Without a doubt A New Leaf is one quirky and weird movie and maybe the strangest role Walter Matthau ever did in his career. WAtching it I thought it was a role more suited to Jack Lemmon. Matthau is too blue collar in his personality for this.Despite miscasting Matthau does succeed here in playing a totally spoiled and useless millionaire, Arthur without the severe drinking problem. He's never done a lick of work in his life just spends his money acquiring millionaire type toys until his accountant William Redfield who has no use for him tells him he's flat broke.When the really rich uncle James Coco cuts him off in a beautifully played scene by Coco, it never occurs to Matthau to get a job. What he decides is to marry a woman richer and start living off her money.At a singles event for the rich and bored he finds what he considers a perfect match in Elaine May. May is the real star and in fact she directs A New Leaf. She is flawless as this incredibly wealthy, but socially inept billionairess who is a professor of botany. Everyone intimidates her including her household staff led by Doris Roberts and they take horrible advantage of her.Matthau with his snobbish ways and the inept May are the odd couple forgive the reference pun of the century. But that's all right as he plans to murder her and inherit her money.All I'll say is he never quite gets around to homicide. Strange as it seems May kind of grows on Matthau though in the real world I can't see how. I should also point out the role of George Rose as Matthau's class conscious butler who has a relationship similar to John Gielgud and Dudley Moore. He's got some of the best lines in the film.One weird role for Matthau, I think he's miscast, but overall the film is fine.

Walter Matthau has been living high on the hog and used to the extravagant life, due to his wealth left to him, but one day he finds it's all gone. It has come to his attention through his accountant that he is broke and that he has innumerable debts. He must liquidate. He must do something. That something, as he discusses and decides with his man, is to marry for money. Enter Elaine May, who is ideal, because she is eccentric, lonely, kind of naïve and unsuspecting, and plain but not too plain. Oh, and she's very, very rich. In his wooing her, they have adventures together, but mainly talking about her hobby of gardening and discovering new flowers. She loves flowers. He also finds that her staff has been taking advantage of her, because she is very gullible. People tend to take advantage of her sweet nature. Huh? It turns out that Walter has finally found some good use for himself in taking care of her and her financial business. He finally finds some self-worth in thinking of someone besides himself. Her sweet disposition, their chemistry together and the great ending really make the film. It is now my favorite "new film I've discovered." Elaine May wrote and directed this film and I loved all of it. The beginning is a bit confusing, but, if you can get past the first 5 minutes or so, I think you'll love it too. This really is a treasure ready to be unearthed. Find yourself "a new leaf" today and you'll have a new perspective on life.

I saw this movie when I was a kid and remembered it to be funny. Recently I started looking for it again (not knowing the title). I only knew that Walter Matthau was in it. Via "The taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)" I've found it. After 40 years it is still a great movie. Respect for writer, director Elaine May.The movie gives me a good feel. The slow camera movement of the 70's. The under cooled acting of Matthau. Natural dialogs. The fact that you know all the hidden intentions of the character(s) works out to be funny. From the start I feel sympathy for Walther Matthau, playing a wealthy, no good, snob. I never dislike him, even when his intention is to kill his wife.

After burning through his trust fund, New York City playboy Walter Matthau must find a wealthy woman to marry or else lose everything, including his dignity; Elaine May (who also directed and adapted the screenplay from a short story by Jack Ritchie) is Matthau's target--a rich, klutzy plain-Jane botanist and bleeding heart. Not especially sharp (or satiric where it needed to be), but nevertheless a lot of fun. Matthau scores some big laughs; when he suddenly takes charge and fires May's thieving household staff, Matthau is comically forceful (a superb mixture which suits him). He even manages to make some of the lesser scenes (particularly a camping trip near the finish) amusing. May is sweetly frazzled and gives herself some good lines, yet she appears to understand this is Walter's movie and so allows him room to run the gamut from sneaky conniver to protective husband. The editing is noticeably ragged, with some scenes cut off too quickly and James Coco's role (as Matthau's uncle) amounting to little more than a cameo. However, when May gets her timing right and relies on the smart dialogue rather than the somewhat awkward physical comedy, the results are very appealing. **1/2 from ****