To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1996)

Director:

Michael Pressman

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

18 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

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.

Plot:

David loves his wife, Gillian. Unfortunately, she died two years ago. David deals with his grief by...

Plot Keywords:

Ghost | Grief | Bereavement | Death Of Wife | Bittersweet

Awards:

1 win

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

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | France:U | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | UK:12 (video premiere) | USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) | Singapore:PG | Canada:14A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Brant Point Lighthouse, Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Rastar Pictures

Trivia:

Freddie Prinze Jr.'s feature film debut.

Quotes:

David Lewis: Don't you think it is a little insensitive fixing me up on her birthday?
Paul Wheeler: Gillian has no more birthdays.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

Soundtrack:

Heartbeat Crazy

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.