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Walter Matthau stars as Henry Graham, a formerly affluent playboy whose hard-partying antics have drained his vast fortune and left him on the precipice of financial ruin. Deciding he must marry into money to arrest his downfall, he sets his sights on the meek botany professor Henrietta Lowell (played by the film's writer-director Elaine May), whose family riches have left her fabulously wealthy. Their relationship takes a darker turn, however, when Henry realises that life will be even easier for him if Henrietta meets with an unfortunate end.

Described by The New Yorker’s Richard Brody as “one of the best romantic comedies ever made”, this pitch-black classic is a comedy of marriage, murder and megalomania. The film lends a modern sensibility to the screwball genre, exploring the twisted psychology of its self-absorbed protagonist with creativity and meticulous comic dexterity. Despite its tumultuous production — hobbled by studio tension, budget blow-outs and alleged filming mishaps — A New Leaf was a critical and commercial success, marking the debut of May's tragically short directorial career.

Ages 15+