# What a Way to Go!

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1964 film by J. Lee Thompson

For other uses, see [What a Way to Go](/source/What_a_Way_to_Go_(disambiguation)).

What a Way to Go! Theatrical release poster Directed by J. Lee Thompson Screenplay by Betty Comden Adolph Green Story by Gwen Davis Produced by Arthur P. Jacobs Starring Shirley MacLaine Paul Newman Robert Mitchum Dean Martin Gene Kelly Bob Cummings Dick Van Dyke Cinematography Leon Shamroy Edited by Marjorie Fowler Music by Nelson Riddle Production company Apjac-Orchard Productions Distributed by 20th Century-Fox Release date May 14, 1964 (1964-05-14) (New York City)[1] Running time 111 minutes Country United States Languages English French Budget $3.7 million[2] Box office $11.1 million[3]

***What a Way to Go!*** is a 1964 American [black comedy](/source/Black_comedy) film directed by [J. Lee Thompson](/source/J._Lee_Thompson) and starring [Shirley MacLaine](/source/Shirley_MacLaine), [Paul Newman](/source/Paul_Newman), [Robert Mitchum](/source/Robert_Mitchum), [Dean Martin](/source/Dean_Martin), [Gene Kelly](/source/Gene_Kelly), [Bob Cummings](/source/Bob_Cummings) and [Dick Van Dyke](/source/Dick_Van_Dyke).

In the film, a wealthy widow wants to donate most of her fortune to the [Internal Revenue Service](/source/Internal_Revenue_Service). She narrates her life story to her [psychiatrist](/source/Psychiatrist). Each of her past husbands found wealth and success, but met with tragic deaths. She thinks she is cursed, and she would instead prefer a "simple life" inspired by the writings of [Henry David Thoreau](/source/Henry_David_Thoreau).

## Plot

In a dream-like [pre-credit](/source/Pre-credit) sequence, Louisa, a black-clad widow, descends a pink staircase inside a pink mansion. She is followed by [pallbearers](/source/Pallbearer) carrying a pink coffin. The pallbearers slip and drop the coffin, which slides down the stairs.

Louisa wants to give her $211 million to the U.S. government [Internal Revenue Service](/source/Internal_Revenue_Service), who believes it is an [April Fools' Day](/source/April_Fools'_Day) joke. Sobbing to her unstable psychiatrist, Dr. Stephanson, Louisa tries to explain why she wants to give away her money, leading to a series of flashbacks, interspersed with fantasy sequences.

Louisa describes her childhood as a young, idealistic girl in a small town in Ohio. Her money-grubbing mother pushed Louisa to marry rich local business owner Leonard Crawley. Louisa instead marries Edgar Hopper, a poor shop owner who, inspired by [Henry David Thoreau](/source/Henry_David_Thoreau), prefers a simple life. They are happily poor until the jilted Leonard arrives and ridicules their rustic lifestyle, humiliating Edgar and motivating him to achieve success. Edgar transforms his small store into a tremendous empire, neglecting Louisa, ruining Crawley, and eventually overworking himself to an early death.

A grieving Louisa travels to Paris where she meets Larry Flint, an impoverished avant-garde artist. They fall in love, marry, and live a picturesque [bohemian lifestyle](/source/Bohemian_lifestyle). Larry invents a crane-like machine that converts eclectic sounds into paint strokes on canvas. One day, Louisa plays classical music that produces a beautiful painting, resulting in Larry's first major art sale. Larry builds larger cranes and sells many more paintings, making him a successful artist. One night, two petulant cranes turn on their creator and beat him to death.

Louisa, richer and more depressed, prepares to return to the United States. When she misses her flight, famed business tycoon Rod Anderson Jr. offers her a lift on his private jet. She initially finds him cold and calculating, but sees his softer side during the flight. They marry shortly afterward and live luxuriously in his Manhattan penthouse. Fearful of losing him like her first two husbands, Louisa convinces Rod to retire to a small farm similar to his childhood home. After sharing a jug with a few locals, an inebriated Rod mistakenly attempts to milk a bull, which kicks him through the barn wall, leaving Louisa widowed once again.

