A New Leaf 1971

A New Leaf

Critics Consensus

Elaine May is a comedic dynamo both behind and in front of the camera in this viciously funny screwball farce, with able support provided by Walter Matthau.

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A New Leaf Photos

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Movie Info

A spoiled and self-absorbed man who has squandered his inheritance, Henry Graham (Walter Matthau) is desperate to find a way to maintain his lavish lifestyle. Henry sees an opportunity when he meets Henrietta Lowell (Elaine May), an awkward and bookish heiress. Though Henry courts Henrietta, he has no intention of remaining with her, and he develops a surprisingly sinister scheme. As Henry attempts to execute his plan, he finds that seeing it through may not be as easy as he had thought.

Rating:

G
Genre:

comedy
Original Language:

English
Director:

Elaine May
Producer:

Joseph Manduke, Hillard Elkins, Howard W. Koch
Writer:

Elaine May
Release Date (Streaming):

Aug 10, 2016
Runtime:

1h 42m
Production Co:

Paramount

Cast & Crew

Walter Matthau
Henry Graham

Elaine May
Henrietta Lowell

Jack Weston
Andy McPherson

George Rose
Harold

William Redfield
Beckett

James Coco
Uncle Harry

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for A New Leaf

All Critics (35) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (35)

The wistful, fierce integrity of these personalities, viewed with a detached amusement, allows the film to bypass the usual agenda of subjects (sex, the System, etc.) of current comedy... and lends a particular vivacity to the comic set-pieces.

February 12, 2020 | Full Review…

Richard Combs
Sight and Sound
A New Leaf that represents the more miraculous achievement in wresting from domestic torment a plausibly happy ending. Or rather, an ending that is realistic about the compromises required to be happy.

January 8, 2019 | Full Review…

Ryan Gilbey
Sight and Sound
This character study should not be as funny as it is.

January 8, 2019 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
Reveals the essence of marital love more brutally than many confrontational melodramas.

February 6, 2017 | Full Review…

Richard Brody
New Yorker
A film of such wit and comic invention that it belongs among the great American comedies.

December 13, 2013 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

Calum Marsh
Village Voice
It's sophisticated and funny, adroitly put together for the most part.

March 26, 2009 | Full Review…

Variety Staff
Variety
A New Leaf is a silly movie and I mean that as a compliment. It is silly as in fun and escape and lotsa laughs and as in "people go to the movies to be entertained" -- and why not? It is whacky and it is full of wacky people.

January 22, 2019 | Full Review…

Tony Mastroianni
Cleveland Press
Director Elaine May belongs to that list of otherwise male creative geniuses who naturally clash with the commercial system, including Erich Von Stroheim, Orson Welles, and Otto Preminger.

January 8, 2019 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…

Michael Barrett
PopMatters
In some ways a throwback to the screwball comedies of the 1930s, A NEW LEAF often recalls several of them in its satire, inventiveness and wit.

January 8, 2019 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

TV Guide Staff
TV Guide
A Manhattan fairy tale with a wonderfully mordant edge.

January 8, 2019 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Tom Hutchinson
Radio Times
A New Leaf is a special film from a special filmmaker.

October 30, 2018 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Full Review…

Sean Mulvihill
FanboyNation.com
I watched this movie on a flight back from San Francisco and was laughing so hard that I'm pretty sure my surly teenage seatmate wanted to kill me.

October 24, 2018 | Full Review…

Lindsay Pugh
Woman in Revolt

View All Critic Reviews (35)

Audience Reviews for A New Leaf

Oct 29, 2018

The ending is a bit hard to buy (which is a flaw that should be attributed to the producer who re-cut the film against Elaine May's wishes), but still this is a refreshing and extremely funny comedy that benefits from an excellent script and Matthau's hilarious performance.

Carlos M Super Reviewer
Jun 08, 2014

Its a shame we never have and probably never will see May's original three hour cut because as wonderfully weird and funny as the current version is, the film's energy does fizzle out towards the end. Perhaps with the darker subplots restored this could change, but since that is unlikely I'll take the sweet, oddball romantic comedy we got instead.

Alec B Super Reviewer
Oct 15, 2010

Why have I not heard of this movie before?! Walther Matthau was great as a scheming playboy & I only just found out here that Elaine May directed & starred.A VERY good movie & a great ending.I loved it

Brody M Super Reviewer
Aug 06, 2007

It's great--unique, funny, bizarre.

Morris N Super Reviewer