Mikey and Nicky

Mikey and Nicky is a 1976 film written and directed by Elaine May. Using three cameras that she sometimes left running for hours, May captured spontaneous interaction between Peter Falk and John Cassavetes. This unusual technique and the resulting performances suggests the film exceeds the conventions of the gangster movie. Mikey and Nicky was released in New York City on December 21, 1976. The film was originally intended as a summer 1975 releas... more

Mikey and Nicky is a 1976 film written and directed by Elaine May. Using three cameras that she sometimes left running for hours, May captured spontaneous interaction between Peter Falk and John Cassavetes. This unusual technique and the resulting performances suggests the film exceeds the conventions of the gangster movie. Mikey and Nicky was released in New York City on December 21, 1976. The film was originally intended as a summer 1975 release, then moved to Christmas 1975 due to editing problems. May missed the film's delivery date by almost a year because of her well-known perfectionism in the editing process. Litigation followed between the director and Paramount, with Paramount gaining possession of the film with final cut privilege. May didn't direct again for nearly twelve years. The film's original $1.8 million budget ballooned to nearly $4.3 million by the time May turned the film over to Paramount. Angered over May's contentiousness during filming and editing, Paramount... less