29:
880:
296:
331:
through the city and sleeping in
Central Park. She later returns to Mike's apartment, and when he asks why she has returned, she says "I came for you." She writes her mother, who comes to the apartment and is shocked to see where and with whom Mary Ann lives. She has married Mike and announces that she is pregnant (if by Mike or the rape is not revealed). Her mother insists that she come home, and Mary Ann tries to impress upon her mother that she now considers the apartment her home.
322:
Overwhelmed at her job after her co-workers play a prank on her, Mary Ann walks across the
Manhattan Bridge and almost jumps into the East River, but she is stopped by Mike, a mechanic. At first, he seems to have her best interests in mind, offering her shelter and food. She decides to stay with him,
309:
Mary Ann
Robinson, a teenaged girl attending college in New York City, is brutally raped while walking in a park near her home in the Bronx. Traumatized by the experience, Mary Ann washes away all the evidence and destroys her clothing. She hides the rape from her mother and stepfather, with whom she
330:
One night, Mike proposes to Mary Ann and she rejects him, saying she just cannot. He again attempts to be physical with her. Mary Ann reveals to Mike that she was the one who blinded him in one eye. Mike still insists he needs her. When Mary Ann discovers the door unlocked, she leaves, walking
310:
has an already distant relationship. Mary Ann unsuccessfully tries to continue living her normal life. She takes the subway to school and faints during the crush of people. This results in the police escorting her home, which upsets her prim and unsympathetic mother.
326:
Mike now says that he wants Mary Ann to stay there, saying "I like the way you look here." She wants to leave, but he refuses to let her go, keeping the door locked. He holds her captive in the apartment, but she refuses to have anything to do with him.
313:
The rape continues to haunt Mary Ann. She leaves school abruptly and walks downtown, through Harlem and Times Square to the Lower East Side. There she rents a room from a sinister-looking landlord. She takes a job at a
532:
said that it was "quite exhausting to sit through that ordeal in the apartment," and that "it is not too satisfying, because it isn't quite credible and the symbolic meaning (if there is one) is beyond our grasp."
318:
store, where her coworkers dislike her because she is distant and unfriendly. Her crude, promiscuous neighbor
Shirley at the rooming house is rebuffed when she offers to "introduce" Mary to her male friends.
323:
but when he comes home drunk and tries to attack her, Mary Ann kicks him in the eye. The following morning, he has no recollection of the incident, but his eye is badly hurt and eventually must be removed.
676:
268:. It follows a young New York City college student who, after being brutally raped, is taken in and held captive by a mechanic who witnessed her suicide attempt on the
637:
988:
403:, the first novel by Alex Karmel, published in 1958. Karmel and Garfein wrote the script, and United Artists agreed to finance. It was originally called
609:
Archer, Eugene (July 9, 1960). "SHUFTAN IS HERE FOR 1ST U.S. FILM: One of Europe's Top 'Mood' Camera Men Will Shoot 'Something Wild' in City".
418:
was originally commissioned to compose the score, but when
Garfein heard the music, he reportedly said "My wife is being raped and you write
651:
1008:
810:
825:
677:"Tribeca Festival : Review / The Wild One, A Magnificent Documentary Where Life And Craft Resound Social Justice Consciousness"
958:
968:
426:. The original film score, taken from private session recordings preserved by the director, was finally released on CD in 2003.
973:
627:
509:
that the film was the "most interesting
American film of the quarter; it may become the most underestimated film of the year."
1003:
445:
422:
music?" and promptly replaced
Feldman with Copland. In 1964, Copland reused some of the film's themes in his symphonic work
983:
948:
953:
978:
938:
569:
998:
993:
943:
963:
907:
862:
902:
933:
758:
553:
763:
661:
516:
praised Baker as a "fine actress" and
Garfein's direction "very tight and smooth," summarizing: "
399:(1957). He formed Prometheus Productions with his wife Carroll Baker. It obtained film rights to
549:
249:
891:
826:"The Criterion Collection Announces January Titles: 'His Girl Friday,' 'Black Girl' and More"
800:
699:
283:
violated a number of
Hollywood conventions and taboos by showing an on-screen rape and brief
28:
913:
656:
441:
8:
928:
784:
594:
879:
520:
carries a moral for the feminine sex: Don't walk in the city's parks alone after dark."
