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Terms of Endearment (1983)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
9 December 1983 (USA) moreTagline:
Come to Laugh, Come to Cry, Come to Care, Come to Terms.Plot:
Aurora and Emma are mother and daughter who march to different drummers. Beginning with Emma's marriage... more | add synopsisAwards:
Won 5 Oscars. Another 25 wins & 10 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(14 articles)
The Story Behind The Simpsons (From TotalFilm. 22 October 2009, 12:35 AM, PDT)
A Conversation with Danielle Harris
(From Fangoria. 17 October 2009, 2:29 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
One of the best films of the 80's! more (110 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Shirley MacLaine | ... | Aurora Greenway | |
| Debra Winger | ... | Emma Horton | |
| Jack Nicholson | ... | Garrett Breedlove | |
| Danny DeVito | ... | Vernon Dahlart | |
| Jeff Daniels | ... | Flap Horton | |
| John Lithgow | ... | Sam Burns | |
| Lisa Hart Carroll | ... | Patsy Clark | |
| Betty King | ... | Rosie Dunlop (as Betty R. King) | |
| Huckleberry Fox | ... | Teddy Horton | |
| Troy Bishop | ... | Tommy Horton | |
| Shane Serwin | ... | Younger Tommy Horton | |
| Megan Morris | ... | Melanie Horton | |
| Tara Yeakey | ... | Baby Melanie | |
| Norman Bennett | ... | Edward Johnson | |
| Jennifer Josey | ... | Young Emma |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
132 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
Iceland:L | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Norway:12 | Peru:14 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:PG (#27173) (re-rating on appeal) | USA:R (original rating) | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PGFun Stuff
Trivia:
Although not specifically stated, the bulk of the story takes place over a span of several years during the late 1970s (a 1979 wall calendar is visible midway through the movie). Interestingly, as the character Garrett is an astronaut, this particular time period was exactly when his services would be least needed by NASA. The final Apollo mission was in 1972 and there would not be another manned spaceflight until the first Space Shuttle mission in 1981. moreGoofs:
Errors in geography: When Emma is standing outside the restaurant in front of the Statue of Liberty, the area behind her is obviously a set, as the city background is very distorted from what a background in the city would really look like. moreQuotes:
Emma Horton: You both of you have beautiful eyes and your hair is too long. I mean, I don't care how long it gets in the back, but keep your bangs cut, OK, it's too long.Tommy Horton: That's a matter of opinion.
Emma Horton: Just keep it short, alright?
Tommy Horton: Are you getting well?
Emma Horton: Look, I'm sorry about this but I can't help it, and I can't talk to you for too long or I'll get real upset. I want you to make a lot of friends. And I want you to be real nice to the girls 'cause they're gonna be real important to you, I swear.
Tommy Horton: I'm not afraid of girls. What makes you think that?
Emma Horton: Well, you may be later on.
Tommy Horton: I doubt it.
Teddy Horton: Why don't you shut up? Shut up!
Tommy Horton: You shut up!
[...]
more
Soundtrack:
Isn't It Romantic moreFAQ
How does it end?Is the movie loyal to the book?
more
more (110 total)
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I never watch soaps, am not one for chick flicks, and generally steer clear of weepies. I was only drawn to this by the eclectic cast, and a vague recollection of acclaim.
'Terms of Endearment' is a stunningly well-made film. Pretty much every scene is conceived, scripted and acted to perfection. Winger, MacLaine and Nicholson make these relationships pure gold. So much of the interaction feels natural, even improvised. A twist toward the end reveals a compelling new layer for each and every character.
It's largely forgotten these days, but in my opinion stands as one of the very best films of the 80's. Cherish it.