Directed by Elaine May • 1976 • United States
Elaine May crafted a gangster film like no other in the nocturnal odyssey MIKEY AND NICKY, capitalizing on the chemistry between frequent collaborators John Cassavetes and Peter Falk by casting them together as small-time mobsters whose lifelong relationship has turned sour. Set over the course of one night, this restless drama finds Nicky (Cassavetes) holed up in a hotel after the boss he stole money from puts a hit out on him. Terrified, he calls on Mikey (Falk), the one person he thinks can save him. Scripted to match the live-wire energy of its stars—alongside supporting players Ned Beatty, Joyce Van Patten, and Carol Grace—and inspired by real-life characters from May’s own childhood, this unbridled portrait of male friendship turned tragic is an unsung masterpiece of American cinema.
This program, featuring new interviews with actor Joyce Van Patten and distributor Julian Schlossberg, explores director Elaine May's approach to the making of MIKEY AND NICKY — from working with actors to the look of the film.
This program, created in 2018, features critic Richard Brody and Carrie Rickey discussing Elaine May's unique achievements in MIKEY AND NICKY and in her film-directing career as a whole.
In this audio interview, conducted in 1976 by Julian Schlossberg for the radio program “Movie Talk,” Peter Falk talks about his work in television and film, including a brief discussion of his role as Mikey in Elaine May's MIKEY AND NICKY.
