''Tulips'' is a 1981 Canadian-American
comedy-drama film starring
Gabe Kaplan
Gabriel Weston Kaplan (born March 31, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, and professional poker player. He played the eponymous teacher in the 1970s sitcom ''Welcome Back, Kotter''. He later became a professional poker player and a commenta ...
and
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters ( ''née'' Lazzara; born February 28, 1948) is an American actress, singer, and children's book author. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she has starred in musical theatre, television and film, performed in solo co ...
. The director was officially credited as "Stan Ferris", but the film was actually directed by
Rex Bromfield
Rex Bromfield is a Canadians, Canadian film and television director and writer."Filmmakers get serious in fall releases". ''Vancouver Sun'', September 12, 1987. He is best known for his 1982 film ''Melanie (film), Melanie'', which garnered seven Ge ...
, Mark Warren and
Al Waxman
Albert Samuel Waxman, (March 2, 1935 – January 18, 2001) was a Canadian actor and director of over 1,000 productions on radio, television, film, and stage. He is best known for his starring roles in the television series '' King of Kensingto ...
.
Plot
Leland Irving (Gabe Kaplan) is depressed and lonely but his attempts at
suicide are unsuccessful. He hires a professional
hit man
Contract killing is a form of murder or assassination in which one party hires another party to kill a targeted person or persons. It involves an illegal agreement which includes some form of payment, monetary or otherwise. Either party may ...
, Maurice Avocado (Henry Gibson) to kill him; Avocado will use the code word "Tulips" when the time is at hand. While awaiting his fate, Leland comes across a woman—Rutanya Wallace (Bernadette Peters)--who is attempting suicide, and saves her. Rutanya is suffering from being rejected by a lover, but is charmingly unconventional and outgoing, the opposite of Leland's introvert. Their lives become intertwined, and although wary and battling initially, they fall in love and marry.
However, now that they have found each other, they must call off the hit by Avocado, and complications arise. When Avocado will not agree to calling off the hit, Leland and Rutanya desperately try to obtain guns, etc., to attempt to kill the killer. In the end, no one dies.
In one of the early scenes of their courtship, Leland plays the tuba while Rutanya sings "
Sidewalks of New York".
Cast
*
Gabe Kaplan
Gabriel Weston Kaplan (born March 31, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, and professional poker player. He played the eponymous teacher in the 1970s sitcom ''Welcome Back, Kotter''. He later became a professional poker player and a commenta ...
— Leland Irving
*
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters ( ''née'' Lazzara; born February 28, 1948) is an American actress, singer, and children's book author. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she has starred in musical theatre, television and film, performed in solo co ...
— Rutanya Wallace
*
Henry Gibson
Henry Gibson (born James Bateman; September 21, 1935 – September 14, 2009) was an American actor and poet. His best-known roles include his time as a cast member of the TV sketch-comedy series ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' from 1968 to 19 ...
— Maurice Avocado
*
Al Waxman
Albert Samuel Waxman, (March 2, 1935 – January 18, 2001) was a Canadian actor and director of over 1,000 productions on radio, television, film, and stage. He is best known for his starring roles in the television series '' King of Kensingto ...
— Bert Irving
*
Dave Boxer — Dr. Carl Walburn
*Howard Urley - Bouncer
External links
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1981 comedy-drama films
1981 films
English-language Canadian films
American comedy-drama films
Canadian comedy-drama films
Embassy Pictures films
Films directed by Rex Bromfield
Films produced by Don Carmody
1981 comedy films
1981 drama films
Films about contract killing
Films about suicide
1980s English-language films
1980s American films
1980s Canadian films
English-language comedy-drama films
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