480:
had its theatrical premiere at the Plaza
Theatre in New York City on December 20, 1961.
779:
736:
694:
611:
589:
524:
437:
133:
874:
855:
754:
492:
as a "box office disappointment" and "a financial blow to the star and her husband."
489:
295:
269:
529:
395:
353:
265:
102:
429:
The opening title sequence, which featured sped-up city imagery, was created by
505:
458:
415:
371:
359:
284:
175:
112:
107:
896:
922:
885:
462:
411:
377:
365:
341:
299:
257:
151:
120:
92:
347:
315:
261:
253:
97:
42:
500:
450:
868:
537:
466:
830:
430:
805:
246:
557:
419:
721:
A.H. WEILER. (May 1, 1960). "VIEW FROM A LOCAL VANTAGE POINT".
632:
548:
The film was released for the first time on DVD as part of the
461:, playing Mary Ann's boisterous rooming-house neighbor, and
743:. December 5, 1961. p. 63 – via Newspapers.com.
598:. December 10, 1961. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
276:
by Alex Karmel, who co-wrote the screenplay with Garfein.
440:
was a noted German cinematographer and inventor of the
393:
Jack Garfein had made his debut as film director with
488:The film was not a financial success, described by
287:, and received a mixed response from film critics.
454:. The film was shot on location in New York City.
590:"Something new is happening at the Plaza Theatre"
552:Limited Edition Collection in December 2011. The
469:, in her film debut, has an uncredited bit part.
920:
410:The score for the film was by American composer
823:
608:
536:In 2007, the film was screened at New York's
720:
628:"Not Necessarily Noir festival at the Roxie"
989:Films about post-traumatic stress disorder
878:
675:Gabardi, Chiara Spagnoli (June 17, 2022).
27:
817:
788:. p. 171 – via Newspapers.com.
753:
540:, billed as a "lost indie film classic."
465:, portraying Mary Ann's store co-worker.
767:. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
294:
813:from the original on December 18, 2017.
674:
625:
921:
640:from the original on January 13, 2024.
272:. The film is based on the 1958 novel
798:
446:Academy Award for Best Cinematography
777:
495:
912:an essay by Sheila O’Malley at the
824:Vurki, Mithram (October 14, 2016).
13:
1009:English-language independent films
780:"'Something Wild' On Plaza Screen"
14:
1020:
849:
778:Hale, Wanda (December 21, 1961).
626:LaSalle, Mick (August 20, 2010).
383:George L. Smith as Store Manager
959:American rape and revenge films
792:
771:
969:Films based on American novels
747:
729:
714:
687:
668:
644:
619:
602:
582:
570:List of American films of 1961
1:
974:Films scored by Aaron Copland
799:Mavis, Paul (March 6, 2012).
575:
560:and DVD on January 17, 2017.
543:
483:
457:The supporting cast included
388:
256:, and starring his then wife
1004:1960s English-language films
909:Something Wild: Last Chances
863:AFI Catalog of Feature Films
7:
984:Films shot in New York City
563:
279:Released in December 1961,
190:December 20, 1961
166:Prometheus Enterprises Inc.
10:
1025:
949:American independent films
472:
405:Something Wild in the City
230:
222:
214:
204:
181:
171:
157:
147:
139:
129:
85:
77:
65:
48:
38:
26:
21:
16:1961 film by Jack Garfein
436:Director of photography
954:American neo-noir films
898:Musical score recording
801:"Something Wild (1961)"
764:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
448:the following year for
444:who went on to win the
368:as Mary Ann's co-worker
334:
290:
979:Films set in the Bronx
939:1961 independent films
424:Music for a Great City
306:
250:psychological thriller
700:Turner Classic Movies
664:on November 26, 2020.
