Harvey Middleman, Fireman

Harvey Middleman, Fireman
Directed by Ernest Pintoff
Produced by Robert L. Lawrence
Written by Ernest Pintoff
Starring Eugene Troobnick
Patricia Harty
Arlene Golonka
Hermione Gingold
Music by Ernest Pintoff
Cinematography Karl Malkames
Edited by David Donovan
Hugh A. Robertson Jr.
Distributed by Columbia Pictures Corporation
Release dates
  • July 12, 1965 (1965-07-12)
Running time
76 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Harvey Middleman, Fireman is a 1965 American comedy film written and directed by Ernest Pintoff. It is Pintoff's first feature film, having previously only made shorts

The Film follows the story of a fireman named Harvey Middleman who lives a humble life; he loves his kids, he loves his wife, and he really loves his job. One night Harvey saves a young model from a burning building and it's love at first sight. Harvey then struggles to determine what he should do. Comedy ensues as Harvey often breaks the fourth wall and the film does not take itself seriously at all.

Plot

Harvey Middleman (Eugene Troobnick), a New York City fireman, lives happily in a New Jersey suburb with his wife (Arlene Golonka) and two small children. Harvey loves his life but after a fight with her over dinner one night he imagines himself rescuing a beautiful young girl from a fire. Just as he dreamt it he rescues a young model named Lois (Patricia Harty). Harvey steals a kiss from her as he resuscitates her and the two quickly fall in love. After secretly dating her several times, Harvey decides he must solve his moral dilemma by consulting his psychiatrist Mrs. Koogleman (Hermione Gingold). Mrs. Koogleman however is too preoccupied with her own relationship problems to help Harvey with his conundrum. Another fire breaks out in Lois's apartment, and this time one of Harvey's associates Dinny (Will Mackenzie) rescues Lois while Harvey saves a cat. Lois and Dinny quickly fall in love and Harvey is left to return to his wife.

Cast

Production

Produced by Robert L. Lawrence in association with Ernest Pintoff

Theatrical release

Released 12 Jul 1965 in New York. Also on the bill were there of Pintoff's cartoons: "The Interview," "The Critic" and "The Old Man and the Flower." [1]

Home release

No U.S release but available for purchase at rezarected.com

Critical reception

Enthusiasm for the film was subdued. Bosley Crowther, in The New York Times, wrote "As a matter of fact, the idea for this modestly-made comedy would provide just enough substance for a brisk animated short." and "the vein does not seem to feed as freely into a 75-minute film, performed by human actors, as it does into an 8-minute cartoon"[2] when referring to some of Pintoff's earlier credits, while Craig Butler's AMG review reported that "A satirical fable about middle class life in 1960s America, Middleman starts out promisingly but eventually turns conventional and rather predictable." and "If Middleman disappoints, it's still an off-beat, mildly entertaining little film".[3]

References

"Offbeat Humor but Very Funny". Atty1337: Reviews and Ratings for Harvey Middleman, Fireman (18 May 2004). IMDb. Retrieved 7 May 2014.

Don Bell (11 August 1965). "Boxers, Firemen, Delinquents And Conductors At The Festival." Review of Harvey Middleman, Fireman. The Montreal Gazette, Wednesday ed., Entertainment sec.: 8. Print.

Zelda Heller (18 September 1965). "New Movies In Town." Review of Harvey Middleman, Fireman. The Montreal Gazette, Saturday ed., Entertainment sec.: 22. Print.

"Motion Picture Division Film Script Index (Harvey Middleman, Fireman)." http://iarchives.nysed.gov. New York State Archives, n.d. Web. http%3A%2F%2Fiarchives.nysed.gov%2FMPD%2Frr_other_film_details2.htm.

"ORIGINAL MOVIE POSTER HARVEY MIDDLEMAN FIREMAN 1950'S." EBay. Rexchar, n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. http://www.ebay.com/itm/ORIGINAL-MOVIE-POSTER-HARVEY-MIDDLEMAN-FIREMAN-1950S-/331189502812?pt=AU_Movie_Memorabilia&hash=item4d1c6ec35c.

"HARVEY MIDDLEMAN FIREMAN ORIGINAL 11X14 LOBBY CARD SET OF 8 1965." EBay. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARVEY-MIDDLEMAN-FIREMAN-ORIGINAL-11X14-LOBBY-CARD-SET-OF-8-1965-/310923666195?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item48647ea313 .

"HARVEY MIDDLEMAN FIREMAN-GENE TROOBNICK-PATRICIA HARTY-27X41 POSTER-1965-C VG/FN." EBay. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARVEY-MIDDLEMAN-FIREMAN-GENE-TROOBNICK-PATRICIA-HARTY-27X41-POSTER-1965-C-VG-FN-/231202304353?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35d4bb3161 .

External links

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