Liz and Merry become BFFs in college. A decade later, Liz is a serious writer with writer's block, and Merry is a homemaker and a mom who has written a novel. Other bestsellers, riches, and fame follow.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 1 win & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Jacqueline Bisset | ... |
Liz Hamilton
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| Candice Bergen | ... |
Merry Noel Blake
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| David Selby | ... |
Doug Blake
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| Hart Bochner | ... |
Chris Adams
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| Steven Hill | ... |
Jules Levi
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| Meg Ryan | ... |
Debby - Age 18
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| Matt Lattanzi | ... |
The Boy - Jim
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| Daniel Faraldo | ... |
Ginger Trinidad
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| Nicole Eggert | ... |
Debby - Age 8
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| Joe Maross | ... |
Martin Fornam
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Kres Mersky | ... |
Judy Heller
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Cloyce Morrow | ... |
Martha Antilles
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| Cheryl Robinson | ... |
UCLA Voice (voice)
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| Allan Warnick | ... |
Desk Clerk
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| Ann Risley | ... |
Max's Wife
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Damion Scheller | ... |
Max's Son
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Haley Fox | ... |
Max's Daughter
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| Fay Kanin | ... |
Professor Fields
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Tara Simpson | ... |
Stewardess
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Herb Graham | ... |
Waiter
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| Charlotte Moore | ... |
Clerk (Cartier)
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| William G. Schilling | ... |
Doorman (Waldorf-Astoria)
(as William Schilling)
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John Perkins | ... |
Limo Driver
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Herbert Bress | ... |
Waiter (Hallway)
(as Herb Bress)
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Alan Berliner | ... |
Photographer
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Don Bachardy | ... |
Malibu Party Guest
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Ruth Storey | ... |
Malibu Party Guest
(as Ruth Conte)
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| Marsha Hunt | ... |
Malibu Party Guest
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| Christopher Isherwood | ... |
Malibu Party Guest
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Pola Miller | ... |
Malibu Party Guest
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| Paul Morrissey | ... |
Malibu Party Guest
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Jennifer Nairn-Smith | ... |
Malibu Party Guest
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Karen Somerville | ... |
Malibu Party Guest
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| Roger Vadim | ... |
Malibu Party Guest
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Sandra Smith Allyn | ... |
Literary Party Guest
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| Frances Bergen | ... |
Literary Party Guest
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| Ray Bradbury | ... |
Literary Party Guest
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| Ellen Brill | ... |
Literary Party Guest
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Gwen Davis | ... |
Literary Party Guest
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| Frank De Felitta | ... |
Literary Party Guest
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Michael Dewell | ... |
Literary Party Guest
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| Nina Foch | ... |
Literary Party Guest
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Elizabeth Forsythe-Hailey | ... |
Literary Party Guest
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Oliver Hailey | ... |
Literary Party Guest
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| Randal Kleiser | ... |
Literary Party Guest
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| Gavin Lambert | ... |
Literary Party Guest
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Michael Brandon | ... |
Max (uncredited)
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| Dick Cavett | ... |
Dick Cavett (uncredited)
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| Merv Griffin | ... |
Merv Griffin (uncredited)
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Betty Keeney | ... |
Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Justin McNeill | ... |
Tourist (uncredited)
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| Dack Rambo | ... |
Kent (uncredited)
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Directed by
| George Cukor | ||
Written by
| John Van Druten | ... | (play) |
| Gerald Ayres | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| William Allyn | ... | producer |
| Jacqueline Bisset | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Georges Delerue | ||
Cinematography by
| Donald Peterman | ... | (as Don Peterman) |
Editing by
| John F. Burnett | ||
Editorial Department
| Bob Ramae | ... | assistant editor |
Production Design by
| Jan Scott | ||
Art Direction by
| Fred Harpman | ||
Set Decoration by
| Donald J. Remacle | ... | (as Don Remacle) |
Costume Design by
| Theoni V. Aldredge | ||
Makeup Department
| Candida Conery | ... | hair stylist (as Candy Conery) |
| Gary Liddiard | ... | makeup artist |
| Martin Samuel | ... | hair style designer: Miss Bergen |
