Elaine May Knows What's Funny

“If all of the people who hate ‘Ishtar’ had seen it,” Elaine May once famously said. “I would be a rich woman today.”

Ms. May, who directed the notoriously ill-fated 1987 film, may not have gotten rich on it, but she certainly has done well overall during her years as a performer, writer and director. Among her screenwriting credits are “Heaven Can Wait,” “The Birdcage” and “Tootsie.” And just two months ago, at the tender age of 87, she won her first acting award — a 2019 Tony for her leading role in “The Waverly Gallery.

But it’s Ms. May’s 1971 dark romantic comedy “A New Leaf” that will have a starring role when the Sag Harbor Cinema’s ‘Really Funny’ film series continues on Sunday, August 4, at 6 p.m. at Pierson High School.

Ms. May wrote, directed and starred in “A New Leaf,” which featured Walter Matthau as a self-absorbed playboy who, after having squandered his inheritance, marries heiress botanist Henrietta Lowell (May) with a plan to kill her and live happily ever after on her cash. “A New Leaf” received two Golden Globe nominations and was the first of the four legendary films that Ms. May wrote and directed between 1971 and 1987 (including the aforementioned “Ishtar”).

This screening is a rare opportunity to rediscover the behind-the-camera genius of one of America’s greatest humorists and one of the very few women filmmakers of her generation successfully working in Hollywood.

Running through September 22, “Really Funny” is a line-up of 10 films chosen by John Landis, director of “Animal House” and “An American Werewolf in London,” for their humor. Pierson High School is located at 200 Jermain Avenue in Sag Harbor. Tickets for the film are $10 online or at the door. For reservations go to sagharborcinema.org.