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Author! Author!

  • 1982
  • PG
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
6K
YOUR RATING
Al Pacino, Dyan Cannon, Tuesday Weld, Bob Dishy, and Alan King in Author! Author! (1982)
While facing the stress of his play being produced on Broadway, a playwright deals with having to raise his son, his stepdaughters, and his stepsons.
Play trailer1:38
1 Video
38 Photos
ComedyDramaFamilyRomance

While facing the stress of his original play being produced on Broadway, playwright Ivan Travalian deals with having to raise his son, his stepdaughters, and his stepsons.While facing the stress of his original play being produced on Broadway, playwright Ivan Travalian deals with having to raise his son, his stepdaughters, and his stepsons.While facing the stress of his original play being produced on Broadway, playwright Ivan Travalian deals with having to raise his son, his stepdaughters, and his stepsons.

  • Director
    • Arthur Hiller
  • Writer
    • Israel Horovitz
  • Stars
    • Al Pacino
    • Dyan Cannon
    • Tuesday Weld
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Arthur Hiller
    • Writer
      • Israel Horovitz
    • Stars
      • Al Pacino
      • Dyan Cannon
      • Tuesday Weld
    • 54User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
    • 42Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:38
    Trailer

    Photos38

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    + 32
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    Top cast44

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    Al Pacino
    Al Pacino
    • Ivan Travalian
    Dyan Cannon
    Dyan Cannon
    • Alice Detroit
    Tuesday Weld
    Tuesday Weld
    • Gloria Travalian
    Bob Dishy
    Bob Dishy
    • Morris Finestein
    Bob Elliott
    Bob Elliott
    • Patrick Dicker
    Ray Goulding
    Ray Goulding
    • Jackie Dicker
    Eric Gurry
    • Igor
    Elva Josephson
    • Bonnie
    • (as Elva Leff)
    B.J. Barie
    B.J. Barie
    • Spike
    Ari Meyers
    Ari Meyers
    • Debbie
    Benjamin H. Carlin
    • Geraldo
    Alan King
    Alan King
    • Kreplich
    Ken Sylk
    • Roger Slessinger
    James Tolkan
    James Tolkan
    • Lt. Glass
    Tony Munafo
    • Officer Kapinsky
    Reuben Singer
    • Oliver Cromwell
    Cosmo Allegretti
    Cosmo Allegretti
    • Fippsy Fippininni
    Kevin McClarnon
    • Ted Brawn
    • Director
      • Arthur Hiller
    • Writer
      • Israel Horovitz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews54

    6.25.9K
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    Featured reviews

    zelda1964

    Pacino becomes a champion and"Hero"

    I had seen this movie quite a few times, and thought that Al Pacino gave a great performance. Here we see a professional playwriter Ivan Travalian struggling with his career,and he gets hit with the news his wife wants to leave;She has some heavy load to carry,the children she cannot take a responsibility for. With juggling the duties of mother and father,Ivan has his anxiety about failure;He needs a great "rave" review to have a broadway hit.

    There are sensitive lines in the film that touch on Ivan's personality; I am moved to the same anger, when He tells ex-wife Gloria "we are not fish,we are people".Gloria seems to be self-centered and uncaring.Travalian also says to his biological son,Igor, "nobody wants them,Gloria doesn't want them". How can we not feel the pain in these hurting kids?

    The movie was great and touched on the aspect of family and Love;Ivan has these kids of the world, and tries to make a home for them.I love this film and enjoyed it heartily.
    6LIND77777

    Stupid

    Stupid plot, featuring adults who are 90% unbelievable, especially the wife. The kids are engaging at times, however. There is much too much about this totally contrived situation, and far too little about the theatre. Disappointing.
    7Travis_Bickle01

    Highly enjoyable

    The only reason I saw this movie, was because Al Pacino was starring in it. I'm a huge fan of him and I don't want to miss any of his movies. "Author! Author!" is a highly enjoyable comedy-drama about a family guy and his many kids. Al Pacino plays a writer of stage plays who is dealing with some personal problems with his wife which also affects his writing.

    Of course, "Author! Author!" isn't the best Al Pacino movie ever made, but it's certainly worth watching. This movie was a pleasant surprise. The director Arthur Hiller has also directed the timeless romantic classic "Love Story" with Ryan O'Neal. I think Al Pacino was worth his Golden Globe nomination.

    Fine and well acted comedy-drama.

    7,5/10
    helen-54

    very kind movie

    I've seen this movie before, quite a long time ago, and I liked it a lot. Having just seen it for the second time, I'm under the same impression. The movie is very funny and lighthearted, really kind. The script is smart, the performances by Pacino and kids are great. The film is a pleasure to watch, it puts you in a good mood. I think the film was underestimated by viewers, I put it 4 out of 4!
    7dgordo63

    Nice light-hearted Comedy

    Some comments would have you believe that this movie is annoying and stupid. Don't believe that for a minute. It is an unfair assessment of what movies were like in the 80's (not 70's as was indicated in a previous comment).

    It seems pretty obvious that if you were old enough during the early 80's, goof-ball comedy and romantic comedy were at its peak (Check out some Neil Simon, Blake Edwards, Dudley Moore, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Harold Ramis, Goldie Hawn to name a few). The theme songs are soft and melodic. This movie is no exception. If you expect something much more, then you are in for a disappointment.

    Synopsis: Ivan Trevellan (Al Pacino), a playwright, has a deadline to finish his play. Along the way, he struggles to keep his marriage, provide support to five children (in which four of the five are his wife's from previous marriages) and deal with his demanding producer and director.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Actress Dyan Cannon was initially offered the part of Gloria Travalian but Cannon turned down the role because she felt the character was too "bitchy" and had played a "bitch" before. Later on, Cannon was given the role of Alice Detroit, and thoroughly enjoyed making this film and likened the experience to like "being on a cruise". And Tuesday Weld was cast as Gloria.
    • Goofs
      In the theater scene immediately following meeting with Alice, Ivan sports an entirely new hair do. The play's director acknowledges it. Then the very next scene has Ivan exiting the subway station with his old hair do.
    • Quotes

      Travalian: No ex-husband of Gloria's ever has to apologize to me about anything. We're like a little club.

    • Alternate versions
      The 2005 Region 2 DVD, and the 2007 Region 1 DVD, which were both released by Fox Video, contains the following changes: Alternate opening title credits (white titles over black background). No title credit to both the song 'Coming Home To You' and the song's vocalist and writers (Michael Franks, Alan and Marilyn Bergman). Johnny Mandel credited as the film's composer. Film ending with Ivan and the kids at the newstand. Previous video releases by 20th Century Fox Video, CBS/Fox Video, and Fox Video contains the opening credits in white text playing over the NYC skyline backdrop to the set in the playhouse, a title credit to both the song Coming Home To You, and its vocalist and writers (Michael Franks, Alan and Marilyn Bergman), David Grusin credited as the film's composer, and the film ending with the kids celebrating Ivan's success by pouring champagne and cake on him while he is in bed. David Grusin was hired to rescore Johnny Mandel's original score. David Grusin's score is heard in the final film.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Dyan Cannon/Dr. Ruth Westheimer (1982)
    • Soundtracks
      Comin' Home To You
      Music by Dave Grusin

      Lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman

      Performed by Michael Franks

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 18, 1982 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Daddy! Daddy! Fünf Nervensägen und ein Vater
    • Filming locations
      • 193 Waverly Place and West 10th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(apartment: Home of Ivan Travalian)
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $13,111,101
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,279,260
      • Jun 20, 1982
    • Gross worldwide
      • $13,111,101
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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