The Four Seasons (1981)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Alan Alda

Writer:

Alan Alda (written by)

Release Date:

22 May 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Here's to our friends... and the strength to put up with them.

Plot:

Three middle-aged wealthy couples take vacations together in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Along the way we are treated to mid-life...

Plot Keywords:

Skiing | Log Cabin | Directed By Star | Yachting | Friendship

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Alan Alda	...	Jack Burroughs
Carol Burnett	...	Kate Burroughs
Len Cariou	...	Nick Callan
Sandy Dennis	...	Anne Callan
Rita Moreno	...	Claudia Zimmer
Jack Weston	...	Danny Zimmer
Bess Armstrong	...	Ginny Newley (Callan)
Elizabeth Alda	...	Beth Burroughs
Beatrice Alda	...	Lisa Callan
Robert Hitt	...	Room Clerk
Kristi McCarthy	...	Waitress
David Stackpole	...	Doctor

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Norway:12 | Finland:S | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Agnes Scott College - 141 E. College Avenue, Decatur, Georgia, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The scene where Alan Alda calls Carol Burnett "perfect" was not in the original script. Burnett asked for the scene to be added.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the very beginning of "Autumn," we see leaves falling as a blue Mercedes sedan whooshes by (the camera catches the right side of the car) on a curvy road. All we see is the right side/front of what is very clearly a late '70s/early '80s S-class Mercedes (likely a 450 SEL or a turbodiesel variant of the same body style). However, in the next shot, the car shown is the same color, but very clearly a 300 class (300 Diesel or 300 Turbodiesel) model. The latter is used in all interior and exterior shots throughout the Autumn (at the Connecticut inn) and eventually sinks on thin ice in "Winter."

Quotes:

Danny: [talking about Nick] He's been having affairs all along. Dozens.
Jack: [disbelief] You're kidding.
Danny: How could you not know? They even slept at your place once.
Jack: Where was I?
Danny: You gave him the key to water your plants and feed the cats while you were away. Didn't you notice the funny expression on the cats' faces?
Jack: He told you all of this?
Danny: Most of it... some of it came out when he was under gas.

Movie Connections:

References Two Years Before the Mast (1946)

Fine comedy and drama from Alda.

Alan Alda the actor has come up with a few worthwhile projects over the years as a writer and director. This movie, his feature directorial debut, is quite enjoyable.

Three upper-middle class couples are seen during the four vacations they take annually. They enjoy each others' company, but a fissure in the friendships begins to grows when one man tires of life with his wife and introduces his new, younger girlfriend into the group, and things go from there. Alda manages very successfully the balance between comedy and drama, aided by the excellent cast of veterans. All the principals here (the first seven listed in the credits) do fine work.