Terms of Endearment [Blu-ray]

Director: James L. Brooks James L. Brooks

Overview

Terms of Endearment covers three decades in the lives of widow Aurora Greenaway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger). Fiercely protected by Aurora throughout childhood, Emma runs into resistance from her mother when she marries wishy-washy college teacher Flap (Jeff Daniels). Aurora is even more put out at the prospect of being a grandmother, though she grows a lot fonder of her three grandkids than she does of her son-in-law. Flap proves that Aurora's instincts were on target when he enters into an affair with a student (Kate Charleson). Meanwhile, Emma finds romantic consolation with an unhappily married banker (played by John Lithgow, who registers well in a rare "nice guy" performance). As for Aurora, she is ardently pursued by her next-door neighbor, boisterous astronaut Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson). After 75 minutes or so of pursuing an episodic, semi-comic plotline, the film abruptly shifts moods when Emma discovers that she has terminal cancer. Terms of Endearment won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay for TV veteran James L. Brooks making his first feature film, Best Actress for MacLaine, and Best Supporting Actor for Nicholson. It was followed by a sequel, The Evening Star (1996), which again featured MacLaine as Aurora.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/23/2017
UPC:	0032429274083
Original Release:	1983
Rating:	PG
Source:	PARAMOUNT
Language:	English
Time:	2:11:00
Sales rank:	3,304

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Shirley MacLaine	Aurora Greenway
Debra Winger	Emma Horton
Jack Nicholson	Garrett Breedlove
Jeff Daniels	Flap Horton
Danny DeVito	Vernon Dahlart
John Lithgow	Sam Burns
Betty King	Rosie
Lisa Hart Carroll	Patsy Clark
Huckleberry Fox	Toddy
Megan Morris	Melanie
Troy Bishop	Tommy Horton
Shane Serwin	Young Tommy Horton
Jennifer Josey	Young Emma Greenway
Tara Yeakey	Baby Melanie
Norman Bennett	Edward Johnson
Kate Charleson	Janice
Tom Wees	Dr. Budge
Paul Menzel	Dr. Maise
F. William Parker	Doctor
Amanda Watkins	Meg,Woman
Buddy Gilbert	Dr. Ratcher
David Wohl	Phil
Shelley K. Kielsen	Nurse
Betty Croissant	Nurse
Charles Beall	Rudyard's Employer
Lelise Folse	Dors
Sharisse Baker	Lee Anne
Judith A. Dickerson	Checkout Girl
Devon O'Brien	Lizbeth
Dana Vance	Victoria
Alexandra O'Karma	Jane
Nancy Mette	Woman at Party
Holly Beth Holmberg	T.J.
Lear Levin	Jack Stern
Lanier Whilden	Patsy's Mother
Helen Stauffer	Flap's Secretary
Barbara Balik	Woman
John C. Conger	Moving Man
Sandra Newkirk	Mrs. Johnson
Elaine McGown	Herself
Albert Brooks	Rudyard
Michael Gore	Composer

Technical Credits

James L. Brooks

James L. Brooks	Director,Screenwriter,Producer
Penney Finkelman Cox	Producer
Martin Jurow	Producer
Jim Alexander	Sound Mixer,Sound/Sound Designer
Sylvia Fay	Casting
Rick Kline	Sound/Sound Designer
Donald Mitchell	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Terms of Endearment is almost two films -- an upbeat, comic first half followed by a tearjerking tragedy in which Emma Greenaway (Debra Winger) is stricken with cancer. It is notable for its frank treatment of serious illness and for its intricate portrayal of a troubled mother/daughter relationship.The film was a personal triumph for television veteran James L. Brooks, who took home three Oscars, for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director (his first feature film), and Best Picture. Moreover, the film manages to blend together two of the screen's most dominant performers, Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson, each of whom received an Oscar, perhaps for having the patience not to steal scenes from each other.