No Way to Treat a Lady
Encyclopedia
No Way to Treat a Lady is a darkly comic
thriller directed by Jack Smight
, with a screenplay by John Gay
adapted from William Goldman
's novel of the same name. The film starred Rod Steiger
, Lee Remick
, George Segal
and Eileen Heckart
. Segal was nominated for a BAFTA for his role as Detective Moe Brummel.
stars as Christopher Gill, a serial killer
who is fixated on his late mother, who had been an actress. Gill preys on older women who remind him of her. A costumer, he adopts various disguises, i.e. priest, policeman, plumber, hairdresser, etc., to put his victims at ease (and also avoid being identified) before strangling them and painting their lips with garish red lipstick. Gill strikes up an adversarial relationship, via telephone, with Detective Morris Brummel (George Segal
), who is investigating the murders. As Brummel realizes that the killer has access to costumes, he seeks out local costume outlets, and tracks down Gill. Once he sees a portrait of Gill's mother with bright red lipstick, he knows he has his man, as he later relates, but the case is far from over.
The film features a B-plot
concerning Brummel's own mother (Eileen Heckart
), who wants her son to be more like his brother (and settle down). Brummel's love interest in the film, Kate Palmer (Lee Remick
), manages to win over Brummel's mother, but is later targeted herself by Gill, for reasons other than his mother fixation as Palmer does not fit the profile of his previous victims.
adapted the film into a musical comedy, which was revived Off-Broadway
by the York Theatre Company in 1996. That production was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award
for Best Musical Revival.
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
thriller directed by Jack Smight
Jack Smight
Jack Smight was an American theatre and film director.Smight was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and went to school with future actor Peter Graves...
, with a screenplay by John Gay
John Gay (screenwriter)
John Gay is an American screenwriter.Born in Whittier, California, Gay began his career writing episodes for television anthology series such as Lux Video Theatre, Kraft Television Theatre, and Goodyear Television Playhouse. He made his film screenwriting debut in 1956 with Run Silent Run Deep...
adapted from William Goldman
William Goldman
William Goldman is an American novelist, playwright, and Academy Award-winning screenwriter.-Early life and education:...
's novel of the same name. The film starred Rod Steiger
Rod Steiger
Rodney Stephen "Rod" Steiger was an Academy Award-winning American actor known for his performances in such films as On the Waterfront, The Big Knife, Oklahoma!, The Harder They Fall, Across the Bridge, The Pawnbroker, Doctor Zhivago, In the Heat of the Night, and Waterloo as well as the...
, Lee Remick
Lee Remick
Lee Ann Remick was an American film and television actress. Among her best-known films are Anatomy of a Murder , Days of Wine and Roses , and The Omen .-Early life:...
, George Segal
George Segal
George Segal is an American film, stage and television actor.-Early life:George Segal, Jr. was born in 1934 Great Neck, Long Island, New York, the son of Fannie Blanche and George Segal, Sr. He was educated at George School, a private Quaker preparatory boarding school near Newtown, Bucks County,...
and Eileen Heckart
Eileen Heckart
Eileen Heckart was an American actress of stage, screen, and television.-Early life:Heckart was born Anna Eileen Heckart in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Esther and Leo Herbert. She was legally adopted by her grandfather, J.W. Heckart. Her family was of Irish and German descent...
. Segal was nominated for a BAFTA for his role as Detective Moe Brummel.
Plot
Rod SteigerRod Steiger
Rodney Stephen "Rod" Steiger was an Academy Award-winning American actor known for his performances in such films as On the Waterfront, The Big Knife, Oklahoma!, The Harder They Fall, Across the Bridge, The Pawnbroker, Doctor Zhivago, In the Heat of the Night, and Waterloo as well as the...
stars as Christopher Gill, a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
who is fixated on his late mother, who had been an actress. Gill preys on older women who remind him of her. A costumer, he adopts various disguises, i.e. priest, policeman, plumber, hairdresser, etc., to put his victims at ease (and also avoid being identified) before strangling them and painting their lips with garish red lipstick. Gill strikes up an adversarial relationship, via telephone, with Detective Morris Brummel (George Segal
George Segal
George Segal is an American film, stage and television actor.-Early life:George Segal, Jr. was born in 1934 Great Neck, Long Island, New York, the son of Fannie Blanche and George Segal, Sr. He was educated at George School, a private Quaker preparatory boarding school near Newtown, Bucks County,...
), who is investigating the murders. As Brummel realizes that the killer has access to costumes, he seeks out local costume outlets, and tracks down Gill. Once he sees a portrait of Gill's mother with bright red lipstick, he knows he has his man, as he later relates, but the case is far from over.
The film features a B-plot
Subplot
A subplot is a secondary plot strand that is a supporting side story for any story or the main plot. Subplots may connect to main plots, in either time and place or in thematic significance...
concerning Brummel's own mother (Eileen Heckart
Eileen Heckart
Eileen Heckart was an American actress of stage, screen, and television.-Early life:Heckart was born Anna Eileen Heckart in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Esther and Leo Herbert. She was legally adopted by her grandfather, J.W. Heckart. Her family was of Irish and German descent...
), who wants her son to be more like his brother (and settle down). Brummel's love interest in the film, Kate Palmer (Lee Remick
Lee Remick
Lee Ann Remick was an American film and television actress. Among her best-known films are Anatomy of a Murder , Days of Wine and Roses , and The Omen .-Early life:...
), manages to win over Brummel's mother, but is later targeted herself by Gill, for reasons other than his mother fixation as Palmer does not fit the profile of his previous victims.
Adaptations
In 1987, Douglas J. CohenDouglas J. Cohen
Douglas J. Cohen is an award-nominated composer and lyricist. He is a member of ASCAP, BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop, and the Dramatists Guild of America.-Works:*The Big Time- Book by Douglas Carter Beane, music & lyrics by Cohen....
adapted the film into a musical comedy, which was revived Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
by the York Theatre Company in 1996. That production was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award
Outer Critics Circle Award
The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on and Off-Broadway and were begun during the 1949-1950 theater season. The awards are decided upon by theater critics who review for out-of-town newspapers, national publications, and other media outlets...
for Best Musical Revival.