Tootsie
| Tootsie | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Sydney Pollack |
| Screenplay by | |
| Story by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Owen Roizman |
| Edited by | |
| Music by | Dave Grusin |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 116 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $22 million[1] |
| Box office | $241 million |
Tootsieis a 1982 Americansatiricalromantic comedyfilm directed bySydney Pollackfrom a screenplay byLarry GelbartandMurray Schisgaland a story by Gelbart andDon McGuire.It starsDustin Hoffman,Jessica Lange,Teri Garr,Dabney Coleman,andCharles Durning.In the film, Michael Dorsey (Hoffman), a talented actor with a reputation for being professionally difficult, runs into romantic trouble after adopting a female persona to land a job.
Tootsiewas partly inspired from a play written by McGuire in the early 1970s, and was first made into screenplay byDick Richards,Bob Kaufman,andRobert Evans,in 1979. Richards, who was selected as director, introduced the project to Hoffman, who obtained completecreative controlafter signing on: revisions to the screenplay and from Richards and his successor,Hal Ashby,being replaced by Pollack caused delays to production, which eventually began in November 1981.Principal photographytook place acrossNew Yorkand inNew Jersey,with filming locations includingManhattan,Hurley,andFort Lee.The film's theme song, "It Might Be You",performed byStephen Bishop,peaked at No. 25 on theBillboardHot 100.
Tootsiewas theatrically released in the United States on December 17, 1982, byColumbia Pictures.The film grossed $241 million worldwide, becoming the third-highest grossing film of 1982, and received critical acclaim for its humor, Hoffman and Lange's performances, dialogue, and social commentary. It was nominated for ten awards at the55th Academy Awards,includingBest Picture,and wonBest Supporting Actressfor Lange. In 1998, the film was selected for preservation in the United StatesNational Film Registryby theLibrary of Congressas "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[2]
Plot[edit]
Michael Dorsey is a respected actor, but nobody in New York City wants to hire him because he is a perfectionist and difficult to work with. He makes ends meet by working as a server in a restaurant and teaching acting classes. After many months without an acting job, Michael hears of an opening on the popular daytimesoap operaSouthwest Generalfrom his friend and acting student Sandy Lester, who tries out unsuccessfully for the role of hospital administrator Emily Kimberly. In desperation, and following an argument with his agent, Michael disguises himself as a woman, gives his name as "Dorothy Michaels" at the audition, and gets the hospital administrator part. Michael takes the job as a way to raise $8,000 to produce a play by his roommate Jeff Slater, which will star himself and Sandy. As "Dorothy", Michael plays Emily Kimberly as a plausible feminist, which surprises the other actors and the crew, who expected the performance to be mild-mannered rather than the empowered "Gloria Steinem type" suggested in the script. His character quickly becomes a national sensation.
When Sandy catches Michael in her bedroom half undressed because he wants to try on her clothes for ideas for Dorothy's wardrobe, he covers up by claiming he wants to have sex with her. Sandy is receptive and they sleep together. Exacerbating matters further, he is attracted to one of his co-stars, Julie Nichols, a single mother with a daughter from a previous relationship and in an unhealthy relationship with the show's amoral, sexist director, Ron Carlisle. At a party, when Michael (as himself) approaches Julie with a pick-up line to which she had previously told Dorothy she would be receptive, she throws a drink in his face. Later, as Dorothy, when he makes tentative advances, Julie—having just ended her relationship with Ron per Dorothy's advice—makes it known that she is not a lesbian.
Meanwhile, Dorothy has her own admirers to contend with: older cast member John Van Horn and Julie's widowed father, Les. Les proposes marriage, insisting that Dorothy think about it before answering. When Michael returns home, he finds John, who almost forces himself on Dorothy until Jeff walks in on them. A few minutes later, Sandy arrives, asking why he has not answered her calls. Michael admits he is in love with another woman, and Sandy screams and breaks up with him.
The tipping point comes when, due to Dorothy's popularity, the show's producers want to extend her contract for another year. Michael extricates himself when a technical problem forces the cast to perform live, by improvising a revelation about Emily: that she is actually Edward, Emily's twin brother who took her place to avenge her. This allows everybody a way out, but Julie is so outraged at Michael's deception that she punches him in the stomach once the cameras have stopped rolling and storms off.
Some weeks later, Michael is moving forward with producing Jeff's play. He returns Les's engagement ring, and Les says, "The only reason you're still living is because I never kissed you." Despite his anger, Les admits that Michael was good company as Dorothy, and Michael buys him a beer.
Michael later waits for Julie outside the studio. She is reluctant to talk to him, but he tells her that he and her father played pool and had a good time. She finally admits she misses Dorothy. Michael tells her Dorothy is within him and he misses her too, adding, "I was a better man with you as a woman than I ever was with a woman as a man." Julie forgives him and they walk away together, engaged in conversation.
