This is the one Coen brothers film that is generally no well liked. It is quirky to be sure, and I think is charming--I love the fantasy element woven into the story. When it was released, however, it was panned by many critics and flopped (utterly) at the box office. Over the years though, it's stock has gone up and now garners an IMDb rating of 7.4 out of 10 with well over 34,000 votes.
Though it shares a lot in common with Raising Arizona (1987) in terms of comedic silliness, the film remains unique in the Coen's catalog. For one thing, aside from Charles Durning and John Mahoney, it doesn't really have any of the Coen's "regular actors." It is also meant to be a parable, which most other Coen brothers films do not approach at all. The Coen's are known for having an "old man role" in their films, this is the only one that begins with the "old man" offing himself--and in such a spectacular way! One of the things that makes this movie look so much different from other Coen films is the exclusive use of Ariflex cameras (a Stanley Kubrick favorite) and Ziess Lenses--no panavision here. It gives them film a big but intemeinte feel.
I like it for two reasons: 1) it's about high finance, stocks, etc--it's a financial fantasy; 2) it is set during New Year's--so it's also a holiday selection. I work as a independent stock trader myself, so I appreciate the evils of stock manipulation and market fomenting. And, honestly, I can't for a minute figure out how a section that was entitled "The Hudsucker Proxy" that was intended as segment in Evil Dead II (1987), morphed into giddy business flick starring Tim Robibns and the late great Paul Newman! But somehow it did!
Trivia:
The amusing suicide of Warring Hudsucker (Charles Derning) was inspired by a real event. On Feb. 3 1975 United Fruit Company CEO Eli Black busted a window in his 44th floor office on the Pan Am Building with his briefcase and jumped.
In Raising Arizona factory workers can be seen wearing uniforms bearing the name "Hudsucker Industries."
John Goodman, a favorite actor of the Coen's, plays a character in Barton Fink (1991) that sometimes goes by the name Karl Mundt, Goodman makes a cameo in this film as an announcer, he credited as Karl Mundt.
As mentioned above, "hudsucker proxy" was part of an incantation in the Book of the Dead in Evil Dead II.
Specs:
Runtime: 111 min.
Rated: PG
Release Date: 11 March 1994
Color & Black and White
Language: English
Filming Location: Chicago (but it's supposed to be New York)
Tagline: A Comedy of Invention
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| "You know, for kids" |
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