Max Dugan Returns (1983)

An English teacher and struggling single mother has her life disrupted when the father who abandoned her as a child comes back into her life.

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writer:

Neil Simon

Stars:

Jason Robards, Marsha Mason, Donald Sutherland

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marsha Mason	...	Nora McPhee
Jason Robards	...	Max Dugan
Donald Sutherland	...	Brian Costello
Matthew Broderick	...	Michael McPhee
Dody Goodman	...	Mrs. Litke
Sal Viscuso	...	Coach Roy
Panchito Gómez	...	Luis (as Panchito Gomez)
Charley Lau	...	Charley Lau
Mari Gorman	...	Pat
Brian Part	...	Kevin Costello
Billie Bird	...	Older Woman
Tessa Richarde	...	Blonde at Shoe Store
Jim Staahl	...	Man at Shoe Store (as James Staahl)
Duke Stroud	...	Teacher
Sondra Blake	...	Teacher

Storyline

Nora is a single mother who lives with her son Michael in a small house. They don't have much money but at least they have each other. Out of the blue comes Nora's father Max Dugan, who left her and her mother when Nora was nine years old. He brings a suitcase with dollar bills and showers her and Michael with gifts, trying to make up for lost time, knowing that he has a fatal heart ailment. The money comes from his shady career in Las Vegas and Nora is dating a police who is very interested in meeting him...

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Plot Keywords:

police officer | gift | teacher | lunchroom | high school | 

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Taglines:

It's time to feel good again

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Como caído del cielo

Filming Locations:

Alexander Hamilton High School - 2955 S. Robertson Blvd., Palms District, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,791,002, 27 March 1983

Gross USA:

$17,613,720

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,613,720

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie is unique in the Marsha Mason - Neil Simon collaborative canon in that Mason, in a lead starring role in a Simon film, sports light brown/ash blonde hair whereas in all the other films Mason starred in and written by her then husband Simon Mason had always been a dark brunette. Mason did however have full blonde hair in a supporting ensemble part in Simon's The Cheap Detective (1978).

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Goofs

After a dinner, Max lights a cigar but it never fully ignites. A moment later, the cigar has half an inch of ash at the end.

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Quotes

Mrs. Litke: [about house remodeling] They raise the teacher's salary this year?
Nora McPhee: No, no, no. I've been doing private tutoring in the evening.
Mrs. Litke: Mm, who you tutoring, Arabs?

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Connections

Referenced in Yes Man (2008)

User Reviews

Family is very important!!!!!!!!!

Jason Robards is a really good actor. He made this movie that I'll be writing about " Max Dugan Returns." This movie was written by Neil Simon. This is a movie from the 1983. Most movies from the 80's are boring, but this one wasn't.This is a really funny movie. I thought that the movie was really good. Jason Robards did a really good acting. This movie makes people realize a lot of things in life. like for example believing in your family & close friends, but especially yourself. It also teaches you to accept you family & friends the way that they are not the the way that you want them to be. It aso teaches you to trust in everyone even yourself. I believe that this movie should be about family. This movie bring a family together, that haven't seen each other for lots of years. This movie shows the importance of life as a family. I think that what Max was trying to do was fair. He was trying to help his daughter and his grandson. Jason Robards did a good job as Max. He made me laugh during the movie. In the movie all he does is lie and help his family. I think that helping his daughter was really nice. I really like his acting. Nora was a good mother. The part that I didn't like much was the part when she lied and the part when she was mean to her father.She should not care were the money comes from. On the voting I gave "Max Dugan Retuns" a 9, because the policeman was getting on my nerves. He was acting like if he was married to her.If he really loved her he wouldn't of be so mean to her about her father. This is a really good movie. Jason Robards was born to do this movie. I really liked it. Even if Jason Robards is an actor, and not a musician I'm glad he got a Kennedy Center Honors.