The Landlord (1970)
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92% of critics liked it
(12 reviews) -
72% of users liked it
(751 ratings)
Wealthy, insensitive young Beau Bridges buys an inner-city tenement, planning to evict the present occupants and construct a luxury home for himself. But once he ventures into the tenement, he grows quite fond of the low-income ethnic types who dwell within. He even kicks over the traces of his WASP… More Wealthy, insensitive young Beau Bridges buys an inner-city tenement, planning to evict the present occupants and construct a luxury home for himself. But once he ventures into the tenement, he grows quite fond of the low-income ethnic types who dwell within. He even kicks over the traces of his WASP upbringing by romancing black tenants Diana Sands and Marki Bey. Though essentially a comedy, The Landlord offers several painful truths about ghetto existence. Essentially, Beau Bridges acts as the audience's "eyes:" we learn as he learns, we grow as he grows. The Landlord represents the first directorial effort of Oscar-winning film editor Hal Ashby. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Critic Reviews
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Liberal guilt, with a few good laughs, a lot of frantic activity, and the occasional backfire.
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, TIME Magazine
A glossy, flat, fake Hollywood attempt at black social comedy.
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David Fear, Time Out New York
An elder spokesman of New Hollywood's vanguard, former editor Hal Ashby's debut film keeps veering away from expectations and easy answers.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Beau Bridges heads the uniformly excellent cast as a bored rich youth who buys a black ghetto apartment building and learns something about life.
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J. Hoberman, Village Voice
The Landlord remains one of the funniest social comedies of the period, as well as the most human.
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Cast
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Beau Bridges
as Elgar Enders
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Lee Grant
as Mrs. Enders
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Diana Sands
as Fanny
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Marki Bey
as Lanie
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Pearl Bailey
as Marge
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Louis Gossett Jr
as Copee
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Douglas Grant
as Walter Gee
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Mel Stewart
as Prof. Duboise
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Walter Brooke
as Mr. Enders
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Susan Anspach
as Susan Enders
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Gretchen Walther
as Doris
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Marlene Clark
as Marlene
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Oliver Clark
as Mr. Farcus
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Hector Elizondo
as Hector
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Stanley Greene
as Heywood
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Gloria Hendry
as Gloria
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Robert Klein
as Peter
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Joe Madden
as Grandfather
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John McCurry
as Big John
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Louise Stubbs
as Louise
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Trish VanDevere
as Sally
- Lionel Wilson
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Grover Dale
as Oscar
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Michael Ferguson
as Gene
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Carl Lee
as Carl
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Will Mackenzie
as William Jr.
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Florynce Kennedy
as Enid
- Larry Cook
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Van Kirksey
as Van
- Tony Major