The Landlord (1970) - pt 4 - "This house is important to me"

Based on a wonderful novel by African-American writer Kristen Hunter and adapted by the estimable Bill Gunn ("Ganja and Hess"), another African-American,"The Landlord" looms as a template for responsible socio-comic filmmaking.

Beau Bridges - in perhaps his first and last screen role of any relevance - is hugely appealing as Elgar Enders, a clueless rich kid who decides to liberate himself from his repressive family by setting up housekeeping in the Park Slope neighborhood of New York - and this was years before the idea of inner-city gentrification became a reality.

The film consists of one memorable moment after another, fueled by a major (and award-worthy) performance by Diana Sands as one of Bridges's tenants and entertaining supporting turns by Lee Grant (Oscar-nominated), Louis Gossett, Jr., Pearl Bailey, Walter Brooke, Robert Klein, Susan Anspach, Marki Bey, Mel Stewart, Douglas Grant, Will MacKenzie (now a TV director) and in a brief, hilarious bit, dancer Grover Dale.

On the technical side, there's Al Kooper's spot-on song score and the always-reliatable Gordon Willis' shimmering cinematography - so good that it makes even a ghetto setting seem inviting and comparionable.

Beau Bridges... Elgar Winthrop Julius Enders
Lee Grant... Joyce Enders
Diana Sands... Francine MarieJohnson
Pearl Bailey... Marge, Tenant
Walter Brooke... William Enders Sr.

Louis Gossett Jr.... Copee Johnson (as Lou Gossett)
Marki Bey... Lanie
Mel Stewart... Professor Duboise (as Melvin Stewart)
Susan Anspach... Susan Enders
Robert Klein... Peter Coots (as Bob Klein)
Will Mackenzie... William Enders Jr.
Gretchen Walther... Mrs. Doris Enders
Douglas Grant... Walter Gee Copee
Stanley Greene... Heywood the Butler
Oliver Clark... Mr. Farcus

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• The
• Landlord
• Hal
• Ashby
• Beau
• Bridges
• Lee
• Grant
• Diana
• Sands
• interracial
• race
• black
• white
• Al
• Kooper

[ACTINGDRAMA]

This was funny

[tranmere789]

Diana Sands (as Fanny or Francine Johnson on this film) was great actor. She was twice nominated for a Tony Award, and twice nominated for an Emmy Award as well.

She died of leiomyosarcoma aged 39, September 2nd, 1973.

[ACTINGDRAMA]

she died way too young. she doesn't get the recognition she deserves.

[SoShi83]

oh man, the moment she opened her mouth to ask if marge had seen a white man, i recgonized her by her voice alone. it's beneatha from 1961's raisin in a sun! man, i loved her in that film and always wondered what happened to her. i am so happy to see her in this film and so sad to find out she died before she got her full recgonition as an actress. she would have been wonderful in claudine if she hadn't fallen sick and had to give up the part. r.i.p, dear, its greats like u that inspire me most.

[nowatout]

Diana Sands sassiness reminds me of wilona in Good Times

[stillphil]

3:48 funny underhanded way to call your mother a bitch.

[kimmy1984]

Diana Sands was beautiful!

[dyonisiusdony]

Actually I prefer Edgar Fanny (Francine) relationship than Edgar Lannie relationship

[LIawIiet]

. . . LMAOOOOOOO! I was only looking for a sample used in a Jay Z song, but this is interesting.

[InspiredName]

13th of july lol me too! I'd like to read the novel.

[brhmgrant]

the grandfather is funny in that wheel chair ,lou gossett jr when he had hair wow

[zannoah25]

For some reason Fanny(Diana Sands) reminds me of Macy Gray when she was in training day in this role. Her voice and the way she is messing with the landlord.