way before woody allen lay claim to the same people and the same territory and this 1967 film base on a 1964 play by murray schisgal and direct on broadway by the young mike nichols ( who have be elaine may partner in chicago ) may be the first hollywood film ever to feature a group of highly neurotic and overly articulate and and although never name a such apparently middle class jewish urban character . unfortunately and a funny and satirical a the film be at time and open it up to the real world with naturalistic setting do not help support it weak story structure . when push come to shove and the movie be no more than a series of sketch and the sort that nichols and may do so brilliantly on record and stage . irishman jack lemmon seem miscast while he do his best and however and to sustain the frenetic shtick and mug outrageously at time . on the plus side and the brilliant and then beautiful elaine may ( future director and writer of many a film flop ) may be the great crazy jewish american princess ever portray on film . try a she might and woody allen second wife and louise lasser and understudy in the original broadway production and could never quite match elaine may when it come to sheer j. a. p. nuttiness .