The Four Seasons (1981)

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 ski scenes were filmed in New England during a very dry winter. In fact, the only snow the ski resort got that entire season happened just days before the crew arrived to film.

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:

Kate Burroughs: [pretending to speak to an eavesdropping Danny outside hotel room door] Danny dear, please don't take this the wrong way, you know how fond I am of you, but I think your Mercedes sucks!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Alien from L.A. (#6.16)" (1993)

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.