History Film / AThousandClowns

Murray Burns (Robards) is an unemployed television writer, who has been jobless for five months, since he left his previous gig writing for children's show ''Chuckles the Chipmunk''. Murray is guardian to his 12-year-old nephew Nick (Gordon), who has been with Murray since Nick's irresponsible mother dropped Nick off seven years ago and disappeared.

When Nick writes an essay for his school about the wonders of unemployment insurance, the school contacts the Child Welfare Board. Two social workers are sent to the studio apartment shared by Murray and Nick. The female social worker, Sandra Markowitz (Harris), is utterly charmed by Murray and soon falls in love with him. However the male social worker, Albert (Daniels), is outraged by Murray's joblessness and free-spirited attitude, and recommends that Nick be removed from Murray's custody. In order to maintain custody over the boy, Murray must do what he dreads most--get a job.

''A Thousand Clowns'' is a 1965 film directed by Fred Coe, starring Creator/JasonRobards, Creator/BarbaraHarris, Barry Gordon, Martin Balsam, Gene Saks, and Creator/WilliamDaniels.

* DepartmentOfChildDisservices: {{Subverted}}: the Child Welfare Board, personified by [[DesignatedAntagonist Albert]], recommends that Nick be taken away from Murray, who from an outside perspective appears to be a sub-optimal parent at best.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/a_thousand_clowns_film_poster.jpg]]

The film was adapted from Herb Gardner's 1962 Broadway play of the same name. Pretty much everyone in the cast except for Barbara Harris was reprising their stage roles.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Nick's "favorite toy" is Bubbles, a battery-powered electric statue shaped like a topless hula dancer whose chest "lights up". Even Albert appears to have a "strange interest" in Bubbles...

''A Thousand Clowns'' is a 1965 film directed by Fred Coe, starring Jason Robards, Creator/BarbaraHarris, Barry Gordon, Martin Balsam, Gene Saks, and Creator/WilliamDaniels.

* DepartmentOfChildDisservices: {{Subverted}}: the Child Welfare Board, personified by [[DeignatedVillain Albert]], recommends that Nick be taken away from Murray, who from an outside perspective appears to be a sub-optimal parent at best.

* DepartmentOfChildDisservices: Naturally, the Child Welfare Board, personified by Albert the prick, recommends that Nick be taken away from Murray.

Murray Burns (Robards) is an unemployed television writer, who has been jobless for five months, since he left his previous gig writing for children's show "Chuckles the Chipmunk". Murray is guardian to his 12-year-old nephew Nick (Gordon), who has been with Murray since Nick's irresponsible mother dropped Nick off seven years ago and disappeared.

* TitleThemeTune: The song "A Thousand Clowns" was co-written by Oscar-winning actress Judy Holliday, in what was her last film credit, as Holliday died of cancer before this movie was released.

Was nominated for four {{Academy Award}}s, including Best Picture, and won one for Best Supporting Actor (Balsam).

''A Thousand Clowns'' is a 1965 film directed by Fred Coe, starring Jason Robards, Barbara Harris, Barry Gordon, Martin Balsam, Gene Saks, and Creator/WilliamDaniels.

* DepravedKidsShowHost: Chuckles the Chipmunk (a.k.a., Leo Herman) is not so much depraved as he is egotistical, boorish, insulting, self-hating, neurotic, and desperately unfunny. He also, by his own admission, doesn't "get along too good with kids." ([[MerchandiseDriven And the self-named brand of potato chips he shills on his program]] [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking is lousy too.]])

''A Thousand Clowns'' is a 1965 film directed by Fred Coe, starring Creator/JasonRobards, Barbara Harris, Barry Gordon, Martin Balsam, Gene Saks, and Creator/WilliamDaniels.

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_0672_6.JPG]]

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_0672_6.JPG]]

Adaptation of a stage play. Pretty much everyone in the cast except for Barbara Harris was reprising their stage roles.

Was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture and won one for Best Supporting Actor (Balsam).

* TitleThemeTune: The song "A Thousand Clowns" was co-written by Oscar-winning actress Judy Holliday, in what was her last film credit, as Holliday died of cancer before this movie was released.

Adaptation of a stage play. Pretty much everyone in the cast except for Barbara Harris was reprising their stage roles. Was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture and won one for Best Supporting Actor (Balsam).

Adaptation of a stage play. Pretty much everyone in the cast except for Barbara Harris was reprising their stage roles.

''A Thousand Clowns'' is a 1965 film directed by Fred Coe, starring Creator/JasonRobards.

Murray Burns (Robards) is an unemployed television writer, who has been jobless for five months, since he left his previous gig writing for children's show "Chuckles the Chipmunk". Murray is guardian to his 12-year-old nephew Nick, who has been with Murray since Nick's irresponsible mother dropped Nick off seven years ago and disappeared.

When Nick writes an essay for his school about the wonders of unemployment insurance, the school contacts the Child Welfare Board. Two social workers are sent to the studio apartment shared by Murray and Nick. The female social worker, Sandra Markowitz (Barbara Harris), is utterly charmed by Murray and soon falls in love with him. However the male social worker, Albert (Creator/WilliamDaniels), is outraged by Murray's joblessness and free-spirited attitude, and recommends that Nick be removed from Murray's custody. In order to maintain custody over the boy, Murray must do what he dreads most--get a job.

* ShoutOut: The aliases Nick uses are real people. Dr. Morris Fishbein was editor of the "Journal of the American Medical Association" for 26 years. Creator/RafaelSabatini was the author of many adventure novels, including the original ''Captain Blood''.