Terms of Endearment (1983)

Follows hard-to-please Aurora looking for love, and her daughter's family problems.

Director:

James L. Brooks

Writers:

Larry McMurtry (based on the novel by), James L. Brooks (screenplay)

Stars:

Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson

Won 5 Oscars. Another 27 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shirley MacLaine	...	Aurora Greenway
Debra Winger	...	Emma Horton
Jack Nicholson	...	Garrett Breedlove
Danny DeVito	...	Vernon Dahlart
Jeff Daniels	...	Flap Horton
John Lithgow	...	Sam Burns
Lisa Hart Carroll	...	Patsy Clark
Betty King	...	Rosie Dunlop (as Betty R. King)
Huckleberry Fox	...	Teddy Horton
Troy Bishop	...	Tommy Horton
Shane Serwin	...	Younger Tommy Horton
Megan Morris	...	Melanie Horton
Tara Yeakey	...	Baby Melanie
Norman Bennett	...	Edward Johnson
Jennifer Josey	...	Young Emma

Storyline

Aurora and Emma are mother and daughter who march to different drummers. Beginning with Emma's marriage, Aurora shows how difficult and loving she can be. The movie covers several years of their lives as each finds different reasons to go on living and find joy. Aurora's interludes with Garrett Breedlove, retired astronaut and next door neighbor are quite striking. In the end, different people show their love in very different ways.

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Plot Keywords:

cancer | dying young | extramarital affair | terminal illness | mother daughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

Come to Laugh, Come to Cry, Come to Care, Come to Terms.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the second Best Picture Oscar winner in which Jack Nicholson appeared. The first one was One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), for which he also won the Best Actor Award. It's also the second time he co-starred with Danny DeVito; DeVito appeared in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). This is the third time Shirley MacLaine has starred in a Best Picture Oscar winner. She appeared with David Niven in Around the World in 80 Days (1956) and opposite Jack Lemmon in The Apartment (1960). Nicholson starred in another Best Picture Oscar winner after this as well, The Departed (2006).

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Goofs

After Patsy applies make-up to Emma in the hospital, Emma hugs and kisses her before she leaves to get the boys and there is a noticeable lipstick mark on Patsy's right cheek. In the next shot it is gone.

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Quotes

Emma Horton: Momma, that's the first time I stopped hugging first. I like that.

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Connections

Referenced in Fuller House: The Prom (2018)

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Soundtracks

Stella by Starlight
(1946) (uncredited)
By Ned Washington and Victor Young

User Reviews

Terms Of Endearment 2018

It's often a strange experience to revisit a film that made a big splash decades earlier. I remember enjoying it enormously and enjoyed it enormously again last night but the reasons for the enjoyment have changed. The film as a film has remained solidly planted in 1983, specially the score but what will lead this film into the forever ever are the writing of course and the performances. Shirley MacLaine's truthfulness warts an all is a work of art. She is present one hundred per cent of the time and let's remember, Shirley MacLaine didn't start as an actress, she was a dancer who became a star thanks to a twist of fate and she has remained there as an example of honesty and courage ever since. Her Aurora in Terms Of Endearment is a monumental treat. Debra Winger's performance is a revolution of sorts. Every detail confirms and/or challenges our feelings for her but she's never less that one hundred per cent truthful. It's impossible not to love her even if she doesn't make it easy for you. Jack Nicholson is a terrific interference and every one of his moments have a pleasure of their own. So, a 35 year old movie with a teenager's heart.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 December 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Terms of Endearment

Filming Locations:

Lincoln International Airport, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,498,813, 27 November 1983

Gross USA:

$108,423,489

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$108,423,489

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1