Wanting to avoid settling in a nursing home, Joseph Kotcher, a retired salesman, is obliged to leave his son's family. He embarks on a road trip during which he strikes up a friendship with...
See full summary »
Kristen Stewart and Anthony Mackie share their feelings on Captain America himself, Chris Evans.
Related News
-
Jack Lemmon movies: 25 greatest films, ranked worst to best, include ‘The Apartment,’ ‘The Odd Couple,’ ‘Some Like It Hot’
08 February 2019 | Gold Derby -
Jack Lemmon movies: 25 greatest films ranked worst to best
08 February 2019 | Gold Derby -
Oscar Flashback: Best Original Songs of the early 1970s, including ‘Theme from ‘Shaft,’ ‘The Morning After’
06 November 2018 | Gold Derby
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Kotch (1971)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
More Like This
Comedy
Director:
Herbert Ross
Stars:
Walter Matthau,
George Burns,
Richard Benjamin
Buddy Buddy
(1981)
Comedy
Director:
Billy Wilder
Stars:
Jack Lemmon,
Walter Matthau,
Paula Prentiss
The Fortune Cookie
(1966)
Comedy
|
Romance
Director:
Billy Wilder
Stars:
Jack Lemmon,
Walter Matthau,
Ron Rich
Pete 'n' Tillie
(1972)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Martin Ritt
Stars:
Walter Matthau,
Carol Burnett,
Geraldine Page
Plaza Suite
(1971)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Arthur Hiller
Stars:
Walter Matthau,
Maureen Stapleton,
Barbara Harris
First Monday in October
(1981)
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Ronald Neame
Stars:
Walter Matthau,
Jill Clayburgh,
Barnard Hughes
Tribute
(1980)
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Bob Clark
Stars:
Jack Lemmon,
Robby Benson,
Lee Remick
Charley Varrick
(1973)
Action
|
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
Don Siegel
Stars:
Walter Matthau,
Joe Don Baker,
Felicia Farr
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Melville Shavelson
Stars:
Jack Lemmon,
Barbara Harris,
Jason Robards
Save the Tiger
(1973)
Drama
Director:
John G. Avildsen
Stars:
Jack Lemmon,
Jack Gilford,
Laurie Heineman
Comedy
Director:
George Axelrod
Stars:
Walter Matthau,
Anne Jackson,
Patrick O'Neal
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Walter Matthau | ... | Joseph P. Kotcher | |
| Deborah Winters | ... | Erica Herzenstiel | |
| Felicia Farr | ... | Wilma Kotcher | |
| Charles Aidman | ... | Gerald Kotcher | |
| Ellen Geer | ... | Vera Kotcher | |
 |
Donald Kowalski | ... | Duncan Kotcher |
|
|
Dean Kowalski | ... | Duncan Kotcher |
|
|
Arlen Stuart | ... | Mrs. Fisher |
|
|
Jane Connell | ... | Miss Roberts |
|
|
James Brodhead | ... | Mr. Weaver (as James E. Brodhead) |
|
|
Jessica Rains | ... | Dr. McKernan |
| Darrell Larson | ... | Vincent Perrin | |
| Biff Elliot | ... | Motel Manager | |
| Paul Picerni | ... | Dr. Caudillo | |
|
|
Lucy Saroyan | ... | Sissy |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (10) »
Storyline
Wanting to avoid settling in a nursing home, Joseph Kotcher, a retired salesman, is obliged to leave his son's family. He embarks on a road trip during which he strikes up a friendship with a pregnant teenager and begins to understand the true meaning of life as he helps the girl give birth to her child. Written by Anonymous
Plot Keywords:
old age | senility | based on novel | character name as title | nickname as title |Taglines:
Walter Matthau in the role only he could make so excitingly different...you'll start talking about it from the opening scene. Jack Lemmon directs. He takes his talent 'behind' the camera for the first time to add a new, fresh dimension to his brilliant career.Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
17 September 1971 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Ainda Há Fogo Sob as Cinzas See more »Filming Locations:
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs, California, USACompany Credits
Production Co:
ABC Pictures Corporation, Kotch Company Productions, American Broadcasting Company (ABC) See more »
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Walter Matthau received a Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his role as Kotch in this movie. Matthau did not win, but a few years later Art Carney won a Best Actor Oscar for Harry and Tonto (1974), a similarly themed movie. Matthau and Carney would later appear together in House Calls (1978). See more »Goofs
Kotch collects old bowling pins to throw into his fireplace to keep warm. In reality, the thick plastic coatings would create smoke and noxious fumes. See more »Quotes
Erica Herzenstiel: Dumbest thing I've done in my life, having a baby in a filling station.See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.Contribute to This Page
On IMDb TV, you can catch Hollywood hits and popular TV series at no cost. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free!
Enjoy a night in with these popular movies available to stream now with Prime Video.
I first saw this back in the late '70's on TV. We loved it in the family, great fun, heart and performances. Matthau's intrepid, smart if slightly 'out There' Kotch is a unique character, well acted, and always someone we root for. It's not much different from the roles he would go onto play in the 90s, but...done by a younger man.
Sometimes the makeup and haircoloring doesn't quite look convincing, but that's okay too. The performance is put across as much by body language and posture as anything else.
The car is a great added touch-the knocking engine and etc a counterpoint to Kotch's own creaky body.
I liked Ellen Geer as the crabby daughter too-was surprised that she wound up in 'Phenomenon' and several other flix(Patriot Games) that I have seen before. Never made the connection.
It is dated sure, but that is inevitable with films. It's worth yer time.
*** outta **** Nice job by Lemmon, too.