Tootsie (1982)

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Don McGuire (story) and
Larry Gelbart (story) ...

Release Date:

17 December 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Desperate, he took a female role and became a star. If only he could tell the woman he loves.

Plot:

An unemployed actor with a reputation for being difficult disguises himself as a woman to get a role in a soap opera.

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Unemployed Actor | Audition | Actress | Soap Opera

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 21 wins & 22 nominations

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels
Jessica Lange	...	Julie Nichols
Teri Garr	...	Sandy Lester
Dabney Coleman	...	Ron Carlisle
Charles Durning	...	Leslie 'Les' Nichols
Bill Murray	...	Jeff Slater
Sydney Pollack	...	George Fields
George Gaynes	...	John Van Horn
Geena Davis	...	April Page
Doris Belack	...	Rita Marshall
Ellen Foley	...	Jacqui
Peter Gatto	...	Rick
Lynne Thigpen	...	Jo
Ronald L. Schwary	...	Phil Weintraub
Debra Mooney	...	Mrs. Mallory

Also Known As:

Would I Lie to You? (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | UK:15 (video rating) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | USA:PG (re-rating on appeal) | UK:PG (original rating) (cut) | USA:R (original rating) | South Korea:All | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Peru:14 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Hurley Mountain Inn, Hurley, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The movie's line "I was a better man with you as a woman than I ever was with a woman as a man. Know what I mean?" was voted as the #61 of "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines" by Premiere in 2007.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sandy comes over and surprises Dorothy in her apartment, she takes her coat off twice.

Quotes:

George Fields: OK, I know this is going to disgust you, Michael, but a lot of people are in this business to make money.
Michael Dorsey: You make it out like I'm some flake, George. I am in this business to make money, too.
George Fields: Really?
Michael Dorsey: Yes!
George Fields: The Harlem Theatre for the Blind? Strindberg in the Park? The People's Workshop in Syracuse?
Michael Dorsey: OK, now wait a minute. I did nine plays in eight months up in Syracuse. I happened to get great reviews from the New York critics, not that that's why I did it.
George Fields: Oh, of course not. God forbid you should lose your standing as a cult failure.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Oi treis harites: Tootsie: Part 1" (????)

Soundtrack:

Tootsie

Funny AND intelligent.

There is so much more to this film than Dustin Hoffman running around in a dress trying to act like a woman. Tootsie is one of the most intelligent comedies I've ever seen. It is perfectly cast, well-layered, and full of surprises.

Dustin Hoffman plays Michael Dorsey. He seems to know everything about acting except how to stay employed as an actor. In an early montage we see him auditioning for numerous plays where he is either too old, too young, too short, simply not the right guy for the part, or in some cases impossible to work with. We also see him trying to teach his craft to some young wannabe actors, and working at a restaurant to pay the bills. After a hilarious argument with his agent, he is simply told "No one will hire you!" The very next shot has Hoffman in drag walking down the street to an audition for a soap opera part his friend (Terri Garr) was unable to land. So intent is the chauvinistic director (Coleman) on casting a woman that looks tough enough for the part of a hospital administrator, Hoffman is denied without so much as a reading. He responds with a hilarious tirade that opens the door to his television career. Hoffman lands the part, and is soon winning over fans all over the country.

While Hoffman finds it wonderful to be working regularly, his personal life is understandably put to the test. He alienates Garr, is constantly made fun of by his roommate (Murray) and falls in love with one of his co-stars (Lange) who of course cannot learn his secret or he's out of a job. Things are further complicated when two older men fall in love with him. It would be pointless to try and describe some of the awkward situations he finds himself in. You must see the movie to experience them for yourself.

The film is so well-cast it's incredible. There are so many fine actors at work here that it almost becomes a contest of who can steal the scene first. Murray gets his share with his improvised lines. His lamenting of the state of his plays during a party scene will have you howling. The icing on the cake was director Sydney Pollack agreeing to play Hoffman's agent. They only have a few scenes together, but they are the film's best.

Tootsie is head and shoulders above other films I've seen that deal with men in women's clothing. Mrs. Doubtfire for example was all slapstick without much heart. In the end it tried to redeem itself in that department and just got way too sappy. Tootsie also wisely holds back in the feminism department. Although Hoffman's Dorothy Michaels is clearly a woman who inspires others to stand up for themselves, he is advised to tone it down by Pollack in one scene. Hoffman feels his Dorothy character should be doing specials and giving advice and whatnot, but Pollack reminds him, "You have NOTHING to say to women, Michael." In other words, you're lucky you've gotten away with the stunt up to this point, now you should be looking for a way to get out.

Overall Tootsie is wonderful experience. It made a fortune when released, and is still very relevant today. Don't miss it! 10 of 10 stars from the Hound.