Cast[edit]
- Dustin Hoffmanas Michael Dorsey, an out-of-work actor / Dorothy Michaels, a working actress on the daytime drama "Southwest General"
- Jessica Langeas Julie Nichols, an actress
- Teri Garras Sandy Lester, an actress
- Dabney Colemanas Ron Carlisle, the director
- Charles Durningas Leslie "Les" Nichols, Julie's father
- Bill Murrayas Jeff Slater, a playwright and Michael's roommate
- Sydney Pollackas George Fields, Michael's agent
- George Gaynesas John Van Horn, a soap opera actor
- Geena Davisas April Page, a soap opera actress
- Doris Belackas Rita Marshall, the producer
- Ellen Foleyas Jacqui, a production aide
- Lynne Thigpenas Jo, a production aide
- Amy Lawrence as Amy, Julie's daughter
- Christine Ebersoleas Linda, an actress at Michael's birthday party
- Anne Shropshire as Mrs. Crawley, Julie's babysitter
- Susan Egbert as Diane, Jeff's girlfriend
Production[edit]
In the 1970s, fashion company executive Charles Evans began filmmaking, following in the path of his brotherRobert Evans,a successful actor, producer and studio executive, "because I enjoy movies very much. I have the time to do it. And I believe if done wisely, it can be a profitable business."[3]In the early 1970s, Don McGuire'sWould I Lie to You?,a play about an unemployed male actor who cross-dresses in order to find jobs, was shopped around Hollywood for several years until it came to the attention of comedian and actorBuddy Hackettin 1978. Interested in playing the role of the talent agent, Hackett showed Evans the script, and Evans purchased anoptionon the play. Delays in the film's production forced Evans to renew the option,[4]but in 1979, he cowrote a screenplay based on the play with directorDick Richardsand screenwriter Bob Kaufman.[5]A few months into the process, Richards shared the screenplay withDustin Hoffman,his partner in a company that bought and developed film-development properties. Hoffman wanted completecreative controland Evans agreed to remove himself from screenwriting tasks, instead becoming a producer of the film, which was renamedTootsie.[4]Before Hoffman officially became involved, his role had been offered toPeter SellersandMichael Caine.[6]
The film remained in development for another year as producers waited for a revised script.[7]As preproduction began, the project experienced additional delays when Richards left as director over "creative differences".[8]He instead became one of the film's producers, andHal Ashbybecame the director. Columbia then forced Ashby to quit because of the threat of legal action that would ensue if his postproduction commitments onLookin' to Get Outwere not fulfilled.[9]In November 1981,Sydney Pollackagreed to direct and produce the film at Columbia's suggestion.[10]
Hoffman suggested that Pollack play Michael's agent George Fields, a role written forDabney Coleman.Pollack resisted the idea, but Hoffman eventually convinced him; it was Pollack's first acting work in years.[11]Pollack cast Coleman as the sexist, arrogant soap opera director Ron Carlisle.[12]
To prepare for his role, Hoffman watched the 1978 filmLa Cage aux Follesseveral times.[13]He also visited the set ofGeneral Hospitalfor research and conducted extensive makeup tests. Hoffman has stated that he was shocked to learn that although makeup could be used to allow him to credibly appear as a woman, he would never be a beautiful one. His epiphany occurred when he realized that although he found Dorothy interesting, he would not have spoken to her at a party because she was not beautiful, and because of this, he had missed the opportunity for many conversations with interesting women. He concluded that he had never regardedTootsieas a comedy.[14]
Scenes set at New York'sRussian Tea Roomwere filmed in the actual restaurant, with additional scenes shot inCentral Parkand in front ofBloomingdale's.Scenes were also filmed inHurley, New Yorkand at the National Video Studios in New York.[15]Additional filming took place inFort Lee, New Jersey.[16]
Reception[edit]
Box office[edit]
Tootsieopened in 943 theaters in the United States and Canada and grossed $5,540,470 during its opening weekend.[1]After 115 days, it surpassedClose Encounters of the Third Kindas Columbia's greatest domestic hit of all time.[17]Its final international gross in the United States and Canada was $177,200,000,[1]making it thesecond-highest-grossing movie of 1982afterE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.Box Office Mojoestimates that the film sold more than 56.9 million tickets in the U.S.[18]
The film grossed $63.8 million internationally[19]and was the highest-grossing film in Germany, with a gross of $19 million.[20]Worldwide, its grossed $241 million dollars worldwide.
