To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1996)

David Lewis is affected by the death of his wife Gillian, who fell from the mast pole of their boat on a sailing trip two years ago. David deals with his grief by continuing his romance ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Pressman

Writers:

Michael Brady (play), David E. Kelley (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Gallagher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter Gallagher	...	David Lewis
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Gillian Lewis
Claire Danes	...	Rachel Lewis
Laurie Fortier	...	Cindy Bayles
Wendy Crewson	...	Kevin Dollof
Bruce Altman	...	Paul Wheeler
Kathy Baker	...	Esther Wheeler
Freddie Prinze Jr.	...	Joey Bost
Rachel Seidman-Lockamy	...	Megan Weeks
Lorielle New	...	Blonde on the Beach (as Lori New)
Danny Crook	...	Lifeguard
Seth Green	...	Danny
Todd Haven	...	Paramedic

Storyline

David Lewis is affected by the death of his wife Gillian, who fell from the mast pole of their boat on a sailing trip two years ago. David deals with his grief by continuing his romance with Gillian during walks with her ghost on the beach at night. While David lives in the past, other family problems crop up in the present in the real world. He neglects his teenage daughter Rachel and his in-laws come for a weekend visit to help her. Rachel has lost her mother and needs her father to snap back into the real world and help her.

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Plot Keywords:

grief | widower | obsessive love | based on play | beach | 

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Taglines:

You're invited to Gillian's 37th birthday. There will be music in the air...castles in the sand...and someone totally unexpected at the party.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a scene involving strong language, and for some sensuality and teen drinking

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Par amour pour Gillian

Filming Locations:

Brant Point Lighthouse, Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$77,725, 20 October 1996, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$4,137,645, 15 December 1996

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rastar Pictures, Triumph Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Freddie Prinze Jr. 's feature film debut.

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Quotes

Gillian: One more night like it used to be.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Sleepers/Get on the Bus/To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday/Jude/Swingers (1996)

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Soundtracks

Let's Go
Written by Ken Fox
Performed by The Fleshtones
Courtesy of Ichiban Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Excellent, Unusual Movie for Deep People NOT Action JUNKIES

This was one of my favorite movies ever. I watched it once and was curiously confused by the twists and uncertainties in the plot. Then I watched it again and I cried more than I have ever cried in my life. I quietly bawled, tears flowing, through the entire movie. I have recommended it to many people as a great movie, but I don't know of anyone who has seen it. I think I will go look online and see if I can buy it. It is deep, deep, deep, especially for people with mental illness in their family, or let's say emotional illness in our society. Powerful lessons are taught about love and caring for our children. People need lessons on how to love, value, and treat each other selflessly. Most of us spend so much energy, research and resources on technological and financial advancement and so little on human concerns and relationship development. Commentators are complaining that the husband is fantasizing about an idealized wife, but we actually don't have to settle for poor quality relationships. We can learn to value, nurture, support each other and be real.