| Dione Taylor | ... | hair stylist |
| Edward Ternes | ... | makeup artist (as Ed Ternes) |
| Bob Grimaldi | ... | hair stylist: New York (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Bill Badalato | ... | unit production manager: New York (as William Badalato) |
| Dennis E. Jones | ... | unit production manager (as Dennis Jones) |
| Ira Loonstein | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| James Quinn | ... | first assistant director |
| Joseph P. Reidy | ... | second assistant director: New York (as Joseph Reidy) |
| Tom Seidman | ... | second assistant director |
| Carol Green | ... | dga trainee (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Alan Hicks | ... | set decorator: New York |
| David Moll | ... | property master (as David C. Moll) |
| Jimmy Raitt | ... | property master: New York (as James Raitt) |
| Robert Reilly | ... | property master: New York (as Bob Reilly) |
| Daniel Robert | ... | set decorator: New York (as Dan Robert) |
| James A. Taylor | ... | art director: New York exteriors |
| Jack Buchman | ... | leadman: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
| Jim Fredericks | ... | set dresser: New York (uncredited) |
| Harry Kaven | ... | construction foreman (uncredited) |
| Martin A. Kline | ... | storyboard artist (uncredited) |
| Allan Lotta | ... | construction coordinator (uncredited) |
| Alan Mitchell | ... | assistant property master: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
| Rick Sternbach | ... | illustrator (uncredited) |
| Paul Wilson | ... | assistant property master: New York (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Jay M. Harding | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Paul Hochman | ... | sound editor |
| C. Darin Knight | ... | sound (as Darin Knight) |
| Michael J. Kohut | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Frank M. Reale | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Donald A. Bolger | ... | boom operator: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
| Charles J. Bond | ... | cable person: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
| Ken Dufva | ... | foley artist (uncredited) |
| John Fundus | ... | boom operator: New York (uncredited) |
| Robin Haskins | ... | re-recordist (uncredited) |
| Peter Ilardi | ... | sound mixer: New York (uncredited) |
| C. Darin Knight | ... | sound mixer: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
| Duncan McEwan | ... | sound recordist (uncredited) |
| Linda Murphy | ... | cable person: New York (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Larry Roberts | ... | special effects |
| Edward Drohan | ... | special effects: New York (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Catharine Bushnell | ... | still photographer: New York |
| Angelo Di Giacomo | ... | second assistant camera: New York (as Angelo Digiacomo) |
| Craig DiBona | ... | camera operator: New York (as Craig Dibona) |
| Peter Eco | ... | director of photography: New York |
| Lawrence Grauman | ... | second assistant camera (as Larry Grauman) |
| Gerald A. King | ... | key grip |
| Dan Lerner | ... | camera operator: New York |
| Kal Manning | ... | gaffer |
| Elliott Marks | ... | still photographer |
| Nick McLean | ... | camera operator |
| Robert Paone | ... | first assistant camera: New York |
| Keith Peterman | ... | first assistant camera |
| Jonathan Smith | ... | first assistant camera: New York |
| John Verardi | ... | second assistant camera: New York |
| Jerry DeBlau | ... | best boy: New York (uncredited) |
| John W. DeBlau | ... | gaffer: New York (uncredited) |
| John Mazzola | ... | best boy: New York (uncredited) |
| Ron Mazzola | ... | key grip: New York (uncredited) |
| John Palka | ... | best boy: MGM (uncredited) |
| Ed Quinn | ... | dolly grip: New York (uncredited) |
| Ken M. Suzuki | ... | best boy: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Sylvia Fay | ... | extras casting: New York |
| Jane Feinberg | ... | casting: Los Angeles |
| Mike Fenton | ... | casting: Los Angeles |
| Howard Feuer | ... | casting: New York |
| Jeremy Ritzer | ... | casting: New York |
| Valorie Massalas | ... | casting assistant (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Paula Cain | ... | costume supervisor: women |
| Bruce Ericksen | ... | costume supervisor |
| Peggy Thorin | ... | costume supervisor: women |
| Donna Tomas | ... | assistant costume designer |
| Lee Austin | ... | costume supervisor: New York (uncredited) |
| Michelle Nezwazky | ... | costumer: women, New York (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Peter R. McIntosh | ... | location manager: New York (as Peter McIntosh) |
| Paul Pav | ... | location manager |
| Dixie Fusillo | ... | location auditor: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Harry V. Lojewski | ... | music supervisor |
| William Saracino | ... | music editor |
| Robert Adcock | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Israel Baker | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Arnold Belnick | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Harry Bluestone | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Stuart Canin | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Vince De Rosa | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Georges Delerue | ... | conductor (uncredited) / orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Alan DeVeritch | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Bonnie Jean Douglas | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Earl Dumler | ... | musician: oboe (uncredited) |
| Dominick Fera | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Dominic Fidelibus | ... | music copyist (uncredited) |
| Endre Granat | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Ralph Grierson | ... | musician: keyboards (uncredited) |
| Robert Hartley | ... | music copyist (uncredited) |
