The Humor & Humanity of Mike Nichols
Mike Nichols has died and all the news services are headlining that Nichols directed THE GRADUATE. That would seem to be a bit of an undersell job – considering Nichols also made WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, CATCH 22, CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, SILKWOOD, HEARTBURN, WORKING GIRL, POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, THE BIRDCAGE and many others.
Nichols’ sense of humor and humanity became a building block of who we American moviegoers are. He and his (very often female) collaborators could wound with satire and heal with conscience.
On the subject of wounding and healing, here is a bit from the comedy team of Mike Nichols and Elaine May. It’s still very funny, though I am afraid that over the years cold reality has caught up to their satire about a patient trying to get his broken arm looked at in a hospital.
