To escape sinful impulses, Ben Harvey, a callow youth, leaves his small town for Chicago in 1910. A pickpocket promptly relieves him of his money, and he nearly starves before Queen Lil takes him under her wing, gives him a room in her...
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Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Beau Bridges | ... |
Ben Harvey
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| Melina Mercouri | ... |
Lil
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| Brian Keith | ... |
Francis Sullivan
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| George Kennedy | ... |
Axel P. Johanson
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| Hume Cronyn | ... |
Tim Grogan
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| Margot Kidder | ... |
Adeline
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| Roy Poole | ... |
Dunne
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| Wilfrid Hyde-White | ... |
The Governor
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| Melodie Johnson | ... |
Lilah Letterby
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| John Randolph | ... |
Father
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| Charles Tyner | ... |
Dr. Lazarus
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| Joan Huntington | ... |
Kitty
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Merie Earle | ... |
Granny
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| Claudia Bryar | ... |
Mother
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| Eric Shea | ... |
Virgil Harvey
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| Roy Barcroft | ... |
Dr. Gorson
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James V. Christy | ... |
Frankie Piano
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J.S. Johnson | ... |
Anarchist
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| Harry Holcombe | ... |
Stranger on Train
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Tom Peters | ... |
Poet
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| Harvey Jason | ... |
Quinn
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Maggie Olesen | ... |
Mrs. Krump
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Les Podewell | ... |
Minister
(as Les Podwell)
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Martin Harvey Friedberg | ... |
Photographer
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Nikita Knatz | ... |
Chauffeur
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Lynnea Larson | ... |
Sissy
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Adele Yoshioka | ... |
Suzuki
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Jackie Boncy | ... |
Claudet
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Jade Manhattan | ... |
Martine
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| Lisa Todd | ... |
Fanny
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Carole Lamond | ... |
Phalinx
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Mardie March | ... |
Mabel
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Anthony Deuster | ... |
Boy with ice cream
(as Anthony Duester)
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| Peter Brocco | ... |
Swami (uncredited)
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| Cliff Emmich | ... |
(uncredited)
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Clarke Gordon | ... |
Wally Hill (uncredited)
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| Don Keefer | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Nora Marlowe | ... |
(uncredited)
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Directed by
| Norman Jewison | ||
Written by
| Abram S. Ginnes | ... | (screenplay) |
| Ben Hecht | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
| Hal Ashby | ... | associate producer |
| Norman Jewison | ... | producer |
Music by
| Henry Mancini | ||
Cinematography by
| Richard H. Kline | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Byron 'Buzz' Brandt | ... | (as Byron W. Brandt) |
| Ralph E. Winters | ||
| Hal Ashby | ... | (uncredited) |
Editorial Department
| James D. Young | ... | assistant film editor (as Jim Young) |
Casting By
| Lynn Stalmaster | ||
Production Design by
| Robert F. Boyle | ... | (as Robert Boyle) |
Art Direction by
| George B. Chan | ||
Set Decoration by
| Edward G. Boyle | ... | (as Edward Boyle) |
Costume Design by
| Ray Aghayan | ||
Makeup Department
| Del Armstrong | ... | makeup artist |
| Sugar Blymyer | ... | hair stylist (as Maryce J. Bates) |
| Naomi Cavin | ... | hair stylist (as Naomi A. Cavin) |
| Lynn Del Kail | ... | hair stylist |
| Mr. Kenneth | ... | hair styles designer: Miss Mercouri (as Kenneth) |
Production Management
| Joe L. Cramer | ... | unit manager |
| Patrick J. Palmer | ... | production manager |
| Allen K. Wood | ... | production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Mike Moder | ... | first assistant director |
| Philip L. Parslow | ... | second assistant director |
| Wendell Franklin | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Sam Gordon | ... | property master |
| Joseph Hurley | ... | sketch artist (as Joseph F. Hurley) |
| Nikita Knatz | ... | illustrator |
| William Maldonado | ... | construction coordinator |
Sound Department
| Robert Martin | ... | sound |
| Clem Portman | ... | sound re-recordist |
| James Richard | ... | sound editor (as James A. Richard) |
Special Effects by
| Sass Bedig | ... | special effects |
Visual Effects by
| Albert Whitlock | ... | matte artist |
Stunts
| Bruce Paul Barbour | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Bob Bralver | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Bob Herron | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Whitey Hughes | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| John Moio | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Pat Blymyer | ... | gaffer (as Patrick R. Blymyer) |
| Wilbur Gossman | ... | camera operator |
| Marvin L. Gunter | ... | camera operator (as Marvin Gunter) |
| Gaylin P. Schultz | ... | key grip |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Angela Alexander | ... | costumer: women |
| Wesley Jeffries | ... | costumer: men (as Wes Jefferies) |
| Marjorie Plecher | ... | costumer: women |
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Larry DeWaay | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Richard Carruth | ... | music editor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Bob Forrest | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Paula Giokaris | ... | forelady (as Paula G. Giokaris) |
| Jerry Howard | ... | assistant to producer |
Production Companies
Distributors
- United Artists (1969) (United States) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1969) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1970) (Argentina) (theatrical) (as Artistas Unidos)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1976) (United States) (tv) (original airing)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
To escape sinful impulses, Ben Harvey, a callow youth, leaves his small town for Chicago in 1910. A pickpocket promptly relieves him of his money, and he nearly starves before Queen Lil takes him under her wing, gives him a room in her high-class bordello, and gets him a job at a newspaper. He's so sweet and dumb, he thinks Lil's is a boarding house. He's soon caught up in an electoral struggle between a secretly corrupt reformer and an openly corrupt councilman. Can Ben expose corruption or will he be caught up in allure of power? An alcoholic investigative reporter and the bordello's ingénue try to help him grow up.
Written by |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Ben Harvey's juices are all dammed up. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $8,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Film debut of Margot Kidder. See more » |
| Goofs | In a seduction scene, Melodie Johnson tears open Beau Bridges' shirt, revealing a smooth chest. They are interrupted by George Kennedy who chases Bridges out of the house. When Bridges turns to shout back at Kennedy, his shirt is still unbuttoned but there is hair all over his chest. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Tomorrow Is My Friend See more » |
| Quotes |
Francis Sullivan:
Ahh, he's stone cold dead. See more » |