Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

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:

Son | Playground | Mother Son Relationship | Neighbor | Profanity

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
Iris Albanti	...	Partygoer
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

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:

Kate Jackson was the original choice for the part of Joanna Kramer; her commitment to "Charlie's Angels" (1976) prevented her from taking the role.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Billy is waiting for Ted to fetch him after the birthday party, he sits on the chair with his left leg tucked under the right leg. In the next shot, his right leg is tucked under his left leg.

Quotes:

[Phyllis comes out of the bedroom, sees Billy and screams]
Billy Kramer: Hi.
Phyllis Bernard: Hi.
Billy Kramer: What's your name?
Phyllis Bernard: I'm Phyllis Bernard.
Billy Kramer: Who?
Phyllis Bernard: I'm a friend... uh, business associate of your father's... dad.
Ted Kramer: [in the bedroom] Oh, Jesus.
Billy Kramer: Do you like fried chicken?
Phyllis Bernard: Fried chicken? Very much.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Saturday Night Live: Elliot Gould/Gary Numan (#5.11)" (1980)

Soundtrack:

Concerto in C Major for Mandolin & Strings 1. Allegro

What a terrific acting movie

I consider myself lucky that I got to view a wonderful movie with two marvelous actors. "Kramer vs. Kramer" was great to me because I think I could relate to it.

Unfortunately, my parents are divorced. Even though I was older than Billy in this movie, I felt his pain and confusion. Having two parents who you thought were happy and end up hating each other is the worst. Through this movie, actually, I think it made me realize that my parents are people too, and they had as just much pain as my sister and I had.

Back to the movie, this was a good one. Yes, it's dated and Meryl and Dustin are very young. But I would recommend this for a lot of people, because I think most can relate in some way. There are funny, sad, happy, and relieving moments that are carried away terrificly by these great actors. It's a good movie and deserves more credit than a 7.5.

9/10