Now fantastically wealthy, Louisa wanders the country. In a small-town café, she meets Pinky Benson who, for over a decade, has performed nightly dressed as a clown. Management loves Pinky's corny musical act because it never distracts the customers from eating and drinking. The two fall in love and idyllically live aboard Pinky's run-down houseboat on the [Hudson River](/source/Hudson_River). On Pinky's birthday, Louisa suggests he perform without his usual time-consuming clown make-up and costume so they will not be late for his party after the show.

Without his clown getup, the customers notice that Pinky sings and dances beautifully. Virtually overnight, Pinky is a famous Hollywood star. He neglects Louisa and becomes so arrogant and self-centered that he has the entire mansion painted pink so fans will know it is his. At his film premiere, despite being warned, Pinky insists on greeting his excited fans. They become frenzied and trample Pinky to death.

After hearing Louisa's story, Dr. Stephanson proposes marriage, claiming to be the simple man she wants. She declines, which she declares is progress in her recovery. Stephanson accidentally presses the switch that raises the movable psychiatric couch about ten feet. Sitting on the edge, he falls off and is knocked unconscious, leaving Louisa stranded on top. The janitor enters and helps Louisa down. She is shocked it is Leonard Crawley, who lost everything after Edgar Hopper ruined his business. Leonard claims he is happy and credits Louisa and Thoreau for making his life "successful" because it is simple.

Louisa and Leonard marry and enjoy a bucolic life on a farm with their four children. Leonard, plowing a field, is distracted while reading Thoreau and apparently strikes oil after the tractor tire grinds into the ground. Louisa is distraught, believing her curse has struck again until oil company representatives arrive and say that Leonard punctured their pipeline. Leonard and Louisa rejoice, as they are still dirt-poor, but happy.

## Cast

Shirley MacLaine as Louisa May Foster Paul Newman as Larry Flint Robert Mitchum as Rod Anderson Jr. Dean Martin as Leonard Crawley Gene Kelly as Pinky Benson Bob Cummings as Dr. Victor Stephanson Dick Van Dyke as Edgar Hopper Reginald Gardiner as mad painter brushing everything in Pinky's palace pink, including rabbits and Louisa Margaret Dumont as Mrs. Foster, Louisa's overbearing mother Lou Nova as Trentino, owner of the café where Louisa discovered Pinky Benson Fifi D'Orsay as Baroness who praises Larry Flint's paintings Maurice Marsac as René, Larry Flint's fellow Parisian painter and friend Wally Vernon as Hollywood agent visiting at Pinky's swimming pool Jane Wald as Polly, Larry Flint's fellow Parisian artist and friend who shoots paint from a shotgun Lenny Kent as Hollywood lawyer who explains Pinky Benson's will to Louisa

Uncredited (in order of appearance) Dean Martin–Dick Van Dyke sequence/silent film spoof Dick Wilson as Driscoll, Crawley's store manager Marjorie Bennett as Mrs. Freeman, customer at Hopper's store Christopher Connelly as Ned, Hopper's store clerk Burt Mustin as lawyer reading Edgar Hopper's will to Louisa and her mother Paul Newman sequence/foreign art film spoof Barbara Walden as one of Larry's next door neighbors.[4] Marcel Hillaire as French lawyer reading Larry Flint's will to Louisa and René Robert Mitchum sequence/Lush Budgett spoof Barbara Bouchet as bikini-clad girl on Rod Anderson's plane whom he asks, "What are you doing after the orgy?" Anthony Eustrel as Willard, Rod Anderson's valet on the flight to New York Peter Duchin as Peter, the pianist at the lavish cocktail party Tom Conway as Lord Kensington, who meets Louisa and Rod Anderson at a lavish cocktail party Queenie Leonard as Lady Kensington who, alongside her husband, meets Louisa and Rod Milton Frome as lawyer reading Rod Anderson's will to Louisa Gene Kelly sequence/musical spoof Fred Aldrich as Herbert, patron who enters the café where Louisa just met Pinky Benson Arlene Harris as grey-haired café patron during Pinky's act, from whose table Pinky grabs salt Teri Garr as dancer in the Louisa/Pinky shipboard musical number Joel Grey as café patron enjoying Pinky's act Phil Arnold as Hollywood press and publicity agent visiting at Pinky's swimming pool Army Archerd as TV announcer at premiere of Pinky's 51⁄2-hour film Flaming Lips Dean Martin sequence/end scene Pamelyn Ferdin as Geraldine, 4-year-old daughter of Louisa and Leonard Crawley

