Overlay: Elaine May's directorial filmography

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Elaine May directed the documentary 'Mike Nichols: American Masters' (2016).: Thomitted-detail

#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Did Elaine May direct other films besides Mikey and Nicky?

What a correct answer would look like:

Yes, Elaine May directed three other narrative feature films: A New Leaf (1971), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), and Ishtar (1987). While these four constitute her entire narrative feature filmography, she also directed the documentary Mike Nichols: American Masters in 2016.

What the LLM said (errors and omissions annotated)

Yes, Elaine May directed three other feature films in addition to Mikey and Nicky. Her directorial career is often noted for its small output but significant impact on comedy and cinema history.

Here are the details of the other films she directed:

1. A New Leaf (1971)

This was May’s directorial debut. She also wrote the screenplay and starred in the film alongside Walter Matthau.

The Plot: Matthau plays a spoiled, wealthy playboy who has squandered his entire inheritance and decides he must marry a rich woman to maintain his lifestyle. May plays Henrietta Lowell, a clumsy, socially awkward botanist who is the heir to a massive fortune.
Production Note: The film is famous for a legal battle between May and Paramount Pictures. May turned in a cut that was over three hours long and included a subplot involving a double murder. The studio took the film away from her, edited it down to about 102 minutes, and released it as a romantic comedy. Despite May's attempt to sue to prevent its release, the film was a critical success.

2. The Heartbreak Kid (1972)

Written by Neil Simon and directed by May, this is often considered one of the greatest dark comedies of the 1970s.

The Plot: Charles Grodin stars as Lenny, a man who marries a woman (played by May’s real-life daughter, Jeannie Berlin) and then falls in love with a beautiful college student (Cybill Shepherd) while on his honeymoon in Miami.
Significance: The film was a major critical and commercial hit. Jeannie Berlin received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance. It cemented May’s reputation as a top-tier director of uncomfortable, character-driven comedy.

3. Ishtar (1987)

This was May’s final feature film as a director, and it became one of the most famous (and misunderstood) productions in Hollywood history.

The Plot: It stars Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman as Lyle Rogers and Chuck Clarke, two untalented, delusional singer-songwriters who travel to Morocco for a gig and get caught up in a Cold War political conspiracy.
Production and Legacy: The film was plagued by rumors of a ballooning budget, clashes between May and Beatty, and difficult filming conditions in the desert. Upon its release, it was savaged by critics and became a legendary box-office bomb. However, in recent years, Ishtar has undergone a significant critical reappraisal, with many modern critics praising it as a sharp, hilarious satire on male ego and show business.

Summary of her filmography:

A New Leaf (1971)
The Heartbreak Kid (1972)
Mikey and Nicky (1976)
Ishtar (1987)

While she only directed four films, Elaine May remained highly active as a screenwriter, writing the scripts for Mike Nichols' films The Birdcage and Primary Colors, and doing uncredited "doctoring" on numerous famous screenplays, including Tootsie.

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] Elaine May directed exactly four narrative feature films. The summary correctly identifies the three besides 'Mikey and Nicky'.

[2] May wrote, directed, and starred in 'A New Leaf' (1971), which was her directorial debut.

[3] The plot description accurately reflects the film's premise: a bankrupt playboy (Matthau) marrying a wealthy botanist (May) for her money.

[4] May submitted a 3-hour cut with a dark subplot where Henry murders a blackmailer and another character. Paramount cut it to ~102 mins. May sued unsuccessfully.

[5] Neil Simon wrote the screenplay; Elaine May directed.

[6] Plot details are correct. Jeannie Berlin is Elaine May's daughter.

[7] Jeannie Berlin was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. The film was a hit.

[8] 'Ishtar' was her last narrative feature. It is famous for its production troubles.

[9] Plot description matches the film: Beatty and Hoffman as bad songwriters in Morocco involved in CIA intrigue.

[10] The film was a notorious bomb but has been critically reappraised as a masterpiece of satire.

[11] While she directed only four *narrative feature* films, she also directed the documentary 'Mike Nichols: American Masters' (2016).

[12] She wrote 'The Birdcage' and 'Primary Colors' (both directed by Nichols) and did uncredited work on 'Tootsie'.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

Low

Elaine May directed the documentary 'Mike Nichols: American Masters' (2016).

The summary states she 'only directed four films', overlooking her 2016 documentary work.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 What was the double murder subplot in A New Leaf?

#02 Did Elaine May direct any documentaries?

#03 What scenes did Elaine May write in Tootsie?

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

▼

Yes, Elaine May directed three other feature films in addition to *Mikey and Nicky*. Her directorial career is often noted for its small output but significant impact on comedy and cinema history. Here are the details of the other films she directed: ### 1. A New Leaf (1971) This was May’s directorial debut. She also wrote the screenplay and starred in the film alongside Walter Matthau. * **The Plot:** Matthau plays a spoiled, wealthy playboy who has squandered his entire inheritance and decides he must marry a rich woman to maintain his lifestyle. May plays Henrietta Lowell, a clumsy, socially awkward botanist who is the heir to a massive fortune. * **Production Note:** The film is famous for a legal battle between May and Paramount Pictures. May turned in a cut that was over three hours long and included a subplot involving a double murder. The studio took the film away from her, edited it down to about 102 minutes, and released it as a romantic comedy. Despite May's attempt to sue to prevent its release, the film was a critical success. ### 2. The Heartbreak Kid (1972) Written by Neil Simon and directed by May, this is often considered one of the greatest dark comedies of the 1970s. * **The Plot:** Charles Grodin stars as Lenny, a man who marries a woman (played by May’s real-life daughter, Jeannie Berlin) and then falls in love with a beautiful college student (Cybill Shepherd) while on his honeymoon in Miami. * **Significance:** The film was a major critical and commercial hit. Jeannie Berlin received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance. It cemented May’s reputation as a top-tier director of uncomfortable, character-driven comedy. ### 3. Ishtar (1987) This was May’s final feature film as a director, and it became one of the most famous (and misunderstood) productions in Hollywood history. * **The Plot:** It stars Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman as Lyle Rogers and Chuck Clarke, two untalented, delusional singer-songwriters who travel to Morocco for a gig and get caught up in a Cold War political conspiracy. * **Production and Legacy:** The film was plagued by rumors of a ballooning budget, clashes between May and Beatty, and difficult filming conditions in the desert. Upon its release, it was savaged by critics and became a legendary box-office bomb. However, in recent years, *Ishtar* has undergone a significant critical reappraisal, with many modern critics praising it as a sharp, hilarious satire on male ego and show business. ### Summary of her filmography: 1. **A New Leaf** (1971) 2. **The Heartbreak Kid** (1972) 3. **Mikey and Nicky** (1976) 4. **Ishtar** (1987) While she only directed four films, Elaine May remained highly active as a screenwriter, writing the scripts for Mike Nichols' films *The Birdcage* and *Primary Colors*, and doing uncredited "doctoring" on numerous famous screenplays, including *Tootsie*.

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