The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds
1972·Drama·1h 40m
7.1
★
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 designed to show how small amounts of radium affect marigolds.
Directed by Paul Newman
literary adaptation
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Cast
Joanne Woodward
Beatrice Hunsdorfer
Roberta Wallach
Ruth Hunsdorfer
Judith Lowry
Nanny
Nell Newman
Matilda Hunsdorfer
David Spielberg
Mr. Goodman
Richard Venture
Floyd
Carolyn Coates
Mrs. McKay
Will Hare
Junk Man
Crew
Paul Newman
Director
Alvin Sargent
Screenplay
Maurice Jarre
Original Music Composer
Adam Holender
Director of Photography
Paul Newman
Producer
John Nicolella
First Assistant Director
Craig McKay
Assistant Editor
Popular Reviews
20 reviews
SofiaPRO
9.0★ · 01/24/26
a million stars for joanne woodward’s performance
a million stars for joanne woodward’s performance
Tristan
10.0★ · 09/02/25
Right in my wheelhouse from a vibes standpoint and also one of the most aesthetically authentic '70s films ever made.
Right in my wheelhouse from a vibes standpoint and also one of the most aesthetically authentic '70s films ever made.
llusioner
9.6★ · 05/11/25
“My experiment has made me feel important. Every atom in me, in everybody, has come from the sun, from places beyond our dreams. The atoms of our hands. The atoms of our hearts. Atom. What a beautiful world.”
“My experiment has made me feel important. Every atom in me, in everybody, has come from the sun, from places beyond our dreams. The atoms of our hands. The atoms of our hearts. Atom. What a beautiful world.”
charlie
8.2★ · 05/10/25
Matilda = Marie
Matilda = Marie
strawberry milkshake
Beatrice: Don’t ever pick a man cus he’s funny. They never leave you laughing.> Tillie — Science Fair Speech> > *The Past: “The seeds were exposed to various degrees of gamma rays from radiation sources in Oak Ridge...
Mr. Goodman helped me pay for the seeds... Their growth was plotted against .. time.”> The Present: “The seeds which received little radiation have grown to plants which are normal in appearance. The seeds which received moderate radiation gave rise to muta- tions such as double blooms, giant stems, and variegated leaves. The seeds closest to the gamma source were killed or yielded dwarf plants.”> The Future: “After radiation is better under- stood, a day will come when the power from exploding atoms will change the whole world we know.*
Some of the mutations will be good ones- wonderful things beyond our dreams-and I believe, I believe this with all my heart, the day will come when mankind will thank God for the strange and beautiful energy from the atom.”> The Conclusion: “My experiment has shown some of the strange effects radiation can pro- duce and how dangerous it can be if not handled correctly.
Mr. Goodman said I should tell in this conclusion what my future plans are and how this experiment has helped me make them.
For one thing, the effect of gamma rays on man-in-the-moon marigolds has made me curious about the sun and the stars, for the universe itself must be like a world of great atoms-and I want to know more about it. But most important, I suppose, my experiment has made me feel important every atom in me, in everybody, has come from the sun-from places beyond our dreams. The atoms of our hands, the atoms of our hearts…”> Atom.
What a beautiful word.> > > > >
Beatrice: Don’t ever pick a man cus he’s funny. They never leave you laughing.> Tillie — Science Fair Speech> > *The Past: “The seeds were exposed to various degrees of gamma rays from radiation sources in Oak Ridge...
Mr. Goodman helped me pay for the seeds... Their growth was plotted against .. time.”> The Present: “The seeds which received little radiation have grown to plants which are normal in appearance. The seeds which received moderate radiation gave rise to muta- tions such as double blooms, giant stems, and variegated leaves. The seeds closest to the gamma source were killed or yielded dwarf plants.”> The Future: “After radiation is better under- stood, a day will come when the power from exploding atoms will change the whole world we know.*
Some of the mutations will be good ones- wonderful things beyond our dreams-and I believe, I believe this with all my heart, the day will come when mankind will thank God for the strange and beautiful energy from the atom.”> The Conclusion: “My experiment has shown some of the strange effects radiation can pro- duce and how dangerous it can be if not handled correctly.
Mr. Goodman said I should tell in this conclusion what my future plans are and how this experiment has helped me make them.
For one thing, the effect of gamma rays on man-in-the-moon marigolds has made me curious about the sun and the stars, for the universe itself must be like a world of great atoms-and I want to know more about it. But most important, I suppose, my experiment has made me feel important every atom in me, in everybody, has come from the sun-from places beyond our dreams. The atoms of our hands, the atoms of our hearts…”> Atom.
What a beautiful word.> > > > >