Critical response[edit]
On thereview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes,91% of 53 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The website's consensus reads: "Tootsiedoesn't squander its high-concept comedy premise, with fine dialogue and sympathetic treatment of the characters "[21]Metacritic,which uses aweighted average,assigned the film a score of 88 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[22]
Roger Ebertpraised the film, awarding it four out of four stars and observing: "Tootsieis the kind of Movie with a capital M that they used to make in the 1940s, when they weren't afraid to mix up absurdity with seriousness, social comment with farce, and a little heartfelt tenderness right in there with the laughs. This movie gets you coming and going...The movie also manages to make some lighthearted but well-aimed observations about sexism. It also pokes satirical fun at soap operas, New York show business agents and the Manhattan social pecking order. "[23]
Accolades[edit]
In 2011,ABCaired a primetime special,Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time,that counted down the best movies chosen by fans based on results of a poll conducted by both ABC andPeople WeeklyMagazine.Tootsiewas selected as theNo.5 Best Comedy.[40]
National Film Registry— Inducted in 1998.[2]
The film is recognized byAmerican Film Institutein these lists:
- 1998:AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies– #62[41]
- 2000:AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs– #2[42]
- 2007:AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)– #69[43]
Home media[edit]
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(July 2018) |
The film was first released onCED Videodiscin 1983, onVHSandBetamaxvideocassettes byRCA/Columbia Pictures Home Videoin 1985 and onDVDin 2001. These releases were distributed byColumbia TriStar Home Video.The film was also released bythe Criterion Collectionin aLaserDiscedition in 1992. A special 25th-anniversary edition DVD was released bySony Picturesin 2008.[44]The film was released onBlu-ray discin 2013, but only for selected international territories such as Germany and Japan. The film was released on Blu-ray and DVD by the Criterion Collection on December 16, 2014.[45]
Musical adaptation[edit]
A stage musical of the film premiered at theCadillac Palace Theatrein Chicago from September 11 to October 14, 2018, before opening onBroadwayin the spring of 2019. The musical has music and lyrics byDavid Yazbek.Robert Horn wrote the book, Denis Jones choreographed andScott Ellisdirected.Santino Fontanastarred as Michael Dorsey.[46]He was joined byLilli Cooperas Julie Nichols,Sarah Stilesas Sandy Lester,John Behlmannas Max Van Horn, Andy Grotelueschen as Jeff Slater,Julie Halstonas Rita Mallory,Tony AwardwinnerMichael McGrathas Stan Fields and Tony nomineeReg Rogersas Ron Carlisle.
See also[edit]
- Cross-dressing in film and television
- List of highest-grossing films in Canada and the United States
Notes[edit]
- ^Tied withMichael CaineforEducating Rita.
References[edit]
- ^abc"Tootsie (1982)> Summary > Production Budget > Domestic Total Gross ".Box Office Mojo.Retrieved2012-08-31.
- ^ab"Complete National Film Registry Listing".Library of Congress.RetrievedFebruary 27,2020.
- ^Eller, Claudia(July 28, 1995)."Company Town: Real Key Is How Goldwyn Is Treated".Los Angeles Times.
- ^abCook, Philip S.; Gomery, Douglas; and Lichty, Lawrence Wilson (1989)American Media: The Wilson Quarterly Reader.Washington, D.C.: Wilson Center Press, p. 95,ISBN0943875102.
- ^Thompson, Kristin (2001)Storytelling in the New Hollywood: Understanding Classical Narrative Technique.2nd ed. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, p. 75,ISBN0674010639.
- ^Evans, Bradford (31 January 2013)."The Lost Roles of Peter Sellers".Splitsider.Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2015.Retrieved15 August2015.
- ^"Marilyn Beck's Hollywood: Angie Dickinson bares all for 'Dressed to Kill role".Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.July 25, 1980. p. 3.RetrievedSeptember 30,2013.
- ^Blowen, Michael (December 12, 1982)."Dustin Hoffman tells why he was tough about 'Tootsie'".The Boston Globe.RetrievedSeptember 30,2013.[better source needed]
- ^Dawson, Nick (2011).Being Hal Ashby: Life of a Hollywood Rebel.Lexington, Kentucky:University Press of Kentucky.ISBN978-0813134635.
- ^Dworkin, Susan (2012).Making Tootsie: A Film Study with Dustin Hoffman and Sydney Pollack.Newmarket Press.ISBN978-1557049667.
- ^"How Conflict Gave Shape to 'Tootsie'."New York Times.December 19, 1982. p. 1, 16.
- ^Morgenstern, Joe (February 8, 2008)."Sketches of Sydney Pollack".The Wall Street Journal.Archived fromthe originalon December 20, 2008.RetrievedFebruary 15,2008.
