We begin, with David Staebler (Jack Nicholson), a late night radio talk show host, slowly describing a fantastical and ultimately fictional account of when he and his brother, Jason, as children, seeing and allowing their grandfather to choke at a family meal.
This wonderfully acted scene is jolted to a close as the radio producer signals to David, telling him of an urgent message.
Later the following morning David is awoken by his grandfather with the news that his brother is urgently trying to reach him.
From this point onwards, we're led into the crazy world of Jason (Bruce Dern) who wants his brother to help him put a deal together to secure a casino license on an obscure Island near Hawaii.
He explains that he's been made aware of the opportunity by his employer in small time crime, gang boss Lewis (Scatman Crothers) who, Jason says, cannot obtain a license for a Casino because he's "upset the wrong people" and this has given Jason the opportunity to close the deal himself, with the aid of unknown financiers, essentially stealing the deal away from Lewis.
Along for the ride are mother and step daughter Sally (Ellen Bursyn) and Jessica (Julia Anne Robinson) who are, in the kindest possible terms, bought company for David to show off on each arm.
As the tangled knot that is Jason's true predicament becomes clear to David, and everyone else, Sally's breaking point is reached, leading to a shocking outcome. As the crazy chain of events come to a depressing conclusion, we are then transported back to where we began.
David is finishing off his late night radio narrative... Which also happens to be the spoken conclusion to the enthralling but disjointed event's we have just witnessed.
Was the entire film just a fictional account of DJ David's memories of one of his brothers crazy adventures, or did we really see the last days of a con artist?
The answer isn't what's important here, the true meaning of 'The King Of Marvin Gardens' is the love between two brothers, who's lives and personalities are poles apart.
Director/Writer Bob Rafelson crafted a wonderful story, of love, of family and of fractured lives.
Essential viewing for any film affectionardo.
This wonderfully acted scene is jolted to a close as the radio producer signals to David, telling him of an urgent message.
Later the following morning David is awoken by his grandfather with the news that his brother is urgently trying to reach him.
From this point onwards, we're led into the crazy world of Jason (Bruce Dern) who wants his brother to help him put a deal together to secure a casino license on an obscure Island near Hawaii.
He explains that he's been made aware of the opportunity by his employer in small time crime, gang boss Lewis (Scatman Crothers) who, Jason says, cannot obtain a license for a Casino because he's "upset the wrong people" and this has given Jason the opportunity to close the deal himself, with the aid of unknown financiers, essentially stealing the deal away from Lewis.
Along for the ride are mother and step daughter Sally (Ellen Bursyn) and Jessica (Julia Anne Robinson) who are, in the kindest possible terms, bought company for David to show off on each arm.
As the tangled knot that is Jason's true predicament becomes clear to David, and everyone else, Sally's breaking point is reached, leading to a shocking outcome. As the crazy chain of events come to a depressing conclusion, we are then transported back to where we began.
David is finishing off his late night radio narrative... Which also happens to be the spoken conclusion to the enthralling but disjointed event's we have just witnessed.
Was the entire film just a fictional account of DJ David's memories of one of his brothers crazy adventures, or did we really see the last days of a con artist?
The answer isn't what's important here, the true meaning of 'The King Of Marvin Gardens' is the love between two brothers, who's lives and personalities are poles apart.
Director/Writer Bob Rafelson crafted a wonderful story, of love, of family and of fractured lives.
Essential viewing for any film affectionardo.