Terms of Endearment (film)
For the article referring to descriptive words or phrases signifying affection, see Term of endearment.
For the Drawn Together episode, see Terms of Endearment (Drawn Together episode).
Terms of Endearment
Directed by
James L. Brooks
Produced by
James L. Brooks
Written by
James L. Brooks
Larry McMurtry
Starring
Shirley MacLaine
Debra Winger
Jack Nicholson
Danny DeVito
Jeff Daniels
John Lithgow
Music by
Michael Gore
Cinematography
Andrzej Bartkowiak
Editing by
Richard Marks
Distributed by
Paramount Pictures
Release date(s)
November 23, 1983
Running time
131 min.
Country
USA
Language
English
Budget
$15 million
Gross revenue
$122,752,328
Followed by
The Evening Star
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile
Terms of Endearment is a 1983 drama-romantic comedy film adapted by James L. Brooks from the novel by Larry McMurtry.
Contents
- 1 Plot
- 2 Production
- 3 Trivia
- 4 Cast
- 5 Sequel
- 6 Critical response
- 7 Awards
- 8 References
- 9 External links
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Plot
Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) and Emma Greenway Horton (Debra Winger) are mother and daughter searching for love. Beginning with Emma’s marriage, Aurora reveals how difficult and caring she can be. The film centers around several years as they both find their reasons for going on living and finding joy. Aurora finds Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson), the retired astronaut next door. The relationship between Emma and Aurora comes full circle when Emma is diagnosed with cancer that soon becomes terminal. At film’s end, they all show different ways of expressing love.
Production
Actor Jack Nicholson’s character, astronaut Garrett Breedlove, does not appear in the novel. The part was created for Burt Reynolds, but he was already committed to another film, so it was handed to James Garner. Garner quarreled with the director over differing interpretations. The part then went to Harrison Ford who turned it down because he didn’t like the age difference between himself and Shirley MacLaine. The role wound up going to Nicholson. Louise Fletcher and Sissy Spacek were the original choices for the mother and daughter roles. The film was originally rated R for sexual content and language but re-rated PG on appeal.
Trivia
The film is one of the few big Hollywood releases of the 1980s featuring a mono soundtrack, although it has been remixed in Dolby Surround for its DVD release.
Cast
- Shirley MacLaine as Aurora Greenway
- Debra Winger as Emma Greenway Horton
- Jack Nicholson as Garrett Breedlove
- Lisa Hart Caroll as Patsy Clark
- Danny DeVito as Vernon Dahlart
- Jeff Daniels as Flap Horton
- Betty King as Rosie Dunlop
- John Lithgow as Sam Burns
- Megan Morris as Melanie Horton
- F. William Parker as Doctor
- A. Brooks (voice) as Rudyard Greenway
- Mary Kay Place (voice) as Doris
Sequel
In 1996, a sequel called The Evening Star was released, featuring MacLaine and Nicholson reprising their original roles. It was not a success with audiences or critics.
Critical response
Terms of Endearment was generally well regarded by critics, and maintains a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Awards
Wins
- Academy Award for Best Picture
- Academy Award for Directing – (James L. Brooks)
- Academy Award for Best Actress – (Shirley MacLaine)
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor – (Jack Nicholson)
- Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay – (James L. Brooks)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama – (Shirley MacLaine)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - (Jack Nicholson)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture – (James L. Brooks)
- DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures – (James L. Brooks)
- New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film
- New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress - (Shirley MacLaine)
- New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor - (Jack Nicholson)
Nominations
- Golden Globe Award for Best Director – (James L. Brooks)
- Academy Award for Best Actress – (Debra Winger)
- BAFTA Award for Best Actress – (Shirley MacLaine)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama – (Debra Winger)
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor – (John Lithgow)
- Academy Award for Best Art Direction - (Polly Platt & Tom Pedigo)
- Academy Award for Film Editing – (Richard Marks)
- Academy Award for Original Music Score – (Michael Gore)
- Academy Award for Sound – (Donald O. Mitchell, Rick Kline, Kevin O’Connell, James R. Alexander)
References
- ^ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/terms_of_endearment/ 10 February 2008
- ^ Gilman, Rebecca. Personal Interview. 3 March 2007.
External links
- Terms of Endearment at the Internet Movie Database
- Terms of Endearment at Allmovie
- Terms of Endearment at Box Office Mojo
Awards
Preceded by
Gandhi
Academy Award for Best Picture
1983
Succeeded by
Amadeus
Preceded by
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Golden Globe for Best Picture - Drama
1984
Succeeded by
Amadeus
Films directed by James L. Brooks
Terms of Endearment (1983) • Broadcast News (1987) • I’ll Do Anything (1994) • As Good as It Gets (1997) • Spanglish (2004)
Academy Award for Best Picture
Chariots of Fire (1981) · Gandhi (1982) · Terms of Endearment (1983) · Amadeus (1984) · Out of Africa (1985) · Platoon (1986) · The Last Emperor (1987) · Rain Man (1988) · Driving Miss Daisy (1989) · Dances with Wolves (1990) · The Silence of the Lambs (1991) · Unforgiven (1992) · Schindler’s List (1993) · Forrest Gump (1994) · Braveheart (1995) · The English Patient (1996) · Titanic (1997) · Shakespeare in Love (1998) · American Beauty (1999) · Gladiator (2000)
Complete List · (1928–1940) · (1941–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001–present)
Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terms_of_Endearment_%28film%29”
Categories: 1983 films | American films | English-language films | 1980s romantic comedy films | Romantic drama films | Tragedy films | Films based on fiction books | Films based on romance books | Best Drama Picture Golden Globe winners | Best Picture Academy Award winners | Films whose director won the Best Director Academy Award | Films featuring a Best Actress Academy Award winning performance | Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award winning performance | Films featuring a Best Drama Actress Golden Globe winning performance | Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe winning performance | Films set in Texas | Films set in Nebraska | Films whose writer won the Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award | Paramount films