- Only When I Laugh (film)
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For the similarly titled 1968 film, see Only When I Larf (film).
Only When I Laugh 
Only When I Laugh theatrical posterDirected by Glenn Jordan Produced by Neil Simon
Roger M. RothsteinWritten by Neil Simon (based on his play "The Gingerbread Lady") Starring Marsha Mason
Kristy McNichol
James Coco
Joan Hackett
David DukesMusic by David Shire Cinematography David M. Walsh Editing by John Wright Distributed by Columbia Pictures Release date(s) 23 September 1981 Running time 120 min Country USA Language English Only When I Laugh is a 1981 film based on Neil Simon's play The Gingerbread Lady.
The story is about an alcoholic Broadway actress who tries to stay sober while dealing with the problems of her teenaged daughter and her friends: an overly vain woman who fears the loss of her looks and a gay actor relegated to small roles in third-rate shows. Simon changed the main character's name to Georgia Hines for the film adaptation; the character was named Evy Meara in the stage version. Also of note, the main character went from being a cabaret singer to a Broadway stage actress.
The film, written by Simon and directed by Glenn Jordan, stars Marsha Mason, Joan Hackett, James Coco and Kristy McNichol. It also features two short scenes with then unknowns Kevin Bacon and John Vargas. Simon's next release, I Ought to Be in Pictures, would be released just six months later, and its plot would be similar.
It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (James Coco), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Marsha Mason) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Joan Hackett).
Ironically, Coco was also nominated for Worst Supporting Actor in Golden Raspberry Awards in the same year.
As of this writing the film has yet to be released on the DVD or Blu-ray format. Available for download on Apple's iTunes.
Contents
Cast
Starring
- Marsha Mason - Georgia Heinz
- Kristy McNichol - Polly Heinz
- James Coco - Jimmy Perrino
- Joan Hackett - Toby Landau
- David Dukes - David
and
- John Bennett Perry - Lou, an Actor
- Guy Boyd - Boxing Fan in Bar
- Ed Moore - Dr. Komack
- Byron Webster - Tom
- Peter Coffield - Mr. Tarloff
- Mark Schubb - Adam Kasabian
- Ellen La Gamba - Receptionist
- Venida Evans - Nurse Garcia
- John Vargas - Manuel
- Nancy Nagler - Heidi
- Dan Monahan - Jason
- Michael Ross - Paul
- Tom Ormeny - Kyle
- Ken Weisbrath - Waiter
- Henry Olek - George the Director
- Jane Atkins - Doreen
- Kevin Bacon - Don
- Ron Levine - Gary
- Rebecca Stanley - Denise Summers
- Nick Lapadula - Bartender
- Philip Lindsay - Apartment House Superintendent
- Birdie M. Hale - Superintendent's Wife
- Wayne Franson - Father
Awards and nominations
1982 Academy Awards
- Nominated : Best Actress in a Leading Role Marsha Mason
- Nominated : Best Actor in a Supporting Role James Coco
- Nominated : Best Actress in a Supporting Role Joan Hackett
1982 Golden Globes
- Won : Best Motion Picture Actress in a Supporting Role Joan Hackett
- Nominated : Best Motion Picture Actor in a Supporting Role James Coco
- Nominated : Best Motion Picture Actress in a Supporting Role Kristy McNichol
1982 Golden Raspberry Awards
- Nominated : Worst Supporting Actor James Coco
- Nominated : Worst Original Song - "Only When I Laugh"
1982 Young Artist Awards
- Won : Best Young Motion Picture Actress Kristy McNichol
External links
- Only When I Laugh at the Internet Movie Database
- Only When I Laugh at AllRovi
Films directed by Glenn Jordan 1970s Les Misérables (1977) · Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love (1979)1980s Only When I Laugh (1981) · The Princess and the Cabbie (1981) · The Buddy System (1984) · Mass Appeal (1984)1990s Sarah, Plain and Tall (1991) · O Pioneers! (1992) · Barbarians at the Gate (1993) · A Streetcar Named Desire (1995) · After Jimmy (1996) · Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter's End (1999)2000s Lucy (2003)Categories:- 1981 films
- Columbia Pictures films
- 1980s comedy films
- American films
- American comedy films
- Films based on plays
- Films directed by Glenn Jordan
- 20th Century Fox films
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