Only When I Laugh
First screened in March 2005 / Most recently screened in July 2016
Director: Glenn Jordan. Cast: Marsha Mason, Kristy McNichol, Joan Hackett, James Coco, David Dukes, Ed Moore, Venida Evans, Peter Coffield, Guy Boyd, John Bennett Perry, Mark Schubb, Rebecca Stanley. Screenplay: Neil Simon (based on his play The Gingerbread Lady).

Twitter Capsule: Simon overworks the dialogue, natch. Key scenes get mishandled. Somehow, cast is able to sell this. It gets me.

VOR:   Nice to see Simon push into tonally mixed territory, though you sometimes sense the film's discomfort in going there. Good performances make it worth watching. Still tough to champion.



Photo © 1981 Columbia Pictures/Rastar Films

Not yet reviewed in full. Grade: C+

(in March 2005: B+)


Academy Award Nominations:
Best Actress: Marsha Mason
Best Supporting Actress: Joan Hackett
Best Supporting Actor: James Coco

Golden Globe Nominations and Winners:
Best Supporting Actress: Joan Hackett
Best Supporting Actress: Kristy McNichol
Best Supporting Actor: James Coco

Permalink Home 1981 ABC Blog E-Mail