## Production

### Development

Publicist Arthur Jacobs wanted to move into film production. One of his clients was [Marilyn Monroe](/source/Marilyn_Monroe) who said she would appear in a movie Jacobs produced if she liked the story. He found *I Love Louisa* based on a story by Gwen Davis about a woman with six husbands.[5][6] In June 1962, [Darryl F. Zanuck](/source/Darryl_F._Zanuck) reportedly told Marilyn Monroe that she would make two films for 20th Century-Fox (which he was in the process of taking over again): a re-vived *Something's Got to Give* and *What a Way to Go* (the alternate title for *I Love Louisa*). Monroe's fee would be a million dollars for both films. In July, Monroe reportedly approved J. Lee Thompson as director after watching *Tiger Bay* and *Northwest Frontier* and she was going to meet Gene Kelly to discuss his being her co-star.[7] [Monroe died](/source/Death_of_Marilyn_Monroe) in August 1962.

In September 1962, Jacobs said that J. Lee Thompson, who was another client of his, would direct the film following *The Mound Builders* (which became *Kings of the Sun*). Jacobs wanted one of the "top three" stars in the world to play the lead, and "important names" to play the six husbands. No distributor had been signed.[8] Later that month Thompson said he would make *I Love Louisa* with [Elizabeth Taylor](/source/Elizabeth_Taylor).[9] In October the Los Angeles Times reported that the Mirisch Company, who had a long-term deal with Thompson, would finance.[10] That month Betty Comden and Adolph Green signed to write the script.[11][12] In December Thompson said Comden and Green wanted to call the movie *What a Way to Go* and that he hoped [Frank Sinatra](/source/Frank_Sinatra) and [Marcello Mastroianni](/source/Marcello_Mastroianni) to play husbands.[13]

In January 1963, Thompson said he was confident about Frank Sinatra, [Marlon Brando](/source/Marlon_Brando) and [David Niven](/source/David_Niven) playing husbands.[14] In April 1963 Hedda Hopper reported that Steve McQueen would star in the film opposite Shirley MacLaine.[15]

MacLaine was formally signed in July 1963.[16] Also that month Jacobs announced he had signed a deal with 20th Century-Fox for the latter to finance and distribute. The production companies would be Jacob's Apjac and Thompson's Malibu Productions. The stars would be MacLaine, Dean Martin, Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Dick Van Dyke and Gene Kelly. Filming would start 8 August. Jacobs called the project "a sad comedy – a farout picture that has both loudness and pathos."[17]

According to Mitchum, Frank Sinatra had wanted $500,000 for two weeks worth of work, so they offered the role to Mitchum instead. He agreed to do it because he liked working with MacLaine and Thompson (who had directed him in *Cape Fear*).[18]

MacLaine said, "There is – I hope – pathos, anyway that's what I'm trying to do. It's funny for a girl to go through five husbands, getting wealthier with the death of each one – but it's sad, too, because she didn't want them to die and she hates money."[6]

Gene Kelly originally had the rights to the story, intending to direct it, but relinquished it to Jacobs. Kelly agreed to appear in a single sequence. He choreographed the dance as well, calling it "a kind of gentle spoof of old movie musicals, though not as much of a parody, really, as *[Sing Along with Mitch](/source/Sing_Along_with_Mitch)*."[19]

