Main Cast: Richard Benjamin, Karen Black, Lee Grant, Jack Somack, Jeannie Berlin
Release Year: 1972
Country: US
Run Time: 101 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Screenwriter Ernest Lehman, whose credits include the screenplays for North by Northwest, Sabrina, West Side Story, and The Sweet Smell of Success, made a less than distinguished debut as a director with this adaptation of Philip Roth's controversial novel about Alexander Portnoy (Richard Benjamin), a Jewish man who, during a session with his analyst, goes on one long tirade after another about his family, his childhood, his sexual fantasies and desires, his problems with women, and his obsession with his own Judaism. If ever there was a novel that by its nature would defy accurate presentation onscreen, this was it; but for all its flaws, Portnoy's Complaint does feature a few good performances, most notably Karen Black as Portnoy's Gentile lust object, "The Monkey," Jeannie Berlin as the memorably named local slattern Bubbles Girardi, and Jill Clayburgh as Naomi, a woman Portnoy meets in Israel. Lehman never directed again. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Jill Clayburgh - Naomi; D.P. Barnes - Dr. Otto Spielvogel; Tony Brande - Cab Driver; John Carradine - Judge; Francesca de Sapio - Lina; Mike de Anda - Mr. Harero; Renee Lippin - Hannah Portnoy; William Pabst - Inn Clerk; Lewis J. Stadlen - Mandel; Carmen Zapata - Mrs. Harero; Eleanor Zee - Woman in Hospital Bed; Kevin Conway - Smolka; Jessica Rains - Girl In Office
Credit
Harold Michelson - Art Director, Moss Mabry - Costume Designer, D. Michael Moore - First Assistant Director, Ernest Lehman - Director, Sam O'Steen - Editor, Gordon Scott - Editor, Michel Legrand - Composer (Music Score), Michel Legrand - Musical Direction/Supervision, Charles Schram - Makeup, Robert F. Boyle - Production Designer, Philip H. Lathrop - Cinematographer, Sidney Beckerman - Producer, Ernest Lehman - Producer, George R. Nelson - Set Designer, Bruce Wright - Sound/Sound Designer, Ernest Lehman - Screenwriter, Philip Roth - Book Author
