Lost in Yonkers (1993)

In the summer of 1942, two young boys are sent to stay with their stern grandmother and their childlike aunt in Yonkers, New York.

Director:

Martha Coolidge

Writers:

Neil Simon (play), Neil Simon (screenplay)

Stars:

Richard Dreyfuss, Mercedes Ruehl, Irene Worth

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Louie Kurnitz
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Bella Kurnitz
Irene Worth	...	Grandma Kurnitz
Brad Stoll	...	Jay
Mike Damus	...	Arty
David Strathairn	...	Johnny
Robert Miranda	...	Hollywood Harry (as Robert Guy Miranda)
Jack Laufer	...	Eddie
Susan Merson	...	Gert
Illya Haase	...	Harry's Crony
Calvin Stillwell	...	Gas Station Attendant
Richard Hagerman	...	Truck Driver (as Dick Hagerman)
Jesse Vincent	...	Danny
Howard Newstate	...	Kid in Store
Peter Gannon	...	Cop

Storyline

In 1942 in the Bronx, Evelyn Kurnitz has just passed away following a lengthy illness. Her husband, Eddie Kurnitz, needs to take a job as a traveling salesman to pay off the medical bills incurred, and decides to ask his stern and straight talking mother, from who he is slightly estranged, if his two early-teen sons, Jay and Arty (who their Grandma call by their full given names, Yakob and Arthur), can live with her and their Aunt Bella Kurnitz in Yonkers. She reluctantly agrees after a threat by Bella. Despite their Grandma owning and operating a candy store, Jay and Arty don't like their new living situation as they're afraid of their Grandma, and find it difficult to relate to their crazy Aunt Bella, whose slow mental state is manifested by perpetual excitability and a short attention span, which outwardly comes across as a childlike demeanor. Into their collective lives returns one of Eddie and Bella's other siblings, Louie Kurnitz, a henchman for some gangsters. He is hiding out ...

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Plot Keywords:

aunt | grandmother | yonkers new york | place name in title | title directed by female | 

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Taglines:

This summer there's no better place to find yourself.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Appearing in this movie were actresses Mercedes Ruehl and Irene Worth who both appeared in the Broadway stage play of "Lost in Yonkers" where they both won Tony Awards for their performances.

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Goofs

When Bella is making the deluxe hot fudge sundaes for the boys, one of the cherries rolls off the top of the whipped cream but, when she sets the sundaes on the counter in front of the boys, both cherries are on top of the whipped cream.

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Quotes

Aunt Bella: You guys have to promise not to tell grandma! Jay?
Jay: I promise.
Aunt Bella: Arty?
Arty: She and I have very short conversations.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Lost in Yonkers/Carnosaur/American Heart/Posse/The Story of Qiu Ju (1993)

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Soundtracks

Now Voyager
Written by Max Steiner
Courtesy of Turner Entertainment Co.

User Reviews

Great and funny, but inconsistent

This film is a good look on life during World War II. The film starts out as a comedy involving two youngsters, then evolves into a family drama towards the end. Richard Dreyfuss' character overreacts, is annoying, serves as a major distraction, and hardly has any screen time. Ruehl deserved an Oscar for her performance.

In all, a good warm film.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 May 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lost in Yonkers

Filming Locations:

Augusta, Kentucky, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,002,150, 16 May 1993

Gross USA:

$9,285,189

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,285,189

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Rastar Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1