Robert Mitchum's role was originally meant for [Frank Sinatra](/source/Frank_Sinatra), but Sinatra suddenly wanted more than several times the amount of money that the other male leads received, and the studio refused his demands. [Gregory Peck](/source/Gregory_Peck) was sought, but he was unavailable. The previous year, MacLaine had co-starred with Mitchum in *[Two for the Seesaw](/source/Two_for_the_Seesaw_(1962_film))*, and she recommended him to director J. Lee Thompson who passed the endorsement on to the studio.[20]

Cummings signed in September 1963.[21]

The budget was a reported $5 million.[6]

### Shooting

Except for one scene at Los Angeles Airport, the entire film was shot on the Fox backlot on 73 sets. Because of the limited availability of the stars, the movie was shot over 45 days, which was considered short for a movie of this scale.[6]

The swimming pool set in the Pinky Benson sequences is the same set (with some minor redressing) used for *[Something's Got to Give](/source/Something's_Got_to_Give)*.

MacLaine was quoted as saying that she was happy to work with "[Edith Head](/source/Edith_Head) with a $500,000 budget, 72 hairstyles to match the gowns, and a $3.5-million gem collection loaned by [Harry Winston](/source/Harry_Winston) of New York. Pretty good perks, I'd say."[22]

## Reception

### Box office performance

*What a Way to Go!* premiered on May 12, 1964, and grossed $11,180,531 at the U.S. box office,[3] earning $6.10 million in the United States.[23][24]

According to Fox records, the film needed to earn $8.5 million in film rentals to break even and made $9.09 million, meaning it made a profit.[25]

### Film critics

Contemporary reviews were mixed, ranging from raves to pans. James Powers of the [Hollywood Reporter](/source/Hollywood_Reporter) called the film "hard to define, but easy to recommend...a dazzler".[26] *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))* labelled it a "big, gaudy, gimmicky comedy which continually promises more than it delivers by way of wit and/or bellylaffs."[27] [John Simon](/source/John_Simon_(critic)) of *[The New Leader](/source/The_New_Leader)*, who was noted for his frequently scathingly uncomplimentary reviews, wrote "The mildest thing that can be said about this film is that it is an abomination".[28] *[FilmInk](/source/FilmInk)* said Cummings was "great fun".[29]

