The Landlord (1970) - pt 14 - "God bless the children"

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

[lizajane54]

Thanks- saw this at 16 with Mom. Beau was great in it and I thought, at the time cute, too.

[tranmere789]

I saw this first time in that summer i quit army (compulsary service in my country), long, long time ago. I loved this film and still love it. It's one of my favs.

[swdanielson]

This is a powerful movie with a powerful message. I really enjoyed it. Now, i'm going to search for the novel so i can read it too. Thanks for posting this obscure classic! Peace.

[eesstteeffaanniiaa]

so great that you post it....probably i couldnt watch it if you didnt ...so Thank you!!!

[getclutch72]

Diana Sands deserved an Oscar Nomination.

[MadScout]

@maryray10: I don't know about that. Eiger needed to grow up mentally. He's the father of a mixed-race child, and he owes it to his son to tell him who he is. Laine helps out, being a mixed-race person herself.

[iloveme40893]

cool ass movie................

[sexymama1966]

Beau was definitely a hottie back in the day

[DanielBowden1975]

Ashby really was different class. Many thanks for posting tranmere789

[grumpirah]

well if he ain't a luck sob for lainey taking his sorry butt back with a baby in tow.

[maryray10]

@phunkidruma nope. he was a good guy but silly. he was nice n caring to many ppl which is rare. he didnt have much of an happy ending, the only good thing is his girl took him back

[maryray10]

@barenuku lol so true

[LadieTiger]

I loved this movie when I saw it on TCM a while ago & they haven't played it since. Glad I found it here.

[barenuku]

Ha! Ha! Looks like Beau (Elgar) went Black and never went back! Even though they were light-skinned women, it still counts. I just wonder how it would have worked out in real life between Diana and her man...hell hath no wrath like a black man scorned.