Tootsie (1982)

Michael Dorsey, an unsuccessful actor, disguises himself as a woman in order to get a role on a trashy hospital soap.

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Larry Gelbart (screenplay), Murray Schisgal (screenplay)

Stars:

Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr

Won 1 Oscar. Another 24 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dustin Hoffman	...	Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels
Jessica Lange	...	Julie
Teri Garr	...	Sandy
Dabney Coleman	...	Ron
Charles Durning	...	Les
Bill Murray	...	Jeff
Sydney Pollack	...	George Fields
George Gaynes	...	John Van Horn
Geena Davis	...	April
Doris Belack	...	Rita
Ellen Foley	...	Jacqui
Peter Gatto	...	Rick
Lynne Thigpen	...	Jo
Ronald L. Schwary	...	Phil Weintraub
Debra Mooney	...	Mrs. Mallory

Storyline

Michael Dorsey is an unemployed actor with an impossible reputation. In order to find work and fund his friend's play he dresses as a woman, Dorothy Michaels, and lands the part in a daytime drama. Dorsey loses himself in this woman role and essentially becomes Dorothy Michaels, captivating women all around the city and inspiring them to break free from the control of men and become more like Dorsey's initial identity. This newfound role, however, lands Dorsey in a hot spot between a female friend/'lover,' a female co-star he falls in love with, that co-star's father who falls in love with him, and a male co-star who yearns for his affection.

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Plot Keywords:

reputation | girl in panties | panties | unexpected kiss | woman in lingerie | 

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Taglines:

Little did this desperate, out of work actor know when he secretly auditioned for a female role that he'd become the hottest star on television. Not even the girl he's madly in love with knows that he's Tootsie.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Would I Lie to You?

Filming Locations:

Hurley Mountain Inn, Hurley, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,540,470, 19 December 1982, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$177,200,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Mirage Enterprises, Punch Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dustin Hoffman's performance was one of two performances portraying struggling actors, reduced to appearing on television and ending up doing something outrageous during a live transmission, nominated for an Oscar in the same year. The other is Peter O'Toole's in My Favorite Year (1982). Neither actor won.

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Goofs

It is unbelievable that Michael (as Dorothy) and Les did not do anything more romantic other than sitting by a fire. Les later tells Michael how lucky he is they never kissed.

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Quotes

Les: [after falling for Dorothy, he discovers she's a man] Why'd you do it?
Michael Dorsey: I needed the work.
Les: The only reason you're still breathing is because I never kissed you.

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Crazy Credits

Dustin Hoffman is credited twice: Dustin Hoffman .... Michael Dorsey Dustin Hoffman .... Dorothy Michaels

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Alternate Versions

Original UK release was cut by 6 seconds to obtain a "PG" classification. Subsequently passed uncut with a "15" certificate.

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Connections

Referenced in Babylon Nights (1984)

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Soundtracks

Happy Birthday to You
(1893) (uncredited)
Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill
Sung a cappella by all at the party

User Reviews

Absolutely Brilliant Comedy

This movie just has to be one of the greatest comedies ever made. It is hilirious. Struggling and notoriously hard to work with actor Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) takes on the role of a woman in a daytime television soap opera, basically because he cannot get any more jobs as a male actor due to his reputation. The fun starts early on in the film with Dorothy Michaels appearing in the New York crowd suddenly and going for the script reading. From then on the film is sentimental, touching, dry and absolutely side-splittingly funny. The other actors/actresses in the film really do make it work. It is brilliantly cast with comedic moments from Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman, Charles Durning and the ever-brilliant and sarcastic Bill Murray. I wasn't even born until two years after the movie came out, but it's still so fresh and full of life after 22 years that you just have to love it. It's definately a five star for this. ***** out of *****