Welcome to the second-to-last look at the featured Letterboxd Lists for 2025! Today we’re taking a look at the Top 250 Women-Directed list where we find… A New Leaf (1971).
Title: A New Leaf
Director: Elaine May
Released: March 11, 1971 (United Kingdom & United States)
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes
Available to stream on: Kanopy
Henry Graham (Walter Matthau) enjoys only the finest things in life. He was born into wealth and makes it a point that everyone knows he’s a man of status, from his racquetball club membership to his prized Ferrari.
For the last few weeks, Henry has been avoiding a call from his lawyer. Though when a check bounces, Henry has no other choice than to visit his lawyer to see what’s going on with his finances. Well, it turns out that he is broke. He has no money, no capital, no stocks, it is all gone. While he’s been receiving $90,000 a year in inheritance, he’s been spending upwards of $200,000 a year.
As Henry puts it, he has no skills or ambitions, so how will he ever find a source of income? His butler, Harold (George Rose) offers up two suggestions. Henry can reach out to his Uncle for a loan and/or he can marry a rich girl.
Uncle Harry (James Coco) practically laughs Henry out of the room when he asks for a $50,000 loan. However, Henry sweetens the pot quite a bit. He offers up his paintings, sculptures, first edition books, and even his Ferrari as collateral for the loan. In total, Henry offers up about $500,000 as collateral. Uncle Harry agrees to the loan, but on one condition, it needs to be paid back in 6 weeks time with 10% interest. If those terms aren’t met, Uncle Harry takes everything that Henry has left.
With the clock ticking, Henry sets out to find himself a rich bride. Enter Henrietta (Elaine May).
Henrietta is accident prone and just all around clumsy in general. She’s also got money.
But can Henry win her over and get access to her money before the 6 weeks are up?
A New Leaf (1971) is a film that does not get anywhere near the attention it deserves.
Elaine May not only wrote and directed this, but she also shines as Henrietta.
Her script is witty and has a dark sense of humor about it, all while allowing the focus to be on the relationship between Henry and Henrietta. While yes, there are some comedic gags (like the nightgown), it is the story that you’re interested in rather than what pratfall is coming next.
Walter Matthau is absolutely wonderful as Henry Graham. This isn’t the typical loud and over-the-top comedic role from Matthau. No, in A New Leaf (1971) he is much more reserved. He still manages to be a conniving sleaze ball who will do anything for money, just in a more calculated way.
The chemistry between Matthau and May is why this works as well as it does. Their chemistry is absolutely undeniable from the very first scene we see them in together.
If I were to nitpick, I would say that the ending sort of seems a bit abstract from the rest of the story as well as abrupt. Though that’s nowhere near reason enough to avoid seeing this.
If you’ve not seen A New Leaf (1971), please correct that as soon as possible. Personally, I’m already looking forward to rewatching it.
So, if you have seen A New Leaf (1971), what did you think?
Leave me a comment below or reach out on Bluesky and tell me all about it!
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