556:released the film on
298:
999:1960s American films
994:United Artists films
944:American drama films
914:Criterion Collection
657:Harvard Film Archive
554:Criterion Collection
344:as Mary Ann Robinson
964:Films about suicide
785:New York Daily News
757:(January 8, 1962).
741:New York Daily News
595:New York Daily News
514:New York Daily News
380:as Detective Bogart
245:is a 1961 American
892:TCM Movie Database
755:Kilgallen, Dorothy
612:The New York Times
525:The New York Times
512:Wanda Hale of the
362:as Shirley Johnson
307:
33:Promotional poster
496:Critical response
490:Dorothy Kilgallen
442:Schüfftan process
252:film directed by
238:
237:
1016:
934:1961 drama films
899:
882:
843:
842:
840:
838:
821:
815:
814:
796:
790:
789:
775:
769:
768:
751:
745:
744:
733:
727:
726:
718:
712:
711:
709:
707:
695:"Something Wild"
691:
685:
684:
672:
666:
665:
660:. Archived from
652:"Something Wild"
648:
642:
641:
623:
617:
616:
606:
600:
599:
586:
270:Manhattan Bridge
197:
195:
31:
19:
18:
1024:
1023:
1019:
1018:
1017:
1015:
1014:
1013:
919:
918:
897:
852:
847:
846:
836:
834:
822:
818:
797:
793:
776:
772:
752:
748:
737:"Next at Plaza"
735:
734:
730:
719:
715:
705:
703:
693:
692:
688:
681:Cinema Daily US
673:
669:
650:
649:
645:
624:
620:
607:
603:
588:
587:
583:
578:
566:
546:
530:Bosley Crowther
498:
486:
475:
438:Eugen Schüfftan
391:
386:
354:Mildred Dunnock
337:
293:
266:Mildred Dunnock
234:<$ 1 million
207:
200:
193:
191:
184:
167:
162:
160:
134:Eugen Schüfftan
125:
103:Mildred Dunnock
72:
61:
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1022:
1012:
1011:
1006:
1001:
996:
991:
986:
981:
976:
971:
966:
961:
956:
951:
946:
941:
936:
931:
917:
916:
905:
894:
887:Something Wild
883:
870:Something Wild
866:
865:
857:Something Wild
851:
850:External links
848:
845:
844:
816:
791:
770:
746:
728:
723:New York Times
713:
686:
667:
643:
618:
601:
580:
579:
577:
574:
573:
572:
565:
562:
545:
542:
518:Something Wild
506:Film Quarterly
497:
494:
485:
482:
478:Something Wild
474:
471:
459:Jean Stapleton
416:Morton Feldman
390:
387:
385:
384:
381:
375:
372:Martin Kosleck
369:
363:
360:Jean Stapleton
357:
351:
345:
338:
336:
333:
304:Something Wild
292:
289:
281:Something Wild
242:Something Wild
236:
235:
232:
228:
227:
224:
220:
219:
216:
212:
211:
208:
205:
202:
201:
199:
198:
187:
185:
182:
179:
178:
176:United Artists
173:
172:Distributed by
169:
168:
165:
163:
158:
155:
154:
149:
145:
144:
141:
137:
136:
131:
130:Cinematography
127:
126:
124:
123:
118:
115:
113:Martin Kosleck
110:
108:Jean Stapleton
105:
100:
95:
89:
87:
83:
82:
79:
75:
74:
73:by Alex Karmel
67:
63:
62:
60:
59:
56:
52:
50:
46:
45:
40:
36:
35:
32:
24:
23:
22:Something Wild
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1021:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
995:
992:
990:
987:
985:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
970:
967:
965:
962:
960:
957:
955:
952:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
935:
932:
930:
927:
926:
924:
915:
911:
910:
906:
904:
900:
895:
893:
889:
888:
884:
881:
876:
872:
871:
867:
864:
861:
859:
858:
854:
853:
833:
832:
827:
820:
812:
808:
807:
802:
795:
787:
786:
781:
774:
766:
765:
760:
759:"On Broadway"
756:
750:
742:
738:
732:
725:. p. X7.
