User reviews

I saw this film back in '76 and it made such an impression on me that I've NEVER forgotten it. It touched me and I really did want to be a tree after I saw it-in fact, I still have dreams of being a tree because of this lovely film. I absolutely loved it-it was beautiful. I have been looking for it, wanting to see it again for years. Anyone who says this is a bad film and a waste of time has no imagination or heart. I thought it was well cast. Especially Jason Robards. His portrayal of a mail man who wants something more from life is memorable. I usually don't much care for Sandy Dennis, but she was good in the role of Robard's wife.

Get in touch with your inner child and give this film a chance, it's well worth it.

Flop Broadway play from 1942 becomes unsuccessful movie, though one not without some eccentric charm. Small town postman, who writes poetry and talks to the trees along his mail route, chucks his job one afternoon to become a tree himself. Fascinated with metamorphosis, as well as by an ancient legend that had lovers being turned into trees by the gods, our hero digs a hole in his backyard and promptly plants himself, much to the concern of his wife, his clergy and neighbors (one of whom tells him to beware of boll weevils!). Playwright Ketti Frings, who co-adapted her play with director Pancho Kohner from a story by Robert Ayre, is obviously in love with absurdist comedy, and some of her early scenes do get laughs; however, this is short subject material, not a feature film. Kohner attempts to stretch the plot out with a needless milk truck chase and asides with sanitarium workers, to no avail. Good cast including Jason Robards, Sandy Dennis, Jean Simmons, and a snarky Robert Easton nearly makes it tolerable. *1/2 from ****

This film for the longest time made me think I was loosing my mind. I remember watching it on television long long ago as a little child with my mother. Her and I commented on the film all throughout the length of the movie at how wonderful it was.

Years and years later, I brought it up to her, "Hey mom, remember that movie we watched about the old guy who wanted to become a tree so he planted his feet in the backyard?" She had no freegin clue what I was talking about. I insisted we had seen the movie, and told her I even remember where we were sitting in the living room that night. She was clueless. So for a looong time afterwards I really truly thought I had imagined this story in my mind.

Finally, one day a friend and I were talking movies, and I joked with him about how I had created this weird story in my head about this movie about a guy who wants to be a tree, and all nonchalantly he was like, "Oh yeah, Mr. Sycamore... that was a pretty decent flick." WHHATTT?!! There really IS A MOVIE ABOUT THAT!!! And then I come to find out it was Jason Robarts who actually played the part.

I know, this wasn't even a movie review at all, and I have no idea where to find the movie now to watch it again and give it an honest vote out of 10. So I'll leave my story at that. :)

I screened this movie for possible negative pick up when I worked as Universal's Head of Independent Film Acquisition. First, I have the utmost respect for Jason Robards as an actor. He was one of the best. Having said that he could not save this film which I found meretricious and boring. It was a noble try but for me it just didn't work. I applaud the producers for getting it made. Maybe it would if he was a giant redwood in Muir Woods. A novel like Kafka's Metamorphosis would be more viable due to the symbolism and the verisimiltude. Or, George Orwell's Animal Farm might be another book into film that is viable, But this film is too ripe with faux symbolism and sophistry as well as wooden (no pun intended) to be a movie. Bottom line, Mr.Robards gives it his best effort, but it doesn't save Mr.Sycamore. Perhaps a better title would be Mr. Dendroid.

I first saw this movie about 1975 on TV and it made a huge impact on me...so much so that I changed my name to Mr. Sycamore. In 1986 I decided to change my name legally (mainly because I didn't like my dad). My birth name was Thomas Gee, but when I finally decided to make a new name for myself I thought of how I loved this movie and so I changed my name to Tom Sycamore which I have been for the past 22 years).

I have always been a huge fan of Sandy Dennis, and the idea from this movie that one can create your own life (even if it involves becoming a tree) makes this a very special movie.

Lame, pretentious, full of itself, amateurish, 'cute,' trite - I could go on and on and on about all the negative qualities of this film, but suffice to say that the original (1942?!) Broadway productions was one of the biggest flops of that season, and with good reason.

There's some real talent involved here, in front of the camera (Jean Simmons, Sandy Dennis, Jason Robards - Oscar winners or nominees all), as well as in post-production (Maurice Jarre - another multiple Academy Award winner), but the result suffers irretrievably from the fact that the story is utterly worthless, namely: a postman (Robards), tired of his limited dull, pedestrian existence and his small-minded wife, decides that the solution to his problems is...to become a tree. So, he literally plants himself, up to his knees, in the ground in his backyard. And hopes for the best. Need I say more?

