Tuesdays with Morrie (1999)

A journalist finds himself questioning his own life when his best friend, a dying man, offers him some very powerful wisdom and advice for coping in relationships, careers and society.

Director:

Mick Jackson

Writers:

Thomas Rickman (teleplay) (as Tom Rickman), Mitch Albom (based on the book by)

Stars:

Jack Lemmon, Hank Azaria, Wendy Moniz-Grillo

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 12 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Lemmon	...	Morrie Schwartz
Hank Azaria	...	Mitch Albom
Wendy Moniz-Grillo	...	Janine (as Wendy Moniz)
Caroline Aaron	...	Connie
Bonnie Bartlett	...	Charlotte
John Carroll Lynch	...	Walter
Cloud Michaels	...	Morrie's Mother
Terri Hanauer	...	Eva / Stepmom
Kyle Sullivan	...	Young Morrie
Charles Homet	...	Rob
Mark Eric Charbonneau	...	Jon (as Mark Helm)
Carlton Wilborn	...	Eddie (as Carlton Wilton)
Ivo Cutzarida	...	Sergio
Dan Thiel	...	Shawn Daley
Kimble Jemison	...	Baseball Player

Storyline

Mitch became caught up with his career as a sport commentator and journalist. He ignored his girlfriend and did not make time to do things in life that are of the most value to a human being. Morrie was one of Mitch's professors in college and a famous scholar. One day Mitch was watching television and saw Morrie giving an interview stating that he is dying of Lou Gehrig's disease or ALS.

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Plot Keywords:

lou gehrig's disease | terminal illness | love | wisdom | friendship | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 December 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays with Morrie

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carlton America, Harpo Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last credited film role of Jack Lemmon.

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Goofs

Mitch is supposedly a talented pianist who gave up a promising career in music, yet in the recording studio when the producer asks for an F# Mitch plays an F.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Morrie Schwartz: Excuse me, kids.
[greeting people as he walks past]
Morrie Schwartz: Hello, love. How're ya doin'? Hey, Katie.
Mitch Albom: [narrating] Among other things, many other things, my old professor loved to eat. He especially liked tongue. I'd say, "Morrie, that's disgusting. " He'd say, "I'm sorry you think so. I also like cole slaw. Can you handle cole slaw, Mitch?"
Mitch Albom: [narrating] Near the top of the list of things he loved was dancing. He had his own way of dancing. He'd do the Lindy to Jimi Hendrix. He'd jitterbug to.....
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Gilmore Girls: Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers (2001)

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Soundtracks

O mio babbino caro
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Giovacchino Forzano.

User Reviews

A beautiful movie

This is a great TV movie about a retired teacher named Morrie Schwartz who is slowly dying of Lou Gherig's disease. Instead of being miserable about his inevitable death, Morrie has accepted it. An old pupil of his, Mitch Albom, has come to visit Morrie after hearing of his sickness on the news. Morrie starts to teach Mitch about his ideas on the meaning of life. He says "When we learn to die, we learn to live." When you can accept that you will die someday, you live life differently. He also says to always forgive everyone before it's too late and to love everyone. "We must love one another, or die."

It is made very clear from the very beginning of this movie that Morrie is going to die. Knowing this makes you dread the ending of this movie, but not as much as watching Morrie in such pain, especially at night. There were great acting jobs by everyone in this movie, including Wendy Moniz and Hank Azaria. But Jack Lemmon steals the show.

This movie reminded me a lot of "I'm Not Rappaport," starring Jack Lemmon's partner Walter Matthau. It's an excellent and beautiful movie that will really make you look at life differently, which is what Morrie would have liked.