A Thousand Clowns

Terrif dialog to match Robards' scenery-chewing create a sock impact.

The humor is still surprising, and Mr. Robards is still full of spice with his clownish wise-cracks and the map of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey stamped all over his face.

The mechanics of the Herb Gardner script show through much too clearly for this to qualify as anything other than shrewdly programmed entertainment.

A Thousand Clowns comes to the screen with a joyous vitality and a probing compassion that are irresistible.

With a cast this good and dialogue this witty, the film holds onto its modest charms.

This warm and wonderful comedy-drama is a paean to non-conformity.

... there's something disingenuous about presenting defiant purposelessness and unemployment as an act of courage.

Robard's performance is loud, playing-to-the-audience brash, and his version of nonconformist behavior is obnoxiously unfunny.

This serio comedy about nonconformity is well acted by Jason Robards and the others, but it's still a play