Terms of Endearment

Infobox Film
name = Terms of Endearment

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caption = Theatrical release poster
director = James L. Brooks
producer = James L. Brooks
writer = James L. Brooks
Larry McMurtry
starring = Shirley MacLaine
Debra Winger
Jack Nicholson
Danny DeVito
Jeff Daniels
John Lithgow
music = Michael Gore
cinematography = Andrzej Bartkowiak
editing = Richard Marks
distributor = Paramount Pictures
released = November 23, 1983
runtime = 131 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget = $15 million
gross = $122,752,328
followed_by = "The Evening Star"
amg_id = 1:49104
imdb_id = 0086425

"Terms of Endearment" is a 1983 drama-romantic comedy film adapted by James L. Brooks from the novel by Larry McMurtry.

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. Shirley McLaine quit in mid-production saying "You can take the Oscar and shove it up your keister." She later returned to the film. 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

equel

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. [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/terms_of_endearment/ 10 February 2008] It was an enormous box-office hit. Gene Siskel, who gave the film a highly enthusiastic review, predicted accurately upon its release that it would go on to win the Oscar for Best Picture of 1983. However, playwright Rebecca Gilman disparagingly mentioned "Terms of Endearment" when discussing dramatic shortcuts. "Look at "Terms of Endearment". We’re going along and going along, and there’s not really a plot. Then...oh, she gets cancer. You get it all the time when people don’t quite know what to do, and I think in those cases it is a shortcut to tragedy." [Gilman, Rebecca. Personal Interview. 3 March, 2007.]

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

Televison Interviews

External links

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###@@@KEY@@@###s-achsuccession box
before = "Gandhi
after = "Amadeus
title = Academy Award for Best Picture
years = 1983|succession box
before = "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial"
after = "Amadeus"
title = Golden Globe for Best Picture - Drama
years = 1984|