That's Life! (1986)

A wealthy yet depressed architect and his sympathetic wife strive to conquer their life issues in anticipation of Harvey Fairchild's (Jack Lemmon's) 60th birthday party.

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writers:

Milton Wexler, Blake Edwards

Stars:

Jack Lemmon, Julie Andrews, Sally Kellerman

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Lemmon	...	Harvey Fairchild
Julie Andrews	...	Gillian Fairchild
Sally Kellerman	...	Holly Parrish
Robert Loggia	...	Father Baragone
Jennifer Edwards	...	Megan Fairchild Bartlet
Robert Knepper	...	Steve Larwin (as Rob Knepper)
Matt Lattanzi	...	Larry Bartlet
Chris Lemmon	...	Josh Fairchild
Cynthia Sikes	...	Janice Kern
Dana Sparks	...	Fanny Ward
Emma Walton Hamilton	...	Kate Fairchild
Felicia Farr	...	Madame Carrie
Teddy Wilson	...	Corey (as Theodore Wilson)
Nicky Blair	...	Andre
Jordan Christopher	...	Dr. Keith Romanis

Storyline

Harvey (Jack Lemmon) and Gillian Fairchild (Dame Julie Andrews) face a difficult weekend. Harvey, celebrating his 60th birthday, is stressed and depressed. Gillian is awaiting the results of a throat biopsy. Their lives are further complicated by their three grown children, a ditsy neighbor, a fortune teller, and an alcoholic Priest.

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Plot Keywords:

white briefs | malibu los angeles | chlamydia | crying | fortuneteller | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to movie critic Leonard Maltin, "(Blake) Edwards gave co-screenplay credit to his own psychiatrist!" for Blake Edwards' The Man Who Loved Women (1983). That was Hollywood psychoanalyst Milton Wexler, who then worked again on this movie with Edwards, which became the second of two screenwriting collaborations of Edwards and Wexler.

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Goofs

Microphone shadow visible during party scene in the tent.

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Quotes

Dr. Keith Romanis: Well, Harv.
Harvey Fairchild: Yeah?
Dr. Keith Romanis: Your heart is strong. There's absolutely nothing wrong with you physically whatsoever.
Harvey Fairchild: There's nothing wrong with me?
Dr. Keith Romanis: No. You're in a great shape.
Harvey Fairchild: Uh, I'm in great shape? Keith, did you ever hear the story about the fighter that was losing badly, you know, to the other guy? He's getting the hell kicked out of him and he comes back to his corner between rounds, and his manager says, "Keep up the good work, kid, because the other guy isn't laying a glove on you." And the fighter says...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in The 44th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1987)

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Soundtracks

Rock Camping
Performed by Ernie Watts
Courtesy of Qwest Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

That's Life!

Many people dislike this film because of its melodramatic sentimentality, but I love it because Lemmon's performance is near perfect. I say this because as we see Harvey Fairchild suffer a mid life crisis, we see Jack Lemmon, the actor, suffer. This film was made in the years when Lemmon was going through problems of his own, with drinking and among other things. Lemmon captured numerous demons through the performance of Harvey, plus I think the film is good in general. Robert Loggia is another favorite of mine and he, along with his Oscar nod in the same year for "Jagged Edge," is simply wonderful as Harvey's friend and priest who drinks as people give their confessions. Sally Kellerman is also a delight.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 October 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blake Edwards' That's Life!

Filming Locations:

Malibu, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$4,079,895

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,079,895

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blake Edwards, Delphi V Productions, Paradise Cove Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1