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Tootsie

TootsieTheatrical release poster

Directed by Sydney Pollack

Produced by Charles EvansSydney PollackDick RichardsRonald L. Schwary

Screenplay by Larry GelbartMurray SchisgalBarry Levinson(uncredited)Elaine May (uncredited)

Story by Larry Gelbart

Starring Dustin HoffmanJessica LangeTeri GarrCharles DurningBill Murray

Music by Dave Grusin

Cinematography Owen Roizman

Editing by Fredric SteinkampWilliam Steinkamp

Studio Mirage Enterprises

Distributed by Columbia Pictures

Release dates December17,1982

Running time 116 minutes

Country United States

Language English

Budget $21 million

Box office $177,200,000

Tootsie is a 1982 American comedy-drama film that tells the story of a talented but volatile actor whose reputationfor being difficult forces him to adopt a new identity as a woman to land a job. The movie stars Dustin Hoffman,with a supporting cast that includes Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman, Charles Durning, Geena Davis, BillMurray, Doris Belack and producer/director Sydney Pollack. Tootsie was adapted by Larry Gelbart, Barry Levinson(uncredited), Elaine May (uncredited) and Murray Schisgal from the story by Gelbart.In 1998, the United States Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it forpreservation in the National Film Registry. The theme song to the film, "It Might Be You," which was sung bysinger-songwriter Stephen Bishop, whose music was composed by Dave Grusin, and whose lyrics were written byMarilyn and Alan Bergman, was a Top 40 hit in the U.S., and also hit No. 1 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart.Jessica Lange won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Julie Nichols. Themovie earned a total of ten Academy Awards nominations and in 2000 the American Film Institute ranked Tootsie asthe second funniest film of all time.[1][2]

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PlotMichael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) is a respected but perfectionist actor. Nobody in New York wants to hire himanymore because he is difficult to work with. According to his long-suffering agent George Fields (Sydney Pollack),Michael's attention to detail and difficult reputation led a commercial he worked on to run significantlyover-schedule, because the idea of a tomato sitting down was "illogical" to him. After many months without a job,Michael hears of an opening on the soap opera Southwest General from his friend and acting student Sandy Lester(Teri Garr), who tries out for the role of a hospital administrator Emily Kimberly but does not get it. In desperation,and as a result of his agent telling him that "no one will hire you", he dresses as a woman, auditions as "DorothyMichaels" and wins the part. Michael takes the job as a way to raise $8,000 to produce a play, written by hisroommate Jeff Slater (Bill Murray), titled Return To Love Canal. Michael plays his character as a feisty, feministadministrator, which surprises the other actors and crew who expected Emily to be (as written) another swooningfemale in the plot. His character quickly becomes a television sensation.When Sandy catches Michael in her bedroom half undressed (he wanted to try on her clothes in order to get moreideas for Dorothy's outfits), he covers up by professing he wants to have sex with her. They have sex despite hisbetter judgment about her self-esteem issues. Michael believes Sandy is too emotionally fragile to handle the truthabout him winning the part, especially after noticing her strong resentment of Dorothy. Their relationship, combinedwith his deception, complicates his now-busy schedule. Exacerbating matters further, he is strongly attracted to oneof his co-stars, lovely, soft-spoken Julie Nichols (Jessica Lange), a single mother in an unhealthy relationship withthe show's amoral, sexist director, Ron Carlisle (Dabney Coleman). At a party, when Michael (as himself)approaches Julie with a pick-up line that she had previously told Dorothy she would be receptive towards, she throwsa drink in his face. Later, as Dorothy, when he makes tentative advances, Juliehaving just ended her relationshipwith Ron per Dorothy's adviceconfesses that she has feelings about Dorothy which confuse her, but is notemotionally ready to be in a romantic relationship with a woman.Meanwhile, Dorothy has her own admirers to contend with: older cast member John Van Horn (George Gaynes) andJulie's widowed father Les (Charles Durning). Les proposes marriage, insisting Michael/Dorothy "think about it"before answering; he leaves immediately and returns home to find co-star John, who almost forces himself on heruntil Jeff walks in on them. John apologizes for intruding and leaves. The tipping point comes when, due toDorothy's popularity, the show's producers want to extend her contract for another year. Michael finds a clever wayto extricate himself. When the cast is forced to perform the show live, he improvises a grand speech on camera, pullsoff his wig and reveals that he is actually the character's twin brother who took her place to avenge her. Sandy, Les,and Jeff, who are all watching at home, react with the same level of shock as the cast and crew of the show, theexception being Jeff, who simply remarks, "That...is one nutty hospital." The revelation allows everybody amore-or-less graceful way out. Julie, however, is so outraged that she slugs him in the stomach off-camera. Someweeks later, Michael is moving forward with producing Jeff's play. He awkwardly makes peace with Les in a bar,and Les shows tentative support for Michael's attraction to Julie. Later, Michael waits for Julie outside the studio.Julie resists talking but finally admits she misses Dorothy. Michael confesses, "I was a better man with you as awoman than I ever was with a woman as a man." At that, she forgives him and they walk off, Julie asking him tolend her a dress.