Pancho Kohner (brother of Susan, the 'mixed' girl from the 1959 remake of "Imitation of Life", and uncle to the Brothers Weitz, they of "American Pie" fame), thank God, never went on to make another movie (so far, anyway - let us pray...).

Some movies are so upsetting, they should never have been made. Some movies are so stupid, you simply wonder why they were made. Thankfully, Mr. Sycamore belongs to the latter category. There's nothing particularly disturbing about this film, in which a bored postman decides to become a tree, but it's so ridiculous, you wonder why anyone put up the money to produce it.

Yes, you read that correctly. Jason Robards plays a postman, and one day he quits his job, digs a hole in his backyard, and stands there, waiting for his feet to take root and turn into an actual tree. There might have been some sort of metaphor or deeper meaning in the story, but I couldn't see it. Sandy Dennis plays the wife, who isn't on board with his transformation. It isn't nice of me to harp on her appearance, so instead I'll mention her repeated flub of her lines, which added to my difficulty in watching her performance.

It's a very stupid movie, without substance or good acting. Don't watch it, unless you admittedly have bad taste.

This is a beautiful, fanciful allegory. Jason Robards, Sandy Dennis, and Jean Simmons were the perfect casting choices. A great movie for all Strangers in a Strange Land. Even the love triangle among the leading characters avoids the formulaic approach of Hollywood.

The premise is totally preposterousness. A man who wants to and tries to become a tree! However it might help us all realize that our own authenticity should be achievable. This is exactly the approach taken by Edward Albee in his latest play, The Goat or Who Is Sylvia? The movie is apparently the only one Robert Ayre wrote. And although Pancho Kohner has produced many films, including several Charles Bronson films, he has only directed one film other than Mr. Sycamore, The Bridge in the Jungle.

This is a movie for anyone who cannot accept the judgement of the great unwashed masses. It's for anyone who yearns to express their authentic self. Anyone whose life seems to require constantly swimming upstream will love this movie.

Deserves to be more known. I imagine if Ozu or the Italians made it everyone would know about the movie. Magic realism is seldom takes hold in American film because we are too practical and literal-minded. This movie is about the acting though. Sandy Dennis elevated everything she was in. She was especially good at playing alongside crazy men. She doesn't even play straight against them, she is always offbeat too. Jason Robards also elevated everything he's in. This film shows what a perfect actor he is, with a charm and weariness that can sell you a whole universe. Whatever are the weaknesses of the story, it somehow feels completely right due to these performances. You really don't question any of it. You may ask why this was made. I think it makes you see the world in a different light. There is something as well to the mailman walking and walking, and deciding to... well.

Yes, that's a quote from the film! Yet, it is amazingly G-rated! A disgruntled postman stands nightly in his yardhole, dreaming of taking root. You might find yourself dreaming of becoming a tree during the film too, as it's sure to put you to sleep. It's dull, slow, faded, and quiet. I'm guessing (and hoping) that it was made for TV. Perhaps it would have made a better play, although that would still have been mind-numbing. I recommend avoidance.

OMG!!! I could have reviewed the previous comment MYSELF. My husband even asked was I sure that I didn't write it b'cause it is one of my favorite all time childhood movies..... watched it with my mom.... she swears she's never heard of anything like it but I remember every scene. Since I grew up with a vivid imagination. I too though was either going crazy or had made it up. I am so glad to have found out that it does exist. If anyone knows where to get it, please let me know. I also remember a scene where the very concerned wife goes to a country church alone and they were singing HOLY HOLY HOLY. By the way, my husband asked me that because I have spoken about it for the 6years we have been married.

The only reason I cannot give this movie a higher or lower rating is that I saw it 20 years ago or so when I was a teenager in an altered state of consciousness. This movie gave me such a wonderful feeling because after all, many of us can relate to wanting to escape this ordinary life of bills and drudgery. I would really like to see it again, of course this time would be a more clearheaded viewing. I think I would still like it though mainly because I haven't given up on movies and music to help escape. This movie did that for me then. I wish I could find a copy on DVD but several attempts to find it have availed nothing. I feel as though this movie viewed with an open heart and open mind, without the typical expectations of a Hollywood film, would be a great movie.

All these years I thought this was a Disney movie. I enjoyed this movie very much as a child. I thought the ending was the best! I explained this movie the best way I could remember Years and years later to an elderly couple, they both seemed to enjoy my recollection of it and said they would enjoy watching that movie very much. That made me smile. You can watch on Youtube.

Talk about a wasted cast: Jean Simmons, Sandy Dennis and Jason Robards--a mailman who decides to become.....a tree! Director Pancho Kohner, who later made a number of Charles Bronson vigilante films like St. Ives, really went out on a limb to make this dreck. Don't waste your time--this one is SO bad it's not even funny to watch. Really embarrassing.