''Tulips'' is a 1981 Canadian-American comedy-drama film starring

Gabe Kaplan Gabriel Weston Kaplan (born March 31, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, and professional poker player. He played the eponymous teacher in the 1970s sitcom ''Welcome Back, Kotter''. He later became a professional poker player and a commenta ...

and

Bernadette Peters Bernadette Peters ( ''née'' Lazzara; born February 28, 1948) is an American actress, singer, and children's book author. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she has starred in musical theatre, television and film, performed in solo co ...

. The director was officially credited as "Stan Ferris", but the film was actually directed by

Rex Bromfield Rex Bromfield is a Canadians, Canadian film and television director and writer."Filmmakers get serious in fall releases". ''Vancouver Sun'', September 12, 1987. He is best known for his 1982 film ''Melanie (film), Melanie'', which garnered seven Ge ...

, Mark Warren and

Al Waxman Albert Samuel Waxman, (March 2, 1935 – January 18, 2001) was a Canadian actor and director of over 1,000 productions on radio, television, film, and stage. He is best known for his starring roles in the television series '' King of Kensingto ...

Plot

Leland Irving (Gabe Kaplan) is depressed and lonely but his attempts at suicide are unsuccessful. He hires a professional

hit man Contract killing is a form of murder or assassination in which one party hires another party to kill a targeted person or persons. It involves an illegal agreement which includes some form of payment, monetary or otherwise. Either party may ...

, Maurice Avocado (Henry Gibson) to kill him; Avocado will use the code word "Tulips" when the time is at hand. While awaiting his fate, Leland comes across a woman—Rutanya Wallace (Bernadette Peters)--who is attempting suicide, and saves her. Rutanya is suffering from being rejected by a lover, but is charmingly unconventional and outgoing, the opposite of Leland's introvert. Their lives become intertwined, and although wary and battling initially, they fall in love and marry. However, now that they have found each other, they must call off the hit by Avocado, and complications arise. When Avocado will not agree to calling off the hit, Leland and Rutanya desperately try to obtain guns, etc., to attempt to kill the killer. In the end, no one dies. In one of the early scenes of their courtship, Leland plays the tuba while Rutanya sings " Sidewalks of New York".

Cast

— Leland Irving *

— Rutanya Wallace *

Henry Gibson Henry Gibson (born James Bateman; September 21, 1935 – September 14, 2009) was an American actor and poet. His best-known roles include his time as a cast member of the TV sketch-comedy series ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' from 1968 to 19 ...

— Maurice Avocado *

— Bert Irving * Dave Boxer — Dr. Carl Walburn *Howard Urley - Bouncer

External links

* * 1981 comedy-drama films 1981 films English-language Canadian films American comedy-drama films Canadian comedy-drama films Embassy Pictures films Films directed by Rex Bromfield Films produced by Don Carmody 1981 comedy films 1981 drama films Films about contract killing Films about suicide 1980s English-language films 1980s American films 1980s Canadian films English-language comedy-drama films {{1980s-comedy-drama-film-stub