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Cast Dustin Hoffman as Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels Jessica Lange as Julie Nichols Teri Garr as Sandra "Sandy" Lester Dabney Coleman as Ron Carlisle Charles Durning as Leslie "Les" Nichols Bill Murray as Jeff Slater Sydney Pollack as George Fields George Gaynes as John Van Horn Geena Davis as April Page Doris Belack as Rita Marshall Lynne Thigpen as Jo Estelle Getty as Middle Aged Woman Willy Switkes as Man at Cab

ProductionIn the 1970s, fashion company executive Charles Evans decided to get into movie-making. It was an industry whichhis brother, Robert Evans, was successful in as an actor, producer, and studio executive. Evans told the Los AngelesTimes in 1995 that he got into producing "because I enjoy movies very much. I have the time to do it. And I believeif done wisely, it can be a profitable business."[3] His first foray into film production was a massive success.Playwright Don McGuire had written a play in the early 1970s about an unemployed male actor who cross-dresses inorder to get jobs. Titled Would I Lie to You?, the play was shopped around Hollywood for several years until it cameto the attention of comedian and actor Buddy Hackett in 1978. Hackett, interested in playing the role of the talentagent, showed the script to Evans. Evans purchased an option on the play. (Delays in the film's production forcedEvans to renew the option once or twice.)[4] During 1979, Evans co-wrote a screenplay based on the film withdirector Dick Richards and screenwriter Bob Kaufman.[5] A few months into the writing process, Richards showed itto actor Dustin Hoffman, his partner in a company which bought and developed properties for development intofilms, but Hoffman wanted complete creative control, and Evans agreed to remove himself from screenwriting tasks.Instead, Evans became a producer on the film, which was renamed Tootsie.The film remained in development for an additional year as producers waited on a revised script. As pre-productionbegan, the film ran into additional delays when Richards left the role of director and assumed the role of producerdue to "creative differences." Richards was then replaced as director by Hal Ashby, who was forced to leave theproject by Columbia Pictures because of the threat of legal action if his post-production commitments on Lookin' toGet Out weren't fulfilled. In November 1981, Sydney Pollack signed on to the film as both director and producer asper the suggestion of Columbia.The idea of having director Sydney Pollack play Hoffman's agent, George Fields, was Hoffman's. Originally the rolewas written for, and to be played by, Dabney Coleman. Pollack initially resisted the idea, but Hoffman eventuallyconvinced him to take the role; it was Pollack's first acting work in years.[citation needed] Afterwards, Pollack stillwanted to keep Coleman on board, and recast him, as the sexist, arrogant soap opera director Ron Carlisle.To prepare for his role, Hoffman watched the film La Cage aux Folles several times. He also visited the set ofGeneral Hospital for research, and conducted extensive make-up tests. In an interview for the American FilmInstitute, Hoffman said that he was shocked that although he could be made-up to appear as a credible woman, hewould never be a beautiful one. He said that he had an epiphany when he realised that although he found this womaninteresting, he would not have spoken to her at a party because she was not beautiful and that as a result he hadmissed out on many conversations with interesting women. He concluded that he had never regarded Tootsie as acomedy.

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Scenes set in the New York City Russian Tea Room were filmed in the actual restaurant.[citation needed]

Reception

Box officeIts opening weekend gross in the United States was $5,540,470. Its final gross in the United States was$177,200,000, making it the second highest grossing movie of 1982 after E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Critical responseRoger Ebert praised the film, giving it 4 out of 4 stars and observing:

Tootsie is the kind of Movie with a capital M that they used to make in the 1940s, when they weren'tafraid to mix up absurdity with seriousness, social comment with farce, and a little heartfelt tendernessright in there with the laughs. This movie gets you coming and going...The movie also manages to makesome 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.

Years later, Rotten Tomatoes awarded the film an 88% "Certified Fresh" rating among all critics, and an ever-rare100% rating amongst "Top Critics".

AccoladesThe film was nominated for ten Academy Awards; Lange was the only winner, for Best Actress in a SupportingRole.The other nominations were: Best Picture: Sydney Pollack and Dick Richards Best Actor in a Leading Role: Dustin Hoffman Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Teri Garr Best Director: Sydney Pollack Best Original Screenplay: Larry Gelbart, Murray Schisgal and Don McGuire Best Original Song ("It Might Be You"): Dave Grusin (music), Alan Bergman (lyrics) and Marilyn Bergman

(lyrics) Best Sound: Arthur Piantadosi, Les Fresholtz, Dick Alexander and Les Lazarowitz Best Cinematography: Owen Roizman Best Film Editing: Fredric Steinkamp and William SteinkampAmerican Film Institute recognition

1998: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies - #62 2000: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs - #2 2007: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) - #69In 2011, ABC aired a primetime special, Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time, that counted down the bestmovies chosen by fans based on results of a poll conducted by both ABC and People Weekly Magazine. Tootsie wasselected as the No. 5 Best Comedy.

