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 | woman in lingerie | seduction | 

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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:

Tootsie

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

The hat rack at the head of Michael's bed, may suggest the many different hats (positions) the lead character has to wear in order to survive in his career.

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Goofs

When Jessica Lange throws a drink in Dustin Hoffman's face, the drink can be seen splattered over the back of the man standing behind Hoffman. In the next scene, Hoffman walks up to this man and uses the back of the man's suit jacket to dry off his face. The jacket is now clearly dry.

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Quotes

Ron Carlisle: [after Dorothy reveals she is a man] I *knew* there was a reason she didn't like me!

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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

"Tootsie" was cut in the UK to remove one line of dialogue with the F word to receive a 'PG'. At that time there was no '12'certificate so uncut it would have got a '15'. For video it was classified '15' uncut. Since then the video has not be re-submitted for re-classification as a '12' so still carries a 30 year old '15' certificate with its 2016 Criterion release.

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Connections

Referenced in Babylon Nights (1984)

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Soundtracks

That's All
(1952) (uncredited)
Lyrics by Bob Haymes
Music by Alan Brandt
Played on piano by Dustin Hoffman and sung by Charles Durning

User Reviews

They Don't Get Better Than This

Remember when comedies used to be actual movies with actual stories with actual points and the funny just flowed out of them, instead of just a flimsy excuse to string together jokes and funny scenes and stock situations? Yeah, me too. What happened?

If you're in the mood for a great movie that will get you to cough up a boatload of honest laughs, then you ain't gonna do better than TOOTSIE. You are not going to find a better written, acted, and directed comedy anywhere. There are plenty as good - but none better. This is a career highpoint for all involved, and when "all" includes names such as Sydney Pollack and Dustin Hoffman, you know that's a sentiment that carries some significant weight.

And it just reaffirms the old adage that every single comedy should have Bill Murray in it.