The Four Seasons (1981)

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

Director:

Alan Alda

Writer:

Alan Alda

Stars:

Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Len Cariou

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

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

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Plot Keywords:

friendship | reference to isaac newton | blockbuster | yachting | skiing | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 May 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Las cuatro estaciones

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Gross:

SEK 5,978,705 (Sweden)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was released about just six months after the similarly themed and similarly titled A Change of Seasons.

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Goofs

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."

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Quotes

Danny: [the friends are making lunch in cramped quarters on the boat] I haven't used salt or mucus products for three years and I feel just great.
Ginny: Who eats mucus?
Claudia Zimmer: [disgusted] He means cheese and milk. Danny, say what you mean, would you please? You're talking to humans here!

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Connections

Followed by The Four Seasons (1984)

User Reviews

Alan Alda is a genius.

When I first saw this film in the 1980s with a bunch of girlfriends, we all practically fell out of our seats with laughter. Alan Alda did a fantastic job of demonstrating mid-life crises and poignancy. There are wonderfully funny scenes with terrific characters. How many of us wonder about our marriages, how would you act if a couple you know and love broke up and he brings home a blonde bimbo/trophy wife? Would you cease the friendship, try to help the former wife, how would you handle such a tricky situation and what impact would it have on your own marriage? Alan Alda addresses it all with classy humor, nailing the reactions perfectly, writing crisp, clean copy and directing beautifully. The film is still fresh today with its humor and pathos.