A TV talk-show host who may have killed his wife finds himself being pursued by both the police and a gang of hoods.A TV talk-show host who may have killed his wife finds himself being pursued by both the police and a gang of hoods.A TV talk-show host who may have killed his wife finds himself being pursued by both the police and a gang of hoods.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
J.D. Cannon
- Walt Leznicki
- (as J. D. Cannon)
Hal K. Dawson
- Apartment House Guard
- (uncredited)
Richard Derr
- Jack Hale
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Mann Rubin
- Norman Mailer
- Howard Rodman(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDirector Robert Gist had a small acting role in the 1958 film adaptation of Norman Mailer's novel, The Naked and the Dead (1958). "An American Dream" and Mailer's own adaptation of Tough Guys Don't Dance (1987) have been the only other Mailer novels filmed to date, though a number of other films have been based on Mailer's nonfiction books.
- GoofsThe wall calendar inside Lt. Roberts' office is for January 1959 while the wall calendar just outside his door is for September 1963.
- Quotes
Stephen Rojack: I want a divorce.
Deborah Rojack: From the daughter of the eighth richest man in the whole U.S.? Bitch I am but rich I am.
Stephen Rojack: Tired I am. The war's over.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Norman Mailer: The American (2010)
- SoundtracksA Time for Love
Music by Johnny Mandel
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Performed by Janet Leigh (uncredited), dubbed by Jackie Ward (uncredited)
[Cherry performs the song in her club act]
Featured review
high places
It's unclear to me, with its TV cast, whether this was a B movie in theaters or a TV movie. It looks for all the world like a '60s TV film, produced by William Conrad, who did occasionally direct second features, notably "Brainstorm" starring Jeffrey Hunter. The timing at 1:45 suggests television.
"An American Dream" stars Stuart Whitman as a TV show host named Rojack who sits in front of rows of different telephones and answers questions. He's vocal about police corruption and the mob. He's separated from his wife (Eleanor Parker), the daughter of the 8th richest man in the world (Lloyd Nolan). She's a vicious drunk who's sleeping around. When Rojack visits her in her over-the-top penthouse, complete with gorgeous maid (Susan Denberg) who attempts to seduce him. His wife attacks him, and at one point, he nearly strangles her to death. Finally, after a lot of caterwauling, she ends up on the terrace railing and starts to slip. Rather than grab her, Rojack lets her go.
The police (including Barry Sullivan) can't prove whether it's an accident or murder, and Rojack takes up with an old girlfriend (Janet Leigh) who is now a mob-connected nightclub singer. Complications ensue.
Based on a novel by Norman Mailer, "An American Dream" is fun to watch because it's so '60s - in fact, it's reminiscent of early Columbo episodes. The furnishings, the color processing and dialogue like "I can't make the scene" are a hoot.
Janet Leigh, with a short Carnaby Street haircut, blue eyeshadow, dark eye makeup and light lipstick is the epitome of the '60s look. All she needed was white go-go boots. Strangely, the gown she wears in the nightclub scene (not the one picture on IMDb) is back in style, minus the cheesy material.
The high places - the wife's penthouse, Leigh's rooftop, suggest the heights and the only place you go once you get there. With none of the characters being particularly likable and an okay story, this is mainly something to watch if you were alive and cognizant in the '60s or just to get a look at some of the styles of the day. A lot flashier than Mad Men.
"An American Dream" stars Stuart Whitman as a TV show host named Rojack who sits in front of rows of different telephones and answers questions. He's vocal about police corruption and the mob. He's separated from his wife (Eleanor Parker), the daughter of the 8th richest man in the world (Lloyd Nolan). She's a vicious drunk who's sleeping around. When Rojack visits her in her over-the-top penthouse, complete with gorgeous maid (Susan Denberg) who attempts to seduce him. His wife attacks him, and at one point, he nearly strangles her to death. Finally, after a lot of caterwauling, she ends up on the terrace railing and starts to slip. Rather than grab her, Rojack lets her go.
The police (including Barry Sullivan) can't prove whether it's an accident or murder, and Rojack takes up with an old girlfriend (Janet Leigh) who is now a mob-connected nightclub singer. Complications ensue.
Based on a novel by Norman Mailer, "An American Dream" is fun to watch because it's so '60s - in fact, it's reminiscent of early Columbo episodes. The furnishings, the color processing and dialogue like "I can't make the scene" are a hoot.
Janet Leigh, with a short Carnaby Street haircut, blue eyeshadow, dark eye makeup and light lipstick is the epitome of the '60s look. All she needed was white go-go boots. Strangely, the gown she wears in the nightclub scene (not the one picture on IMDb) is back in style, minus the cheesy material.
The high places - the wife's penthouse, Leigh's rooftop, suggest the heights and the only place you go once you get there. With none of the characters being particularly likable and an okay story, this is mainly something to watch if you were alive and cognizant in the '60s or just to get a look at some of the styles of the day. A lot flashier than Mad Men.
helpful•153
- blanche-2
- Jul 8, 2010
- How long is An American Dream?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- See You in Hell, Darling
- Filming locations
- 1430 Wright Street, Los Angeles, California, USA(As the Castle Motel, Cherry McMahon's apartment building.)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 43 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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