Not for Publication (1984 film)

Not for Publication

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1984 (1984)
Founder	Paul Bartel (director)
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Products	Film

Not for Publication, released in 1984, is an American screwball comedy film directed by Paul Bartel featuring performances by Nancy Allen, David Naughton, Laurence Luckinbill, Alan Rosenberg, and Alice Ghostley. The movie debuted on November 1, 1984, and was later showcased at the 1985 Sundance Film Festival, where distribution rights were secured by Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment.

Plot

Lois Thornedyke works as a driven reporter for The Informer, a sensationalist New York City tabloid. Although her editor Troppogrosso favors scandalous headlines, Lois longs for the newspaper's former prestige under her father's leadership when it was known as The Enforcer. Using the pseudonym "Louise Thorne," she also volunteers for Mayor Claude Franklyn's re-election campaign. Unaware of her connection to the tabloid, Franklyn hires her as his personal assistant. Lois enlists Barry Denver, a photographer specializing in birds, to serve as the campaign’s official photographer.

Following a tip that the mayor will attend a secretive sex club named The Bestiary, Troppogrosso sends Lois to investigate. Disguised in animal costumes, Lois and Barry infiltrate the club but fail to locate Franklyn before a group of burglars interrupts the event. To obtain an exclusive story, they impersonate thieves and are taken to the burglars’ hideout, where Barry discovers Lois’s affiliation with The Informer.

It is revealed that Mayor Franklyn is covertly orchestrating the crime ring behind the club break-in and holds a 50% stake in The Informer, with Troppogrosso managing both enterprises. During a campaign flight, Franklyn confesses his illicit activities to Lois and Barry, unaware that Lois has recorded the admission. She bargains to keep the confession confidential in return for reinstating the newspaper’s original title, The Enforcer. The revamped publication subsequently announces Franklyn’s successful re-election and celebrates Lois and Barry’s engagement.

Production

Director Paul Bartel and co-writer John Meyer developed a screenplay influenced by classic screwball comedies from the 1930s and 1940s. Bartel chose the name "Lois Thorndyke" for the protagonist, drawing inspiration from leading ladies in Frank Capra films as well as the comic book figure Lois Lane.

Building on the acclaim of his earlier project Eating Raoul, Bartel secured a $3 million budget—tenfold greater than that of Raoul—with $2.5 million provided by EMI. This enhanced funding allowed for advanced equipment such as a camera crane, casting well-known actors including Nancy Allen and David Naughton, and incorporating a musical sequence.

Principal photography began in New York City on October 3, 1983. After one week, production shifted to Texas, where Dallas served as a stand-in for New York. Filming concluded on November 22.

Box office

Financially, the film did not meet expectations; Bartel attributed this outcome partly to the lack of higher-profile stars.

Critical response

TV Guide characterized the movie as "wildly improbable and sometimes hilariously funny," praising its creative dialogue and eccentric characters that could cultivate a cult following through midnight showings. Vincent Canby of The New York Times observed that while appreciating the humor demands some effort, the film delivers satisfying performances and is well-suited for late-night audiences despite its somewhat complex storyline.

Home media

On June 30, 2020, Not for Publication was made available as a restored 4K Blu-ray edition through Kino Lorber. This release includes an audio commentary track featuring filmmaker Allan Arkush, a longtime collaborator and friend of Bartel, along with historian Daniel Kremer.