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Simon

  • 19801980
  • PGPG
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
906
YOUR RATING
Simon (1980)
  • Comedy
  • Sci-Fi
A group of scientists takes Simon, a psychology professor, as a test person for a brainwash experiment. After that they try to convince him that he is a being from another planet.A group of scientists takes Simon, a psychology professor, as a test person for a brainwash experiment. After that they try to convince him that he is a being from another planet.A group of scientists takes Simon, a psychology professor, as a test person for a brainwash experiment. After that they try to convince him that he is a being from another planet.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
906
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Marshall Brickman
  • Writers
    • Marshall Brickman(screenplay)
    • Thomas Baum(story)
  • Stars
    • Alan Arkin
    • Madeline Kahn
    • Austin Pendleton
Top credits
  • Director
    • Marshall Brickman
  • Writers
    • Marshall Brickman(screenplay)
    • Thomas Baum(story)
  • Stars
    • Alan Arkin
    • Madeline Kahn
    • Austin Pendleton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 24User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 22
    Video 29:04
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 22

    Photos15

    Simon (1980)
    Alan Arkin in Simon (1980)
    Alan Arkin in Simon (1980)
    Alan Arkin in Simon (1980)
    Simon (1980)
    Simon (1980)
    Louise Lasser in Simon (1980)
    Alan Arkin and Austin Pendleton in Simon (1980)
    Alan Arkin, Wallace Shawn, Jayant, William Finley, Austin Pendleton, and Max Wright in Simon (1980)
    Alan Arkin in Simon (1980)
    Alan Arkin, Wallace Shawn, Jayant, William Finley, Austin Pendleton, and Max Wright in Simon (1980)
    Alan Arkin and Madeline Kahn in Simon (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alan Arkin
    Alan Arkin
    • Simon Mendelssohnas Simon Mendelssohn
    Madeline Kahn
    Madeline Kahn
    • Dr. Cynthia Malloryas Dr. Cynthia Mallory
    Austin Pendleton
    Austin Pendleton
    • Dr. Carl Beckeras Dr. Carl Becker
    Judy Graubart
    Judy Graubart
    • Lisaas Lisa
    William Finley
    William Finley
    • Fichandleras Fichandler
    Jayant
    • Barundias Barundi
    Wallace Shawn
    Wallace Shawn
    • Eric Van Dongenas Eric Van Dongen
    Max Wright
    Max Wright
    • Leon Hundertwasseras Leon Hundertwasser
    Fred Gwynne
    Fred Gwynne
    • Maj. Gen. Koreyas Maj. Gen. Korey
    Adolph Green
    Adolph Green
    • Commune Leaderas Commune Leader
    Keith Szarabajka
    Keith Szarabajka
    • Joshas Josh
    Ann Risley
    Ann Risley
    • Pamas Pam
    Pierre Epstein
    • Military Aideas Military Aide
    Roy Cooper
    Roy Cooper
    • General's Aideas General's Aide
    Rex Robbins
    • Army Doctoras Army Doctor
    David Warrilow
    • Bladesas Blades
    Hetty Galen
    • Simon's Motheras Simon's Mother
    • (voice)
    David Gideon
    David Gideon
    • Security Guardas Security Guard
    • Director
      • Marshall Brickman
    • Writers
      • Marshall Brickman(screenplay) (story)
      • Thomas Baum(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Space Shuttle seen in this film is the Columbia in its STS-1 configuration - the only one with a white external fuel tank. The spacecraft had arrived at Kennedy Space Center in March of 1979 and was scheduled to launch late in that year, but was delayed until April, 1981 due to engine and thermal protection system problems. Hence, the production was forced to use shots of the Shuttle on the launch pad, but an Apollo-era Saturn V rocket for the lift-off shots.
    • Goofs
      When the space shuttle lifts off, it promptly turns into a Saturn V.
    • Quotes

      Prof. Simon Mendelssohn: Good afternoon everybody. I've been doing a great deal of thinking about who I am and why I have been sent here to live with you. And the answer is really very simple. Things here are just not working out very well. Your jobs are boring, your food is bland, your water is polluted and your relationships don't work. Is that not right? And the question is, how have things come to such a sorry state of affairs? I will tell you. There is too much bad suff around. Bad food, bad drink, bad art, bad ideas. Everything's all clogged up. So, what we're going to do is we're going to get rid of all the bad stuff and that will be a very good beginning. Now, I have a list here of things I would like written in the constitution immediately after which I promise you your lives will be less tense and more rewarding: 1. All muzak in elevators, airports, restaurants and other public rooms will cease immediately. 2. No more children or animals may be used to sell products. 3. Lawyers who lose cases will go to jail with their clients. 4. No doctor may write a diet book. Any doctor who does will immediately lose his license and become a dentist. 5. I think we don't really need a House of Representatives and a Senate. The Romans didn't have one, so let's just have a Senate, okay? Which reminds me, I think that it would be a very good idea if from now on all politicians who appear in public wear a cone-shaped party hat. Not bad, huh? 6. Pollution. Anybody who owns a factory that makes radioactive waste has to take it home at night with him to his house. 7. Anybody who says, "I am trying to get centered," "You are invading my space," or "Far out" will be fined $50. Make that $100.

    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Little Darlings, Simon, Little Miss Marker, The Black Stallion, Hide in Plain Sight (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Aria
      From "Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5"

      Written by Heitor Villa-Lobos

    User reviews24

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    odd satire
    The Institute for Advanced Concepts is a group of five powerful scientists led by Dr. Carl Becker (Austin Pendleton). They are so brilliant that they have secured unfathomable government contracts to give them unlimited resources. Leon Hundertwasser (Max Wright) changes Nielsen ratings. Eric Van Dongen (Wallace Shawn) is trying to cross breed humanity with cockroaches. Then they read that over 60% of Americans believe in ET. They decide to hypnotize Prof. Simon Mendelssohn (Alan Arkin) with the help of Dr. Cynthia Malloy (Madeline Kahn) into thinking that he was an alien at birth and then abandoned. Lisa is his girlfriend and assistant.

    Alan Arkin belongs to an early iteration of Second City. That's probably where he met Judy Graubart. She may be a good performer on the small stage but she's not one on the big screen. Madeline Kahn would be an infinitively more charismatic lead. The whole movie feels like a smartly written exercise that is too smart for its own good. Writer/director Marshall Brickman has an extensive resume which includes a lot of early work with Woody Allen. It's a satire but of what exactly is not clear. Is it a satire of scientists? Is it a satire of the media? Is it a satire of the military? It may be simply a satire of the modern world in general. Instead of becoming an overnight media sensation, I would be more interested if the group released him into the wilds of his own life. He starts acting crazy. His class becomes popular. He abandons Lisa for hot coeds and then he becomes a media sensation. Alan Arkin is a terrific performer. The story needs to figure out its heart and its soul to bring out the humanity in the alien. There are strange little lines that strike me as hilarious. "Lisa, a lady is dancing with a potholder." It's completely random and the movie probably needs more of that. It's a high concept comedy that is a little too high.
    helpful•4
    1
    • SnoopyStyle
    • Mar 17, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Simon, der Außerirdische
    • Filming locations
      • Columbia University - Broadway & 116th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Bergman
      • Orion Pictures
      • Stroller
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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