by Nicolas Seguinot
Elaine May’s A New Leaf (1971) is a perfect mix of unhinged, dry, and extremely witty humor with a tinge of the macabre. Henrietta played by Elaine May is a shy, clumsy, yet highly intelligent, charming, and kind young woman. She has a passion for botany and teaches university classes as well. Her husband-to-be is Henry Graham played by Walter Matthau. Henry is an aloof, out of touch, and stern previously wealthy man who is clueless about life apart from being rich. When he runs out of money and asks his uncle for a $50,000 loan, he gets the loan under the condition that he will marry a wealthy girl to pay back said loan. Henry wants to marry, kill the woman and have all the wealth to himself. But Henrietta’s charm and kindness gets in the way of Henry’s plans. It is in her charm, his aloofness, and the unhinged personalities of the wealthy that this movie comes alive.
Elaine May’s character Henrietta as stated previously is shy, socially awkward, and extremely clumsy. And yet she has an inner world and intelligence that rivals every character in the film. May also happens to be the director of this film. But it wasn’t easy getting there. According to Stephen Saito, a writer for The Movable Fest, Elaine had stated that the producer didn’t want her and that the crew agreed, but once Elaine gave the director’s seat a feminine touch, the tunes changed. Much like her character Henrietta, even though she learns Henry’s plan is to kill her, she beats him to it and does everything right with a smile on her face, a soft voice, and the utmost of kindness.
This speaks volumes of the role of women in society and the way in which women are viewed. Henrietta never raises her voice or tells Henry to “Shut up for one moment.” as Henry does right before proposing to her. Rather she smiles, says everything she must, and carries on. It is interesting. A man yells for things to get done and nobody bats an eye. But if the roles were reversed, what would people say? We see it when the proprietor of the tea lounge gets even the slightest of stern tones Henry makes a show of her and while this is in an attempt to woo Henrietta as well as make himself look good, one must think this is not a coincidence. It is sad to think that femininity must be used as a weapon to thaw even the coldest of hearts and that is if it works. According to the article by Stephen Saito, Elaine talks about how Matthau was difficult to work with but in her role as Henrietta she decided that she knew Henry’s plan and that maybe just maybe if she did everything right, he wouldn’t kill her.
He wouldn’t kill her, in fact. He does not and cannot. Why? Cuz while he plots and fantasizes, she helps him in a way many cannot. She gives him purpose. Prior to losing his money he simply was rich. Had no talent, no goals, nothing. Yet on the journey to attempting to kill her, he gets married, studies botany and toxicology, and even learns about money, tax, and how to live a real adult life. He becomes competent because of her and unbeknownst to him, he is falling in love. Notice that it is her that gives him purpose. Not the other way around, and perhaps this is Elaine’s message of hope and a slight snipe to the egos of men. What would husbands be without their wives?
Sources Cited:
Saito, Stephen. “Elaine May on Almost Getting Away with Murder in ‘A New Leaf.’” The Moveable Fest, 13 Feb. 2017, moveablefest.com/elaine-may-new-leaf/.
This was a great read. One compelling point I particularly enjoyed is that while Henry may have come from wealth prior to seeking a woman to marry to maintain his affluent lifestyle, he wasn’t particularly skilled or talented in any area. Although he had some knowledge, such as his interest in history, if he had even a fraction of real talent, he could have turned his life around much more quickly without needing to scam a vulnerable woman.
I’m reminded of the opening scene where the accountant is desperately trying to explain Henry’s financial situation. Henry either chooses not to grasp the reality or is genuinely oblivious. Regardless, it’s fascinating to see how Henrietta influences him. She draws out his intelligence, wit, and problem-solving abilities. As highlighted in the blog post, she introduces him to a new realm of education, and by the end of the story, he is well on his way to becoming a professor.
The 70s was a historical time for women to direct movies. Elaine May’s directorial debut, A New Leaf, was a profound exploration of human relationships. Hollywood gradually began employing women as movie directors, though they still faced sexism. Elaine’s experience during production gave her some light and inspiration for this movie. In the article, by Stephen Saito, “Elaine May on Almost Getting Away with Murder in ‘A New Leaf,” May states that “He took me because they had said you could direct and the crew was a lot of really tough Irish guys, really good, but they were sort of careless with me. Some guy would say, ‘hurry her up, etc.’ She used this to bring Henrietta to life in the movie. Which made the movie great. It brought the characters to life.
In today’s world, these types of relationships still exist. Either male or female. Relationships are hard and you learn through experience. Henrietta’s character was a kind, feminine woman. Matthau gave her a challenging time on set, but this eventually helped her develop her role for the movie. I agree with Nic’s post that Henrietta did give Henry purpose. Without her he would not realize what he has, what he could be and realized towards the end that he loves her.
I really enjoyed this blog post! I completely agree with the idea that women can empower men, as seen through Henrietta’s influence on Henry in A New Leaf. It’s fascinating how the film highlights this dynamic, especially during a time when traditional gender roles were so rigid. While Henry comes from wealth, he lacks real skills or talent, and it’s striking to think that if he had even a fraction of genuine ability, he could have transformed his life without resorting to manipulation. The opening scene with the accountant underscores this obliviousness. I also admire the challenges Elaine May faced as a director, from initial resistance from producers to working with a difficult co-star. Her perseverance not only brought her vision to life but also added depth to the film’s commentary on relationships and empowerment. Great insights!
I loved this blog post! I particularly liked the gender dynamics and roles women play in relationships and society. Henrietta’s character represents the overlooked, soft-spoken, quiet reserved women who hold many strengths but usually goes unnoticed. Although these exact characteristics are the qualities that eventually drove Henry to deviate from his plan, there are some troubling aspects of their relationship. Graham’s dynamic symbolizes how even today, women are expected to navigate difficult situations with grace and composure.
Your blog was interesting. It was interesting the way you used the characters from the movie to explain how in the old days, as a woman, you didn’t have much of an opinion or decision to make. In those times, men were like monarchs and they were the ones who had the final say in whether to inform their wives. But in this movie it’s different. You can see that when you’re married, the decision is only up to one person. In this situation, Henry is the one who makes the decision of how things were going to be in his wife’s house. At the same time, you can also see that he himself had no motives or purposes, but his wives helped him with that. The point is that women can also empower men.