the comedy of her having price tags dangling from her clothes when my husband at the time turned it off. I asked him why, but he just shrugged. Today I happened to catch the last 40 minutes or so on TV and laughed again, this time while wondering if my ex realized the husband was planning to murder his wife.

[–] junetenbrown 10 years ago

Movie TV Network, Channel 20.2 in the D.C. metro area, shows this great movie often enough. It was on last night, 6 pm - 8 pm. It is definitely a great, FUNNY, film. It makes you "giggle" no matter how many times you've seen it.

George Rose's Harold the butler is deliciously funny!

Henry: "Harold, what would you do if I lost all my money?"

Harold: "I would leave immediately..."

[–] asimov13647-123-474736 9 years ago

I've seen A New Leaf a couple of times, always on TV. Perhaps now that Mike Nichols is dead his movies and those of Elaine May will start showing up on Encore or TCM or Netflix. A New Leaf is old enough for Netflix but better than their usual fare.

[–] outsdrfilm 9 years ago

It will be on Retro HD tomorrow, Tuesday March 11th, 2015 at 12:40 am Eastern Time, 9:40 West Coast Time. So set your DVR's!

[–] jeddahgal 9 years ago

I agree with you, it doesn't show up nearly enough. I just caught it last week and watching Matthau and May in this film is always enjoyable, it's one of my favorite comedies. I only wish we could see May's original 3-hour version. I was thinking when I was watching it that with the right cast it could be a decent remake, but what two actors would be as funny as M&M? Melissa McCarthy is funny enough to be Henrietta, but they would probably cast Sandra Bullock. Will Farrell as Henry? Maybe. Or Chevy Chase or Jason Sudeikis?

[–] Quicksilver1900 9 years ago

He's too old now of course, but Kelsey Grammar would have been funny. We'd have to go with Will Ferrell.

[–] jeddahgal 9 years ago

You're right -- he's great at doing upper-class twits, but sadly he's a little too long in the tooth for it now.

[–] Quicksilver1900 9 years ago

Also now too old, but Dan Akroyd would have been great.

[–] jeddahgal 9 years ago

I think Akroyd would come the closest to capturing Mathau's take on the character. But I can't think of anyone at the moment that could do what George Rose did with the valet.

[–] Quicksilver1900 9 years ago

Colin Firth?

[–] jeddahgal 9 years ago

He had have to age a bit and lose the educated accent. Or Ian McKellen...or, if he weren't pushing up daisies, Bob Hoskins, if he could have managed to hit that middle ground between a cockney and a middle-class British accent the way Rose did.

[–] Quicksilver1900 9 years ago

George Rose as Harold is one of my all-time favourite characters. Makes me sad to read about his tragic end http://www.alixkirsta.com/articles/georgerose/.

[–] jeddahgal 9 years ago

Yes, it was a while back but was a very sad ending. BTW, A New Leaf is going to be on MPLEX on Comcast on 4/20 at 4:40 am.