724:
717:
702:
701:
696:
690:
682:
678:
671:
663:
659:
658:
653:
647:
639:
635:
634:
629:
622:
615:. p. 11.
614:
613:
605:
597:
596:
591:
585:
581:
571:
568:
567:
561:
559:
555:
551:
541:
539:
534:
531:
527:
526:
521:
519:
515:
510:
508:
507:
502:
493:
491:
481:
479:
470:
468:
464:
463:Doris Roberts
460:
455:
453:
452:
447:
443:
439:
434:
432:
427:
425:
421:
417:
413:
412:Aaron Copland
408:
406:
402:
398:
397:
382:
379:
378:Clifton James
376:
373:
370:
367:
366:Doris Roberts
364:
361:
358:
356:as Mrs. Gates
355:
352:
349:
346:
343:
342:Carroll Baker
340:
339:
332:
328:
324:
320:
317:
311:
305:
301:
300:Carroll Baker
297:
288:
286:
282:
277:
275:
271:
267:
263:
259:
258:Carroll Baker
255:
251:
248:
244:
243:
233:
229:
225:
221:
218:United States
217:
213:
209:
203:
189:
188:
186:
180:
177:
174:
170:
164:
156:
153:
152:Aaron Copland
150:
146:
142:
138:
135:
132:
128:
122:
121:Clifton James
119:
117:Charles Watts
116:
114:
111:
109:
106:
104:
101:
99:
96:
94:
93:Carroll Baker
91:
90:
88:
84:
81:George Justin
80:
76:
71:
68:
64:
57:
54:
53:
51:
47:
44:
41:
37:
30:
25:
20:
908:
886:
869:
856:
835:. Retrieved
829:
819:
804:
794:
783:
773:
762:
749:
740:
731:
722:
716:
704:. Retrieved
698:
689:
680:
670:
662:the original
655:
646:
631:
621:
610:
604:
593:
584:
547:
535:
523:
522:
517:
513:
511:
504:
499:
487:
477:
476:
456:
449:
435:
428:
423:
409:
404:
400:
396:End as a Man
394:
392:
348:Ralph Meeker
329:
325:
321:
316:five and ten
312:
308:
303:
280:
278:
273:
262:Ralph Meeker
254:Jack Garfein
241:
240:
239:
206:Running time
183:Release date
98:Ralph Meeker
69:
55:Jack Garfein
43:Jack Garfein
837:October 26,
501:Jonas Mekas
451:The Hustler
374:as Landlord
210:112 minutes
143:Carl Lerner
78:Produced by
58:Alex Karmel
39:Directed by
929:1961 films
923:Categories
576:References
544:Home media
538:IFC Center
484:Box office
467:Diane Ladd
389:Production
194:1961-12-20
159:Production
49:Written by
831:IndieWire
706:April 19,
503:wrote in
431:Saul Bass
140:Edited by
811:Archived
806:DVD Talk
638:Archived
564:See also
401:Mary Ann
274:Mary Ann
247:neo noir
223:Language
148:Music by
86:Starring
70:Mary Ann
66:Based on
903:YouTube
890:at the
860:at the
558:Blu-ray
528:critic
473:Release
420:celesta
350:as Mike
226:English
215:Country
192: (
161:company
877:
633:SFGate
285:nudity
264:, and
231:Budget
875:IMDb
839:2016
708:2016
335:Cast
291:Plot
901:on
873:at
550:MGM
302:in
925::
828:.
809:.
803:.
782:.
761:.
739:.
697:.
679:.
654:.
636:.
630:.
592:.
433:.
414:.
407:.
260:,
841:.
710:.
683:.
196:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
_poster_advertisement.jpg)