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Home mediaThe film was first released on CED Videodisc in 1983, on VHS by RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video in 1985and on DVD in 2001. These releases were distributed by Columbia Tristar Home Video. A special 25th Anniversaryedition DVD, released by Sony Pictures, arrived in 2008. In the high-definition era, the film was released on thevisually superior Blu-ray format in 2013, albeit at this point in time it was only distributed in selected internationalterritories such as Germany and Japan. There is no current release date for the US market.

References[1] AFI's 100 YEARS...100 LAUGHS (http:/ / www. afi. com/ 100years/ laughs. aspx). Afi.com (2000-06-14). Retrieved on 2013-08-30.[2] American Film Institute's 100 Years 100 Laughs (2000) (http:/ / www. imdb. com/ list/ GSHORlYet9w/ ). IMDb.com[3] Eller, Claudia. "Real Key Is How Goldwyn Is Treated." Los Angeles Times. July 28, 1995.[4] Cook, Philip S.; Gomery, Douglas; and Lichty, Lawrence Wilson (1989) American Media: The Wilson Quarterly Reader. Washington, D.C.:

Wilson Center Press, p. 95, ISBN 0943875102.[5] Thompson, Kristin (2001) Storytelling in the New Hollywood: Understanding Classical Narrative Technique. 2nd ed. Cambridge, Mass.:

Harvard University Press, p. 75, ISBN 0674010639.

External links Tootsie (http:/ / www. imdb. com/ title/ tt0084805/ ) at the Internet Movie Database Tootsie (http:/ / tcmdb. com/ title/ title. jsp?stid=4287) at the TCM Movie Database Tootsie (http:/ / www. boxofficemojo. com/ movies/ ?id=tootsie. htm) at Box Office Mojo Tootsie (http:/ / www. rottentomatoes. com/ m/ tootsie/ ) at Rotten Tomatoes The 25th Anniversary Tootsie (http:/ / livingromcom. typepad. com/ my_weblog/ 2008/ 03/ romantic-comedy.

html) by Billy Mernit

Article Sources and Contributors 6

Article Sources and ContributorsTootsie Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=599299550 Contributors: 10qwerty, AbsoluteGleek92, Amakuru, Arataman 79, Are You The Cow Of Pain?, Asarelah, Asianchick,Aspects, Badgernet, Before My Ken, Bender235, Blake Burba, Bobet, Bongwarrior, BornonJune8, Branstu, Breckinridge, Briaboru, Bubbleoui, Calliaume, Calvero JP, Cburnett, CelticJobber,Ckatz, Clarityfiend, Classic rocker, Cogito Ergo Sum, ContiAWB, Dablaze, Dale Arnett, Danra9, Darkness2005, Daverd2, DearPrudence, Deror avi, Dlloyd, Doc glasgow, Donreed, Drpickem,Drunkenpeter99, Edlitz36, El Slameron, EnglishTea4me, Ewin, Famspear, Feydey, Flyer22, Flyguy33, Foofbun, FrankPoncherello, Fromgermany, Fuhghettaboutit, Furrykef, Gamaliel,Georgeiscollbuts, GoingBatty, Goustien, Grstain, Hooperbloob, I am One of Many, IJVin, ItsTheClimb17, J-B, JAF1970, Jakezing, Jarble, JasonAQuest, Jaxl, Jeffman52001, Jkta97, Johnc69,Jordancelticsfan, Jumperofwalls223, Jzummak, Kbdank71, Kiwiboy121, Koavf, Koyaanis Qatsi, Kwiki, LGagnon, Lady Aleena, Ldavid1985, Levent, Levineps, Liftarn, LilHelpa, Llowe2008,Lugnuts, MachoCarioca, Magnavoxlatino, Mahjong705, Mallanox, MarnetteD, Massimo Macconi, Materialscientist, MaxEnt, Mboverload, Mernitman2, Mgoter, Monty845, Mr. XYZ,Mrblondnyc, Mrzaius, NathanielTheBold, Nightscream, NotACow, Numbo3, Oanabay04, Ohbusiness, Oy1der, Patrick, Pearle, Philip Cross, Pne, Rajesh.scorpi, Raphaelaarchon, Rappakyu,Rdvgef, Rich Farmbrough, Richka, Rjwilmsi, Rodhullandemu, Rodrigogomespaixao, Roxieandmartha, RoyBoy, Royce, SDC, Scanlan, Scotstout, Senorbad, Sillygostly, Slgrandson,SoSaysChappy, Ste900R, Stefanomione, Sugreev2001, TFunk, TMC1982, Tassedethe, Techman224, ThatGuamGuy, The Thing That Should Not Be, Thedemonhog, Thefourdotelipsis, Tim1965,Timc, Tommyt, Tool2Die4, TracyLinkEdnaVelmaPenny, Trippinbillie, Two halves, UDScott, UncleBubba, Ward3001, Westprog, Who, Whywhenwhohow, Wildhartlivie, Woodshed, XelaZeugirdor, Yashveer r, Yekrats, YingYang2, Ynhockey, Zelse81, Zephyrnthesky, Ziva 89, Zoe, 214 anonymous edits

LicenseCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

TootsiePlotCastProductionReceptionBox officeCritical responseAccolades

Home mediaReferencesExternal links

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