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Petulia
Dr. Archie Bollen is having a midlife crisis. He's just divorced his wife and is establishing a new life for himself. One night, he catches the eye of Petulia Danner, a charming, free-spirited young woman. Petulia's vibrant personality hides her fear of her abusive husband, David, whose father is a powerful society figure. As Petulia and Archie's feelings for each other grow, they must decide what it is they truly want.
1968 · Directed by Richard Lester · 105 min · Drama · Romance · Screenplay in the scene database · 6 frames
Tagline
People bugged by people will do extraordinary things.
Plot
In San Francisco, Petulia Danner is a young socialite who has been married to David, an architect, for six months. She meets Dr. Archie Bollen, who is divorcing his wife Polo, at a benefit concert for victims of traffic accidents. Petulia has grown romantically attached to Archie when he operated on Oliver, a Mexican boy she adopted. The two go upstairs inside the Hilton Hotel for a one-night stand, but Petulia reconsiders and Archie escorts her to a taxi. The next morning, Petulia impulsively arrives at Archie's apartment with a tuba.
Archie is nonchalant with Petulia and leaves for work. When he returns, Archie finds Petulia outside with the tuba. She boards a bus back home, and Archie unsuccessfully tries to return the tuba. The next day, Polo arrives at Archie's apartment and tells her soon-to-be ex-husband that she is remarrying, which angers him as he considered reconciling. During an afternoon picnic in the park, Archie is with his girlfriend May. Petulia stalks Archie when he arrives at May's apartment, and once more, when she is in his work office. Archie gives into Petulia's romantic pursuit and they spend the night together when she sleeps at his apartment.
After Archie tours Alcatraz Island with his children, he returns to find Petulia severely beaten. The ambulance arrives and while Petulia is hospitalized, Archie watches a Polaroid slide show of family photos with his coworker Barney and his wife Wilma. As Archie watches a roller derby with Polo and their father, David's father visits Petulia in recovery, and she is admitted out of hospital. Archie arrives at the Danners estate and blames David for assaulting Petulia but David states that he was out of town. His father corroborates his story, and Archie leaves angered when Petulia says nothing.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Screenplay: Lawrence B. Marcus
- Cinematography: Nicolas Roeg
- Edited by: Antony Gibbs
- Music: John Barry
- Production design: Tony Walton
- Produced by: Raymond Wagner
Cast
- Julie Christie as Petulia Danner
- George C. Scott as Dr. Archie Bollen
- Richard Chamberlain as Dave Danner
- Arthur Hill as Barney
- Shirley Knight as Polo
- Pippa Scott as May
- Kathleen Widdoes as Wilma
- Richard Dysart as Motel Receptionist
- Ruth Kobart as Nun
- Roger Bowen as Warren
Production
- Country: United Kingdom, United States of America
- Language: Spanish, English
- Studios: Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, Petersham Pictures
- Box office: $1,600,000
- Themes: divorce, socialite
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