### Awards

*What a Way to Go!* was nominated for two [Academy Awards](/source/Academy_Awards) for [Best Art Direction](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Production_Design) ([Jack Martin Smith](/source/Jack_Martin_Smith), [Ted Haworth](/source/Ted_Haworth), [Walter M. Scott](/source/Walter_M._Scott), [Stuart A. Reiss](/source/Stuart_A._Reiss)) and [Best Costume Design](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Costume_Design) by [Edith Head](/source/Edith_Head) and [Moss Mabry](/source/Moss_Mabry),[30] a [BAFTA](/source/BAFTA) Best Foreign Actress Award for [Shirley MacLaine](/source/Shirley_MacLaine),[31] and an [American Cinema Editors](/source/American_Cinema_Editors) Eddie Award for Best Editor for [Marjorie Fowler](/source/Marjorie_Fowler).[32] It won a [Locarno Film Festival](/source/Locarno_Film_Festival) Award for [Best Actor](/source/Best_Actor_Award_(Locarno_International_Film_Festival)) for Gene Kelly.[33]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AFI_1-0)** ["What a Way To Go!: Detail View"](http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=20305). *American Film Institute*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170225142733/http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=20305) from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESolomon1989254_2-0)** [Solomon 1989](#CITEREFSolomon1989), p. 254.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-numbers_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-numbers_3-1) ["Box Office Information for *What a Way to Go!*"](http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1964/0WWYG.php). *[The Numbers](/source/The_Numbers_(website))*. Retrieved April 30, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["She's Called Black Estee Lauder"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/704074207/?match=1&terms=%22Barbara%20Walden%22%20%22what%20a%20way%20to%20go%22). *The Fresno Bee*. August 17, 1978. p. 36. Retrieved February 1, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Hopper, Hedda](/source/Hedda_Hopper) (September 10, 1963). "Looking at Hollywood: Team Shirley, Bob in Film Spoof of Rich". *[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)*. p. b1.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-new_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-new_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-new_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-new_6-3) Glenn, Larry (September 15, 1963). "'What a Way to Go!' In Hollywood". *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. p. 133.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Brown, Peter H.; Barnham, Patte B. (1993). *Marilyn: The Last Take*. Penguin Group. pp. 316–318. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0525934851](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0525934851).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Archer, Eugene (September 4, 1962). "MOVIE TO BE MADE BY PUBLICITY FIRM: Arthur Jacobs Plans to Use Own Stars for 'Louisa'". *The New York Times*. p. 39.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-hed_9-0)** Hopper, Hedda (September 19, 1962). "J. Lee Thompson Books Liz for Film Next Year". *Chicago Daily Tribune*. p. b2.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Scheuer, Philip K. (October 18, 1962). "'If a Man Answers' Teams Dee, Darin: Young Marrieds Depicted; 'I Love Louisa' Up for Liz". *Los Angeles Times*. p. C17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Hopper, Hedda (October 19, 1962). "Cara Is Gleason's New TV Teammate: Hedda Had a Hand in Pairing; She Introduced Them at Party". *Los Angeles Times*. p. D12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FH_12-0)** ["'Forgotten Hollywood"- July Review / What a Way to Go (1964)"](http://www.forgottenhollywood.com/hollywood-history/forgotten-hollywood-july-review-what-a-way-to-go-1964.php). *forgottenhollywood.com*. July 1, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Coe., Richard L. (December 1, 1962). "Mighty Mite Is Thompson". *The Washington Post and Times-Herald*. p. C8.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Scheuer, Philip K. (January 7, 1963). "Producer Settles Knottiest Problem: Kramer Soothes His Stars, Scores Diplomatic Victory". *Los Angeles Times*. p. C15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Hedda, Hopper (April 15, 1963). "McQueen Will Star in 'I Love Louisa': He'll Appear With Shirley MacLaine in Mirisch Movie". *Los Angeles Times*. p. C12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** "Shirley MacLaine Gets Role". *The New York Times*. July 6, 1963. p. 7.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Thompson, Howard (July 7, 1963). "BY WAY OF REPORT: Apjac Agenda--Stage Play Due as Movie". *The New York Times*. p. X5.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** "Past, Fillies in the Future". *Los Angeles Times*. November 24, 1963. p. b7.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Scheuer, Philip K. (September 8, 1963). "Gene Kelly, 51, Still Has That Stardust in His Eyes. Twinkle in His Toes". *Los Angeles Times*. p. d4.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Server, Lee (2002). *Robert Mitchum: "Baby, I Don't Care"*. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 377. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0312285432](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0312285432).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Hopper, Hedda (September 5, 1963). "Looking at Hollywood: Now--Psychiatrist Role for Cummings". *Chicago Tribune*. p. c4.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-shirleymaclaine_22-0)** ["Shirley MacLaine on her experience with *What a Way to Go!*"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101007084152/http://www.shirleymaclaine.com/shirley/movies-whatawaytogo.php). *shirleymaclaine.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.shirleymaclaine.com/shirley/movies-whatawaytogo.php) on October 7, 2010. Retrieved May 4, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESolomon1989229_23-0)** [Solomon 1989](#CITEREFSolomon1989), p. 229.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** "Big Rental Pictures of 1964". *Variety*. January 6, 1965. p. 39.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Silverman, Stephen M. (1988). *Fox That Got Away: The Last Days of the Zanuck Dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox*. Lyle Stuart. p. 323. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0818404856](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0818404856).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Powers, James (May 13, 2018). ["'What a Way to Go!': THR's 1964 Review"](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/what-a-way-go-review-1964-movie-1100754/). *The Hollywood Reporter*. Retrieved August 1, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["What a Way to Go!"](https://variety.com/1963/film/reviews/what-a-way-to-go-1200420477/). *Variety*. January 1, 1964. Retrieved June 28, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** Simon, John (1967). *Private Screenings*. The MacMillan Company. pp. 116–17. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0425019511](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0425019511).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-film_29-0)** Vagg, Stephen (October 29, 2024). ["Movie Star Cold Streaks: Robert Cummings"](https://www.filmink.com.au/movie-star-cold-streaks-robert-cummings/). *Filmink*. Retrieved October 29, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NY_Times_30-0)** ["What a Way to Go!"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121018163834/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/116375/What-a-Way-to-Go-/awards). Movies & TV Dept. *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. 2012. Archived from [the original](https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/116375/What-a-Way-to-Go-/awards) on October 18, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["Film in 1965 | BAFTA Awards"](https://awards.bafta.org/award/1965/film). *awards.bafta.org*. Retrieved June 19, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["Marjorie Fowler, 82; Film Editor Won Life Achievement Award"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-18-me-fowler18-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. July 18, 2003. Retrieved June 19, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** ["17th Locarno Film Festival"](https://www.locarnofestival.ch/festival/palmares/1964.html). *Locarno Festival*. Retrieved June 19, 2024.