| Paula Hochhalter | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Armand Kaproff | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Roland Kato | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Milton Kestenbaum | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Myra Kestenbaum | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Janet Lakatos | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Kathleen Lenski | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Gayle Levant | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| Ray Mace | ... | music copyist (uncredited) |
| Arthur Maebe | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Virginia Majewski | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Jack Marsh | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Irma Neumann | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Richard Perissi | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Joe Porcaro | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Meyer Rubin | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| David Schwartz | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Paul Shure | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Henry Sigismonti | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Robert Sushel | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Vicki Sylvester | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Mari Tsumura | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Louise Di Tullio | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Miwako Watanabe | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Mary Louise Zeyen | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Julie Pitkanen | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Rodney Lee Bennett | ... | driver: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
| Benny D. Bullock | ... | driver: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
| Rudy Camacho | ... | transportation captain: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
| Michael Fennell | ... | transportation captain: New York (uncredited) |
| Gary Hellerstein | ... | transportation coordinator: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
| Lou Leucart | ... | driver: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
| Don Pierce | ... | driver: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Karen Day | ... | location auditor |
| Amy Kastens | ... | unit publicist |
| Sandy Lawrence | ... | production secretary |
| Florence Nerlinger | ... | production coordinator: New York |
| Mary Ann Braubach | ... | assistant to producer (uncredited) |
| Irene Burns | ... | assistant to director (uncredited) |
| Rick Derby | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Dixie Fusillo | ... | estimator: Los Angeles (uncredited) |
| Sam Irvin | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Kevin King | ... | payroll accountant (uncredited) |
| Tracy Tynan | ... | assistant to director (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1981) (United States) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (United States) (theatrical) (released thru)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1981) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1981) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (France) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (Italy) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1982) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1984) (United States) (tv) (original airing)
- Audio Visual Enterprises (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
- Canale 5 (1985) (Italy) (tv)
- MGM Home Entertainment (West Germany) (VHS)
- France 3 (1992) (France) (tv) (French subtitles)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
- Vídeo Arte (Brazil) (video)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Central Casting (casting: Los Angeles)
- Film Score Monthly (soundtrack)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (titles and opticals)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (sound re-recording)
- Motion Picture Association (MPA)
- Panavision (cameras and lenses: Panaflex®)
- The Christie Brothers (furs: Miss Bergen)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Liz and Merry Noel become friends as college roommates and their friendship endures over the years. Liz becomes a respected "serious" novelist. Merry Noel marries, has a daughter, and writes as well: "trash" fiction which becomes enormously successful. Their story begins in college and jumps ahead some years at a time to show their relationship with each other and those in their orbits as they grow and mature.
Written by Ron Kerrigan |
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| Taglines | From the very beginning, they knew they'd be friends to the end. What they didn't count on was everything in between. See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Robert Mulligan started directing, but he had to bow out after four days filming due to the 1981 strike by the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The film was shut down for three months and when production re-commenced, scheduling conflicts meant Mulligan had to withdraw from the film and as such the director was replaced with veteran George Cukor. He was 81 years old and in semi-retirement when he was persuaded to direct. This is Cukor's final film as director. See more » |
| Goofs | Merry is in bed when she suddenly comes up with title for her next novel - "Home Cookin'". But a moment later, when she rushes into her office, that title is already scrawled across the blackboard where she jots down her ideas. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in So Fine, Gallipoli, Cattle Annie and Little Britches, True Confessions, Rich and Famous (1981). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Take Me for a Buggy Ride See more » |
| Quotes |
Liz Hamilton:
I have a quote: I find this mid-century obsession with young flesh obscene! It's like eating green cantaloupes! See more » |