The pending case: the People of the State of New York vs. Claudia Draper. The issue: Is Claudia mentally competent to stand trial? Sure, she's shocking. Outspoken. Explosive. Defiant. But is she "nuts?" Barbra Streisand is Claudia and Richard Dreyfuss is her public defender in the blistering courtroom thriller Nuts, and their first-time pairing results in "the dramatic performances of their careers" (Pat Collins, WWOR-TV New York). The sterling supporting cast -- Maureen Stapleton, Karl Malden, James Whitmore, Eli Wallach, Robert Webber and Leslie Nielsen -- has been directed to a perfect pitch by Hollywood legend Martin Ritt (Hud, Norma Rae). Claudia holds nothing back, so this day in court is one you'll never forget.
The story takes place in a courtroom. Claudia Draper (Barbra Streisand) is a professional woman of the night who is accused of murdering her client, Allen Green (Leslie Nielsen). She is allowed to claim mental incompetence, “Nuts;” however, she chooses not to do so. Towards the end of the movie, do I hear an “Ayn Rand” type courtroom speech about competence?
I have never seen the play, so I cannot comment on how the film varies. The movie, however, holds your attention. Barbra Streisand is not the only actor in this movie to let their personality overwhelm the character. Richard Dreyfuss, “Moon Over Parador,” lets his personality and mannerisms through pretty well as he plays the defendant's lawyer.
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