Where's Poppa? (1970)
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100% of critics liked it
(9 reviews) -
66% of users liked it
(1,181 ratings)
Director Carl Reiner, most closely associated with the homey values of situation comedies, shocked, surprised, and (in some cases) delighted his admirers with the jet-black comedy Where's Poppa?. George Segal plays Gordon Hocheiser, a New York attorney whose love life is constantly being… More Director Carl Reiner, most closely associated with the homey values of situation comedies, shocked, surprised, and (in some cases) delighted his admirers with the jet-black comedy Where's Poppa?. George Segal plays Gordon Hocheiser, a New York attorney whose love life is constantly being sabotaged by his senile mother (Ruth Gordon), who constantly asks the question of the title. (She doesn't realize Poppa is dead). Every time Gordon has a prospective bride or lover lined up, Mrs. Hocheiser gums up the works with her insane behavior. The attorney at last finds a kindred spirit in the beautiful caregiver Louise Callan (Trish VanDevere), who has likewise been a victim of someone else's eccentricities (her first husband used the conjugal bed as his own personal toilet). When Mrs. Hocheiser chases Louise away like she has all the others, Gordon begins entertaining notions of killing his mother. In desperation, Gordon begs his brother Sidney (Ron Leibman) to take his mother off his hands, which leads to several comic vignettes in deliriously bad taste. The film's incest-themed original ending (trimmed from the video version but still included in cable prints) finds Gordon climbing into bed with Mrs. Hocheiser, only to be greeted with a "Here's Poppa." The celebrated "tush scene," wherein Mrs. Hocheiser bites Gordon on his bare backside while Louise looks on in horror, packed a real wallop back in the early '70s, as did a courtroom scene involving a disgruntled hippie (Rob Reiner) and a psychotic U.S. general who graphically describes his homicidal acts against the Vietnamese. Though Carl Reiner would continue to "push the envelope" in his later films (Steve Martin as a "poor black child"? George Burns as God?) he would never again attempt anything as risky as Where's Poppa?. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Carl Reiner
- Written By
- Robert Klane
- Genres
- Classics, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1970 Wide
- On DVD
- Dec 3, 2002
Critic Reviews
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Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Risky Freudian punchlines
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's the Mother of all Jewish-mother joke films.
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Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
It's a shame, but you'd never be able to make a film like Where's Poppa? in today's stifling climate of uptight political correctness.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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George Segal
as Gordon Hocheiser
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Ruth Gordon
as Mrs. Hocheiser
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Ron Leibman
as Sidney Hocheiser
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Trish VanDevere
as Louise Callan
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Barnard Hughes
as Col. Hendriks
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Vincent Gardenia
as Coach Williams
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Rae Allen
as Gladys Hocheiser
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Paul Sorvino
as Owner of Gus & Grace's Home
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William Le Massena
as Judge
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Israel Lang
as Muthafucka
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Garrett Morris
as Garrett Central Park Mugger
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Arnold Williams
as Arnold
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Buddy Butler
as Buddy
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Martha Greenhouse
as Owner of Happytime Farms
- Jane Hoffman
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Helen Martin
as Job Applicant
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Tom Atkins
as Policeman in Apartment
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Alice Drummond
as Woman in Elevator
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Jack Manning
as Lawyer for Memphis Maulers
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John Gilliar
as Policeman in Courthouse
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Rehn Scofield
as Bailiff
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John McCurry
as Policeman in Jail Cell
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April Geleta
as Taxi Lady
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Edwart Brooks
as Sheldon Hocheiser
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Benson W. Terry
as Cab Driver
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Fuddles
as Shoeshine Man
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Michael McGuire
as Army Lawyer
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Rob Reiner
as Roger the Defendant
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Joe Keyes
as Gang Leader
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Florence Tarlow
as Miss Morgan
- Trish Van Devere
