Funny Farm (film)
Encyclopedia
Funny Farm is a 1988 film starring Chevy Chase
and Madolyn Smith
. The film was adapted
from a 1985 comedic novel of the same name
by Jay Cronley
. It was the final film to be directed by George Roy Hill
.
sports writer who moves with his wife, Elizabeth (Madolyn Smith) to the seemingly charming town of Redbud, Vermont
, so he can write a novel
. They do not get along well with the residents, and other quirks arise such as the Farmers being given funeral bills for a long-dead man buried on their land long before they acquired the house
. Marital troubles soon arise from the quirkiness of Redbud as well as the fact that Elizabeth was critical of Andy's manuscript
, while secretly getting her ideas for children's books published. They soon decide to divorce
, and entice the town's residents with a $15,000 donation to Redbud, as well as a $50 cash bonus to whoever would appear as a friendly small town person in the presence of prospective home buyers visiting the area, which causes everyone in Redbud to join in on the charade of remaking their quirky town into a Rockwellesque
small town. The townspeople's charade dazzles a pair of prospective buyers, who make the Farmers an offer on the house; however, Andy declines to sell, realizing that he genuinely enjoys small-town living. He and Elizabeth decide to stay together and stay in Redbud, much to the chagrin
of the locals, who are now angry that they lost their promised money. Ultimately, the mayor does not hold the Farmers liable for the $15,000, as the sale of their house did not occur, which had been the deal that the donation would occur after sale. However, because the people did do their part of appearing like friendly small-town folk, Andy decides to pay everyone in Redbud their $50, which helps to significantly improve his standing among the townspeople. The film ends with Andy taking a job as a sports writer for the Redbud newspaper, and Elizabeth, now pregnant with their first child, has written multiple children's stories.
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
and Madolyn Smith
Madolyn Smith Osborne
Madolyn Smith Osborne is an American actress.Madolyn Smith Osborne may be best-known for her roles in the TV miniseries If Tomorrow Comes and the feature film Funny Farm, which co-starred Chevy Chase. In 1984, she appeared in 2010, with Roy Scheider...
. The film was adapted
Film adaptation
Film adaptation is the transfer of a written work to a feature film. It is a type of derivative work.A common form of film adaptation is the use of a novel as the basis of a feature film, but film adaptation includes the use of non-fiction , autobiography, comic book, scripture, plays, and even...
from a 1985 comedic novel of the same name
Funny Farm (novel)
Funny Farm is a comedic novel written by author Jay Cronley and published in 1985. In 1988 it was adapted into a film of the same name, starring actor Chevy Chase....
by Jay Cronley
Jay Cronley
Jay Cronley is a columnist for the Tulsa World and the author of many works of humorous fiction, including Fall Guy, Good Vibes, Quick Change, and Funny Farm. Most of Cronley's work is out of print. Cronley became a member of the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame in 2002. Many of Cronley's novels...
. It was the final film to be directed by George Roy Hill
George Roy Hill
George Roy Hill was an American film director. He is most noted for directing such films as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting, which both starred the acting duo Paul Newman and Robert Redford...
.
Plot
Andy Farmer (Chevy Chase), a New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
sports writer who moves with his wife, Elizabeth (Madolyn Smith) to the seemingly charming town of Redbud, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, so he can write a novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
. They do not get along well with the residents, and other quirks arise such as the Farmers being given funeral bills for a long-dead man buried on their land long before they acquired the house
Phantom debt
Phantom debt or zombie debt is debt that is not legally owed, but that is somehow haunting the presumed debtor. It generally refers to debt that was never owed, was owed by a deceased parent, or that was previously owed by the presumed debtor, but was previously paid in full, settled, discharged...
. Marital troubles soon arise from the quirkiness of Redbud as well as the fact that Elizabeth was critical of Andy's manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
, while secretly getting her ideas for children's books published. They soon decide to divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
, and entice the town's residents with a $15,000 donation to Redbud, as well as a $50 cash bonus to whoever would appear as a friendly small town person in the presence of prospective home buyers visiting the area, which causes everyone in Redbud to join in on the charade of remaking their quirky town into a Rockwellesque
Norman Rockwell
Norman Percevel Rockwell was a 20th-century American painter and illustrator. His works enjoy a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of American culture. Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life scenarios he created for The Saturday Evening...
small town. The townspeople's charade dazzles a pair of prospective buyers, who make the Farmers an offer on the house; however, Andy declines to sell, realizing that he genuinely enjoys small-town living. He and Elizabeth decide to stay together and stay in Redbud, much to the chagrin
Chagrin
Chagrin may refer to:*The Chagrin River*Chagrin Falls, Ohio*Chagrin Falls Township, Cuyahoga County, Ohio*Chagrin Falls High School...
of the locals, who are now angry that they lost their promised money. Ultimately, the mayor does not hold the Farmers liable for the $15,000, as the sale of their house did not occur, which had been the deal that the donation would occur after sale. However, because the people did do their part of appearing like friendly small-town folk, Andy decides to pay everyone in Redbud their $50, which helps to significantly improve his standing among the townspeople. The film ends with Andy taking a job as a sports writer for the Redbud newspaper, and Elizabeth, now pregnant with their first child, has written multiple children's stories.
Cast
- Chevy Chase as Andy Farmer
- Madolyn Smith as Elizabeth Farmer
- Kevin O'MorrisonKevin O'MorrisonKevin O'Morrison is an American playwright and actor. He started his career working as an actor in theatre, radio, television, and film in the 1940s. He began writing plays in the 1960s, most of which have been performed Off-Broadway and in theatres throughout the United States, and two of which...
as Sheriff Ledbetter - Mike StarrMike Starr (actor)Michael "Mike" Starr is an American actor. Starr is notable for his large size, standing 6 ft 3 1/2 in , and has typically been typecast as thugs or henchmen....
and Glenn PlummerGlenn PlummerGlenn E. Plummer is an American film and television actor.Plummer was born in Richmond, California. He has appeared in numerous films and television series, primarily in supporting roles or small bit parts, such as High Top in Colors. His prominent roles came in the films Menace II Society, Speed,...
as Crocker and Mickey, the movers - Kevin Conway as Crumb Petrie, the mailman (uncredited)
- Joseph MaherJoseph MaherJoseph Maher was an Irish character actor who appeared in 43 films and was nominated for three Tony Awards and a Drama Desk Award for his supporting roles on the stage.-Career:...
as Michael Sinclair, the publisher - Bill FagerbakkeBill FagerbakkeWilliam Mark "Bill" Fagerbakke is an American actor and voice actor. He is well-known for his long-running-roles as Patrick Star in the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants and "Dauber" Dybinski on the sitcom Coach....
and Nicholas WymanNick WymanNick Wyman is an American stage, television, and film actor, and is the President of the Actors' Equity Association.-Career:...
as Lon and Dirk, the Criterion brothers - William Newman as Gus Lotterhand
- Sarah Michelle GellarSarah Michelle GellarSarah Michelle Prinze , known professionally by her birth name of Sarah Michelle Gellar , is an American actress, singer and executive producer...
as Elizabeth's Student (uncredited)