A successful young L.A. doctor and his equally successful television-producer wife find their happily-ever-after life torn assunder when he suddenly confronts his long-repressed attraction ...
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Title: Making Love (1982)
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Nominated for
1
Golden Globe.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Michael Ontkean | ... | Zach | |
| Kate Jackson | ... | Claire | |
| Harry Hamlin | ... | Bart | |
| Wendy Hiller | ... | Winnie | |
| Arthur Hill | ... | Henry | |
| Nancy Olson | ... | Christine | |
| John Dukakis | ... | Tim | |
| Terry Kiser | ... | Harrington | |
 |
Dennis Howard | ... | Larry |
|
|
Asher Brauner | ... | Ted |
| John Calvin | ... | David | |
|
|
Gwen Arner | ... | Alrene |
| Gary Swanson | ... | Ken | |
| Anne Haney | ... | Lila (as Ann Harvey) | |
| Stanley Kamel | ... | Charlie | |
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
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Storyline
A successful young L.A. doctor and his equally successful television-producer wife find their happily-ever-after life torn assunder when he suddenly confronts his long-repressed attraction for other men. Zach and Claire live a comfortable life secure in their love for one another when Bart, a swinging L.A. novelist, walks into Zach's office and awakens unfamiliar feelings in him. In a move which leaves him wracked with guilt, Zach cancels dinner with his wife in order to go out with Bart. He is inexplicably drawn to this man who seems intent on keeping him at arms distance. Why can't Bart allow their relationship to grow? he wonders. Exasperated, he asks Bart, "Do you snore? Does anybody ever get a chance to find out?" As Zach's absences become more and more frequent, Claire's concern manifests itself in the suspicion that he is having an affair with another woman. Jilted by Bart and feeling alone for the first time in his married life, Zach resolves to tell Claire the truth about ... Written by Mark Fleetwood <mfleetwo@mail.coin.missouri.edu>
Plot Keywords:
romantic triangle | extramarital affair | homosexual love | male objectification | bare chested male |Taglines:
A provocative tale of hidden desire. See more »Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
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Written by Donald Fagen
Performed by Donald Fagen
Courtesy of Warner Brothers Records
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The film's editor William Reynolds excitedly called Harry Hamlin after his first cut of the film and told him he's be getting an Academy Award nomination for his performance. See more »Quotes
Bart: The night he died I went into a gay bar for the first time. I didn't do it to celebrate or anything. I did it 'cause I was pissed. Pissed that I never got the chance to tell him that his all American right fielder liked to get it on with other right fielders. I wanted to see the look in his eyes. God I wanted that scene.See more »
Soundtracks
The Goodbye LookWritten by Donald Fagen
Performed by Donald Fagen
Courtesy of Warner Brothers Records
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
5 March 1982 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Making Love See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$3,015,497, 15 February 1982Gross USA:
$11,897,978Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$11,897,978Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
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MAKING LOVE was dismissed as a rather routine melodrama despite its "controversial" subject. This is a pity, for this film is years ahead of its time in the frank and non-judgmental approach it takes to same-sex love. The on-screen kiss between Michael Ontkean and Harry Hamlin was in some ways the "shot heard round the world;" although not sexually explicit, this movie has clear and frank lovemaking scenes between the two men. This has yet to be duplicated in a mainstream Hollywood film; eleven years after MAKING LOVE, Hollywood gave us PHILADELPHIA, a "groundbreaking" film in which the lovers don't even kiss! This is progress?
Unappreciated in its time, MAKING LOVE has held up surprisingly well. Yes, it is a rather routine romance; except for the gender-switch, there isn't much here that is new or unusual. Yet, oddly, this is exactly what makes this film so appealing. Homosexuality is not seen as a problem except where it coincidentally creates one; the love triangle is handled in almost exactly the same way it would be if the husband had an affair with a woman. The stars are attractive and sympathetic and all give extremely appealing and deeply felt performances. If you saw it in 1982, it's worth a second (even third) look. If you've never seen it, it's a treat.