The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds is a 1972 American drama film produced and directed by Paul Newman. The screenplay by Alvin Sargent is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same title by Paul Zindel. Newman cast his wife, Joanne Woodward, and one of their daughters, Nell Potts, in two of the lead roles. Middle-aged widow Beatrice Hunsdorfer and her daughters Ruth and Matilda are struggling to survive in a society they barely understand. Beatrice dreams of opening an elegant tea room but does not have the wherewithal to achieve her lofty goal. Epileptic Ruth is... a rebellious adolescent, while shy but highly intelligent and idealistic Matilda seeks solace in her pets and school projects, including one which gives the film its title. Matilda's science experiment is designed to show how small amounts of radium affect marigolds; some die, but others transform into strange but beautiful mutations completely unlike the original plants.
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| Release date: | 1972 |
| Directed by: | Paul Newman |
| Rated: |  |
| Runtime: | 100 Minutes |
| Screenplay by: | Alvin Sargent |
| Adapted from: | The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds |