Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

Director:

Robert Benton

Writers:

Avery Corman (novel)
Robert Benton (written by)

Release Date:

19 December 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

There are three sides to this love story!

Plot:

A just divorced man must learn to care for his son on his own, and then must fight in court to keep custody of him.

Plot Keywords:

Frustration | Workaholic | Friendship | Hospital | Ice Cream

Awards:

Won 5 Oscars. Another 31 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Ted Kramer
Meryl Streep	...	Joanna Kramer
Jane Alexander	...	Margaret Phelps
Justin Henry	...	Billy Kramer
Howard Duff	...	John Shaunessy
George Coe	...	Jim O'Connor
JoBeth Williams	...	Phyllis Bernard (as Jobeth Williams)
Bill Moor	...	Gressen
Howland Chamberlain	...	Judge Atkins
Jack Ramage	...	Spencer
Jess Osuna	...	Ackerman
Nicholas Hormann	...	Interviewer
Ellen Parker	...	Teacher
Shelby Brammer	...	Ted's Secretary
Carol Nadell	...	Mrs. Kline
Donald Gantry	...	Surgeon
Judith Calder	...	Receptionist
Peter Lownds	...	Norman
Kathleen Keller	...	Waitress
Ingeborg Sørensen	...	Woman at Christmas Party (as Ingeborg Sorensen)
Iris Albanti	...	Partygoer (as Iris Alhanti)
Richard Barris	...	Partygoer
Evelyn Hope Bunn	...	Partygoer
Joann Friedman	...	Partygoer
Quentin J. Hruska	...	Partygoer
Joe Seneca	...	Partygoer
Dan Tyra	...	Court Clerk
David Golden	...	Grocer
Petra King	...	Petie Phelps
Melissa Morell	...	Kim Phelps
Frederick W. Hand	...	Street Musician
Scott Kuney	...	Street Musician
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sean Albertson	...	Boy in Hospital (uncredited)
Matteo Cafiso	...	Schoolmate; Boy in Park (uncredited)
Conrad Pomerleau	...	Waiter (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Benton

Writing credits
Avery Corman		(novel)
Robert Benton		(written by)

Produced by
Richard Fischoff	....	associate producer (as Richard C. Fischoff)
Stanley R. Jaffe	....	producer

Cinematography by
Néstor Almendros		(director of photography) (as Nestor Almendros)

Film Editing by
Gerald B. Greenberg		(as Jerry Greenberg)

Casting by
Shirley Rich

Production Design by
Paul Sylbert

Set Decoration by
Alan Hicks

Costume Design by
Ruth Morley

Makeup Department
Joseph Coscia	....	hair stylist (as Joe Coscia)
Allen Weisinger	....	makeup artist (as Alan Weisinger)
Craig Lyman	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
David Golden	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Yudi Bennett	....	second assistant director
Ira Halberstadt	....	dga trainee
Thomas John Kane	....	first assistant director
Lewis Gould	....	dga trainee (uncredited)

Art Department
Merle Eckert	....	construction coordinator
Edward Garzero	....	scenic artist (as Ed Garzero)
Thomas Saccio	....	property master (as Tom Saccio)
Lohr Wilson	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Arthur Bloom	....	boom operator (as Art Bloom)
Stan Bochner	....	sound editor
Jack C. Jacobsen	....	sound mixer (as Jack Jacobsen)
James Perdue	....	sound recordist (as Jim Perdue)
Sanford Rackow	....	supervising sound editor
Dick Vorisek	....	sound re-recording supervisor
Katherine Wenning	....	dubbing editor
Bob Olari	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Holly Bower	....	still photographer
Joseph F. Coffey	....	associate director of photography (as Joe Coffey)
Jerry DeBlau	....	best boy (as Jerry De Blau)
Bill Gerardo	....	second assistant camera (as William Gerardo)
Vinnie Gerardo	....	first assistant camera
Kenneth Goss	....	key grip (as Ken Goss)
Tom Priestley Jr.	....	camera operator
Frank Schultz	....	gaffer
Robert M. Volpe	....	dolly grip (as Bob Volpe)
Douglas C. Hart	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Joy Todd	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Al Craine	....	costumer
Marilyn Putnam	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Ray Hubley	....	apprentice editor
Bill Pankow	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Erma E. Levin	....	music editor
Roy B. Yokelson	....	music recording engineer (uncredited)

Other crew
Marion Billings	....	publicist
Stanley Bogest	....	auditor (as Stan Bogest)
Ann Guerin	....	unit publicist
Daniel J. Heffner	....	production assistant (as Dan Heffner)
Brooke Kennedy	....	location coordinator
Tom O'Brien	....	teamster captain
Noni Rock	....	location coordinator
Renata Stoia	....	script supervisor
Pamela Ann Weisberger	....	assistant to producer
Henry Wolf	....	title designer

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures (presents)
• Stanley Jaffe Production

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (1980) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1980) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1980) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1982) (USA) (TV)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Egmont Film (1996) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1980s) (Australia) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Trans / Audio  sound re-recording
• Trans Audio  sound re-recording
• Joy Todd Casting  extra casting (as Joy Todd, Inc.)
• Panavision  lenses and Panaflex® Camera by
• Camera Mart  stage facilities and production equipment (as Camera Mart-New York)
• Computer Opticals  titles
• Mayor's Office for Motion Pictures & Television  producers wish to thank
• Davis & Lang Company  thanks

Also Known As:

Kramer Versus Kramer (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | UK:A (original rating) | Indonesia:Dewasa | UK:PG (video rating) | Sweden:11 | Netherlands:AL | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:PG | Chile:18 | Finland:S | Norway:12 (1980) | Singapore:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

JoBeth Williams's funny nude scene was optically darkened for the film's theatrical run, to avoid an R rating. The un-darkened version frequently appears in some television prints.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Ted drops Billy at school, Joanna's hand position on the window changes between shots.

Quotes:

[Ted is having lunch with his boss]
Ted Kramer: So the other morning, I'm at the refrigerator... you know, getting Billy ready for school. So I'm just in my underwear and he notices I've lost weight. And he comes in and pats me. He comes up to here
[touches his stomach]
Ted Kramer: , and he says "Daddy, you've really lost a lot of weight", he looks up at me and he says "And it's all gone to your nose."
[laughs]
Ted Kramer: He was so cute. You know?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Hard Time on Planet Earth: Something to Bank On (#1.2)" (1989)

Soundtrack:

Concerto in C Major for Mandolin & Strings 1. Allegro

An example of the type of film I love.

Kramer Vs. Kramer stars two of my favorite thespians: Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman. At first glance, the plot looks to be very mundane. But, it's quite brilliant in that it studies the ordinary, every-day things in life such as talking to your child with great introspection and depth. It really, really makes you think and I personally believe this is the mark of a great film. If it lends a vicariousness, leaves you spellbound - it has done its job nobly.