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An Unmarried Woman

  • 19781978
  • RR
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
5.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Jill Clayburgh in An Unmarried Woman (1978)
A wealthy woman from Manhattan's Upper East Side struggles to deal with her new identity and her sexuality after her husband of sixteen years leaves her for a younger woman.
Play trailer2:42
2 Videos
50 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance

A wealthy woman from Manhattan's Upper East Side struggles to deal with her new identity and her sexuality after her husband of 16 years leaves her for a younger woman.A wealthy woman from Manhattan's Upper East Side struggles to deal with her new identity and her sexuality after her husband of 16 years leaves her for a younger woman.A wealthy woman from Manhattan's Upper East Side struggles to deal with her new identity and her sexuality after her husband of 16 years leaves her for a younger woman.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
5.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Paul Mazursky
  • Writer
    • Paul Mazursky
  • Stars
    • Jill Clayburgh
    • Alan Bates
    • Michael Murphy
Top credits
  • Director
    • Paul Mazursky
  • Writer
    • Paul Mazursky
  • Stars
    • Jill Clayburgh
    • Alan Bates
    • Michael Murphy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 54User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 6 wins & 18 nominations total

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:42
    Trailer
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 7
    Video 27:32
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 7

    Photos50

    Alan Bates in "Unmarried Woman" 1978 ABC
    "An Unmarried Woman" Jill Clayburgh
    Jill Clayburgh in An Unmarried Woman (1978)
    Jill Clayburgh in An Unmarried Woman (1978)
    Alan Bates and Jill Clayburgh in An Unmarried Woman (1978)
    Alan Bates in An Unmarried Woman (1978)
    Alan Bates in An Unmarried Woman (1978)
    Jill Clayburgh and Cliff Gorman in An Unmarried Woman (1978)
    Jill Clayburgh and Lisa Lucas in An Unmarried Woman (1978)
    Jill Clayburgh, Kelly Bishop, Linda Miller, and Patricia Quinn in An Unmarried Woman (1978)
    Cliff Gorman in An Unmarried Woman (1978)
    Jill Clayburgh in An Unmarried Woman (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jill Clayburgh
    Jill Clayburgh
    • Ericaas Erica
    Alan Bates
    Alan Bates
    • Saulas Saul
    Michael Murphy
    Michael Murphy
    • Martinas Martin
    Cliff Gorman
    Cliff Gorman
    • Charlieas Charlie
    Patricia Quinn
    Patricia Quinn
    • Sueas Sue
    • (as Pat Quinn)
    Kelly Bishop
    Kelly Bishop
    • Elaineas Elaine
    Lisa Lucas
    Lisa Lucas
    • Pattias Patti
    Linda Miller
    Linda Miller
    • Jeannetteas Jeannette
    Andrew Duncan
    Andrew Duncan
    • Bobas Bob
    Daniel Seltzer
    • Dr. Jacobsas Dr. Jacobs
    Matthew Arkin
    Matthew Arkin
    • Philas Phil
    Penelope Russianoff
    • Tanyaas Tanya
    Novella Nelson
    Novella Nelson
    • Jeanas Jean
    Raymond J. Barry
    Raymond J. Barry
    • Edwardas Edward
    Ivan Karp
    • Herb Rowanas Herb Rowan
    Jill Eikenberry
    Jill Eikenberry
    • Claireas Claire
    Michael Tucker
    Michael Tucker
    • Fredas Fred
    Chico Martínez
    • Cabbieas Cabbie
    • (as Chico Martinez)
    • Director
      • Paul Mazursky
    • Writer
      • Paul Mazursky
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Erica is unmarried only temporarily, in that her successful, wealthy husband of 16 years has just left her for a girl he met while buying a shirt in Bloomingdale's. This movie shows Erica coming to terms with the break-up while revising her opinions of herself, redefining that self in its own right rather than as an extension of somebody else's personality, and finally going out with another man. Erica refuses to drop everything for Saul, an abstract expressionist painter, simply out of love for him, because he expects this of her. It is not so much loneliness that is her problem, and the problems that men, flitting around this newly "available" woman like moths round a flame, bring to her sense of independence. —alfiehitchie
    • female nudity
    • marital separation
    • divorce
    • sex scene
    • bare breasts
    • 45 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The ups, downs, ins and outs of starting over
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Dr. Penelope Russianoff, who plays Erica (Jill Clayburgh)'s therapist Tanya, was an actual practicing psychologist. The counseling sessions were filmed in her actual penthouse apartment on West 86th Street in New York, where she saw her patients. She worked for two and a half days and was paid US $2500. She was cast after having been recommended to director Paul Mazursky 'by Girlfriends' (1978) director Claudia Weill. Russianoff said that she improvised most of her dialogue which was based on the type of advice she gave her patients. After the movie was launched, Russianoff became a mini-celebrity, she said the role gave her "instant celebrityhood", being recognized on the streets of New York, where she signed autographs, and got a number of new clients. She wrote several self-help books in the 1980s including 'Why Do I Think I Am Nothing Without a Man?' (1988), a book first published about a decade after this film, but with a title and subject matter that was reflective of this picture.
    • Goofs
      The boom is clearly visible for several seconds during the art gallery scene.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      [Martin and Erica are jogging along the river]

      Martin: Jesus Christ! Look at this - my sneaker's ruined!

      Erica: They're only thirty-five dollars.

      [Erica takes Martin's shoe and cleans it off for him]

      Martin: Fucking city's turning into one big pile of DOG SHIT!

      [shouting at passing traffic]

      Martin: Come on out and take a crap on me - everybody else is. Fuck.

      [Martin lights a cigarette]

      Erica: ...been jogging for 2 1/2 miles - you're giving yourself lung cancer.

      Martin: I'll tell you something Erica - the longer I'm married to you the more you sound like my mother.

      Erica: Clean your own sneaker.

      [throws shoe at Martin]

      Martin: I think you wanted me to step in it.

      Erica: [laughing] You're going crazy Martin.

      Martin: I am?

      Erica: [laughing] Yes.

      [Martin tosses his shoe over his shoulder into the river. Erica jogs away, and Martin jogs after]

    • Crazy credits
      For Betsy
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Special Edition: Grease, Jaws 2, Animal House, Heaven Can Wait & The Best and Worst of 1978 (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      Swan Lake, Op.20
      (1877) (uncredited)

      Written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      Excerpts danced by Jill Clayburgh

    User reviews54

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    My brief review of the film
    A thoughtful film about human emotions and modern relationships, it is filled with interesting ideas and it is very well acted. At the time of the film's initial release, Jill Clayburgh received a lot of attention for her performance, and indeed she delivers very well, but Michael Murphy cannot be forgotten - he is an actor who is able to convey his emotions very realistically. In 1976 and 1979 he was also brilliant in 'The Front' and 'Manhattan' respectively - with such talent it is a shame that he has not had a better career. The film is also is set to some quite appropriately moody music from Bill Conti, and although technically unimpressive in general, some shots are very well composed by Mazursky. On the down side, the supporting characters are only lightly developed, and it drags a bit towards the end, but generally this is a solidly made film, and if nothing else, it is interesting to see Clayburgh dancing about in her underwear!
    helpful•11
    4
    • sol-
    • Jun 1, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 17, 1978 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Slobodna zena
    • Filming locations
      • Eat Restaurant, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Major Studio Partners
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $24,000,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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