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Author! Author!

  • 1982
  • PG
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
6K
YOUR RATING
Al Pacino, Dyan Cannon, Tuesday Weld, Bob Dishy, and Alan King in Author! Author! (1982)
While facing the stress of his play being produced on Broadway, a playwright deals with having to raise his son, his stepdaughters, and his stepsons.
Play trailer1:38
1 Video
38 Photos
ComedyDramaFamilyRomance

While facing the stress of his original play being produced on Broadway, playwright Ivan Travalian deals with having to raise his son, his stepdaughters, and his stepsons.While facing the stress of his original play being produced on Broadway, playwright Ivan Travalian deals with having to raise his son, his stepdaughters, and his stepsons.While facing the stress of his original play being produced on Broadway, playwright Ivan Travalian deals with having to raise his son, his stepdaughters, and his stepsons.

  • Director
    • Arthur Hiller
  • Writer
    • Israel Horovitz
  • Stars
    • Al Pacino
    • Dyan Cannon
    • Tuesday Weld
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Arthur Hiller
    • Writer
      • Israel Horovitz
    • Stars
      • Al Pacino
      • Dyan Cannon
      • Tuesday Weld
    • 55User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
    • 42Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:38
    Trailer

    Photos38

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    + 32
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    Top cast44

    Edit
    Al Pacino
    Al Pacino
    • Ivan Travalian
    Dyan Cannon
    Dyan Cannon
    • Alice Detroit
    Tuesday Weld
    Tuesday Weld
    • Gloria Travalian
    Bob Dishy
    Bob Dishy
    • Morris Finestein
    Bob Elliott
    Bob Elliott
    • Patrick Dicker
    Ray Goulding
    Ray Goulding
    • Jackie Dicker
    Eric Gurry
    • Igor
    Elva Josephson
    • Bonnie
    • (as Elva Leff)
    B.J. Barie
    B.J. Barie
    • Spike
    Ari Meyers
    Ari Meyers
    • Debbie
    Benjamin H. Carlin
    • Geraldo
    Alan King
    Alan King
    • Kreplich
    Ken Sylk
    • Roger Slessinger
    James Tolkan
    James Tolkan
    • Lt. Glass
    Tony Munafo
    • Officer Kapinsky
    Reuben Singer
    • Oliver Cromwell
    Cosmo Allegretti
    Cosmo Allegretti
    • Fippsy Fippininni
    Kevin McClarnon
    • Ted Brawn
    • Director
      • Arthur Hiller
    • Writer
      • Israel Horovitz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews55

    6.26K
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    Featured reviews

    7dgordo63

    Nice light-hearted Comedy

    Some comments would have you believe that this movie is annoying and stupid. Don't believe that for a minute. It is an unfair assessment of what movies were like in the 80's (not 70's as was indicated in a previous comment).

    It seems pretty obvious that if you were old enough during the early 80's, goof-ball comedy and romantic comedy were at its peak (Check out some Neil Simon, Blake Edwards, Dudley Moore, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Harold Ramis, Goldie Hawn to name a few). The theme songs are soft and melodic. This movie is no exception. If you expect something much more, then you are in for a disappointment.

    Synopsis: Ivan Trevellan (Al Pacino), a playwright, has a deadline to finish his play. Along the way, he struggles to keep his marriage, provide support to five children (in which four of the five are his wife's from previous marriages) and deal with his demanding producer and director.
    10wallis104

    Absolutely one of my all time favorites......

    I've just finished watching this delightful movie for - I don't know - the umpteenth time...... - probably somewhere in the 20's...

    The kids are all adorable and just the best little actors....

    Coupled with the opportunity to see Al Pacino smile.... who can resist that ???

    Good clean fun.... well known actors....

    This movie is bound to bring a smile to your face...

    I highly recommend this fun, fun movie....

    Great for all ages....

    Could surely become one of your favorites also.
    10testure10

    Wonderful! I remember seeing this as a kid...

    ...this is a wonderful family film! It brings back memories from seeing it when I was much younger. It really is a truly special film that demonstrates how important family, even a non-traditional family, is -- especially when we are young. It demonstrates that children are aware of what is happening arond them, despite the fact that adults don't give them much credit for being intelligent. It also shows that "family" comes in many different forms, and sometimes the best family does not include the traditional "mom" and "dad" that we expect.
    7lee_eisenberg

    Al Pacino can do comedy after all

    Taking a break from his serious roles, Al Pacino stars in this light comedy as playwright Ivan Travalian, trying to cope with putting on a play while raising his children and his son's friend. In a way, "Author! Author!" seems like the sort of movie that they just made for fun, but it's an interesting look at the vicissitudes of that particular lifestyle. It's not a masterpiece by any stretch (certainly not Pacino's best), but still worth seeing, if only to see the man known as Michael Corleone and Tony Montana doing comedy - although I doubt that you'll shout the title when the movie ends. Also starring Dyan Cannon, Tuesday Weld and Alan King.
    7Travis_Bickle01

    Highly enjoyable

    The only reason I saw this movie, was because Al Pacino was starring in it. I'm a huge fan of him and I don't want to miss any of his movies. "Author! Author!" is a highly enjoyable comedy-drama about a family guy and his many kids. Al Pacino plays a writer of stage plays who is dealing with some personal problems with his wife which also affects his writing.

    Of course, "Author! Author!" isn't the best Al Pacino movie ever made, but it's certainly worth watching. This movie was a pleasant surprise. The director Arthur Hiller has also directed the timeless romantic classic "Love Story" with Ryan O'Neal. I think Al Pacino was worth his Golden Globe nomination.

    Fine and well acted comedy-drama.

    7,5/10

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    Related interests

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    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The entire film was shot in New York except for the sequence where Ivan tries to get Gloria back, shot over several days in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
    • Goofs
      In the theater scene immediately following meeting with Alice, Ivan sports an entirely new hair do. The play's director acknowledges it. Then the very next scene has Ivan exiting the subway station with his old hair do.
    • Quotes

      Travalian: No ex-husband of Gloria's ever has to apologize to me about anything. We're like a little club.

    • Alternate versions
      The 2005 Region 2 DVD, and the 2007 Region 1 DVD, which were both released by Fox Video, contains the following changes: Alternate opening title credits (white titles over black background). No title credit to both the song 'Coming Home To You' and the song's vocalist and writers (Michael Franks, Alan and Marilyn Bergman). Johnny Mandel credited as the film's composer. Film ending with Ivan and the kids at the newstand. Previous video releases by 20th Century Fox Video, CBS/Fox Video, and Fox Video contains the opening credits in white text playing over the NYC skyline backdrop to the set in the playhouse, a title credit to both the song Coming Home To You, and its vocalist and writers (Michael Franks, Alan and Marilyn Bergman), David Grusin credited as the film's composer, and the film ending with the kids celebrating Ivan's success by pouring champagne and cake on him while he is in bed. David Grusin was hired to rescore Johnny Mandel's original score. David Grusin's score is heard in the final film.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Dyan Cannon/Dr. Ruth Westheimer (1982)
    • Soundtracks
      Comin' Home To You
      Music by Dave Grusin
      Lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
      Performed by Michael Franks

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 18, 1982 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Qué buena Madre es mi Padre
    • Filming locations
      • 193 Waverly Place and West 10th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(apartment: Home of Ivan Travalian)
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $13,111,101
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,279,260
      • Jun 20, 1982
    • Gross worldwide
      • $13,111,101
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 50m(110 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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