- ^Beck, Marilyn (1980-04-03)."Marilyn Beck's Hollywood: Producers Finding Financing Rough".The Victoria Advocate.Victoria, Texas. p. 11D.Retrieved2010-09-02.
- ^Dustin Hoffman on TOOTSIE and his character Dorothy Michaels.American Film Institute.2012-12-17.Retrieved2022-02-10– viaYouTube.
- ^Maslin, Janet."'Tootsie': A Woman Who Is Dustin Hoffman."New York Times.July 13, 1982.
- ^Anderson, Betsy (24 March 1991)."And the Winner Is... New Jersey, as a Location for Top Films".The New York Times– via NYTimes.com.
- ^"'Tootsie' Windfall ".Variety.April 13, 1983. p. 3.
- ^"Tootsie (1982)".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedMay 31,2016.
- ^"'Tootsie,' 'Gandhi' Hit $120-Mil Abroad, Despite Hard Dollar Drag ".Variety.June 15, 1983. p. 5.
- ^"Pollack: From 'Eyes' To 'Hearts'".Variety.October 11, 1999. p. 28.
- ^"Tootsie".Rotten Tomatoes.Fandango Media.RetrievedSeptember 21,2023.
- ^"Tootsie".Metacritic.Fandom, Inc.RetrievedSeptember 21,2023.
- ^Roger Ebert(December 17, 1982)."Tootsie".Chicago Sun-Times.Retrieved2007-12-22.
- ^"The 55th Academy Awards (1983) Nominees and Winners".Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.Archivedfrom the original on September 5, 2012.RetrievedOctober 9,2011.
- ^"The Bodil Prize 1983".Bodil Awards.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"BSFC Winners: 1980s".Boston Society of Film Critics.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"BAFTA Awards: Film in 1984".British Academy Film Awards.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"The 1984 César Awards".César Awards.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"35th Annual DGA Awards".Directors Guild of America Awards.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"Tootsie".Golden Globe Awards.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"26th Annual GRAMMY Awards".Grammy Awards.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"KCFCC Award Winners – 1980-89".Kansas City Film Critics Circle.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"The 8th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards".Los Angeles Film Critics Association.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"1982 Award Winners".National Board of Review.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"Complete National Film Registry Listing".Library of Congress.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"Past Awards".National Society of Film Critics.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"1982 New York Film Critics Circle Awards".Mubi.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"Film Hall of Fame: Productions".Online Film & Television Association.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
- ^"Awards Winners".Writers Guild of America Awards.Archivedfrom the original on December 5, 2012.RetrievedJune 6,2010.
- ^"Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time".ABC News.March 16, 2011.
- ^"AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies"(PDF).American Film Institute.RetrievedJuly 16,2016.
- ^"AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs"(PDF).American Film Institute.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on June 24, 2016.RetrievedJuly 16,2016.
- ^"AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)"(PDF).American Film Institute.RetrievedJuly 16,2016.
- ^"Tootsie - 25th Anniversary Edition".DVD Talk.5 February 2008.Retrieved19 July2018.
- ^"Tootsie (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] [2016]".Amazon UK.Retrieved19 July2018.
- ^McPhee, Ryan."'Tootsie' Musical, Starring Santino Fontana, Will Play Chicago Before 2019 Broadway Premiere"Playbill, January 24, 2018
External links[edit]
- TootsieatIMDb
- TootsieatAllMovie
- TootsieatBox Office Mojo
- Tootsieat theAFI Catalog of Feature Films
- Tootsieat theTCM Movie Database
- Tootsieessayby Brian Scott Mednick atNational Film Registry
- Tootsieessay by Daniel Eagan inAmerica's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry,A&C Black, 2010ISBN0826429777,pages 780–781
- The 25th AnniversaryTootsieby Billy Mernit
- Tootsie: One Great Dame– an essay byMichael SragowatThe Criterion Collection
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1982 films
- 1980s English-language films
- 1980s American films
- 1980s romantic comedy-drama films
- 1980s feminist films
- 1982 comedy-drama films
- 1982 romantic comedy films
- 1982 romantic drama films
- American romantic comedy-drama films
- American feminist comedy films
- American films based on plays
- Films about actors
- Films about soap operas
- Films about anti-LGBT sentiment
- Cross-dressing in American films
- Films adapted into plays
- Films directed by Sydney Pollack
- Films with screenplays by Larry Gelbart
- Films produced by Sydney Pollack
- Films scored by Dave Grusin
- Films set in New York City
- Films shot in New York City
- Films shot in Fort Lee, New Jersey
- Columbia Pictures films
- Films featuring a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award-winning performance
- Best Musical or Comedy Picture Golden Globe winners
- Films featuring a Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe winning performance
- Films featuring a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe-winning performance
- National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film winners
- United States National Film Registry films