### Works cited

- Solomon, Aubrey (1989). *Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series*. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8108-4244-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8108-4244-1).

## External links

- [*What a Way to Go!*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058743/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [*What a Way to Go!*](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/what_a_way_to_go) at [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes)

- [*What a Way to Go!*](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/20305) at the *[AFI Catalog of Feature Films](/source/AFI_Catalog_of_Feature_Films)*

- [*What a Way to Go!*](https://web.archive.org/web/1/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/95411/enwp) at the [TCM Movie Database](/source/Turner_Classic_Movies#TCMdb) (archived)

- [*What a Way to Go!*](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/grand-exit/review/125005/) at *[TV Guide](/source/TV_Guide)* (heavily cut and revised version of 1987 write-up originally published in *[The Motion Picture Guide](/source/The_Motion_Picture_Guide)*)

- [Complete dialogue](http://www.cswap.com/1964/What_a_Way_to_Go!/cap/What%20a%20Way%20to%20Go!.en.srt)

v t e Films by J. Lee Thompson As director Murder Without Crime (1950) The Yellow Balloon (1953) The Weak and the Wicked (1954) For Better, for Worse (1954) As Long as They're Happy (1955) An Alligator Named Daisy (1955) Yield to the Night (1956) The Good Companions (1957) Woman in a Dressing Gown (1957) Ice Cold in Alex (1958) Tiger Bay (1959) No Trees in the Street (1959) North West Frontier (1959) I Aim at the Stars (1960) The Guns of Navarone (1961) Cape Fear (1962) Taras Bulba (1962) Kings of the Sun (1963) What a Way to Go! (1964) John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! (1965) Return from the Ashes (1965) Eye of the Devil (1966) Before Winter Comes (1969) Mackenna's Gold (1969) The Chairman (1969) Country Dance (1970) Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) A Great American Tragedy (1972) Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) Huckleberry Finn (1974) The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975) Widow (1976) St. Ives (1976) The White Buffalo (1977) The Greek Tycoon (1978) The Passage (1979) Caboblanco (1980) Happy Birthday to Me (1981) 10 to Midnight (1983) The Evil That Men Do (1984) The Ambassador (1984) King Solomon's Mines (1985) Murphy's Law (1986) Firewalker (1986) Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987) Messenger of Death (1988) Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects (1989) As writer only The Price of Folly (1937) The Middle Watch (1941) East of Piccadilly (1941) For Them That Trespass (1949) No Place for Jennifer (1950)

v t e Works by Betty Comden and Adolph Green Musicals On the Town Billion Dollar Baby Two on the Aisle Wonderful Town Peter Pan Bells Are Ringing Say, Darling A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green Do Re Mi Subways Are for Sleeping Fade Out – Fade In Hallelujah, Baby! Lorelei On the Twentieth Century A Doll's Life The Will Rogers Follies Films written Good News (1947) The Barkleys of Broadway (1949) On the Town (1949) Singin' in the Rain (1952) The Band Wagon (1953) It's Always Fair Weather (1955) Auntie Mame (1958) Bells Are Ringing (1960) What a Way to Go! (1964)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [What a Way to Go!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_a_Way_to_Go!) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_a_Way_to_Go!?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.