The Lay of the Land (1997)
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Synopsis of The Lay of the Land
A pair of not-so-happily married academics confront their various emotional problems as temptations appear on all sides in this comedy. Mary Jane Dankworth (Sally Kellerman) teaches film at the same university where her husband Harvey (Ed Begley, Jr.) teaches Russian literature. Their relationship has been in rough waters for some time now; Harvey is no longer sexually attracted to M.J., and she feels as though she threw away her career as a documentary filmmaker in exchange for a marriage that doesn't make her happy. Mary Jane begins seeing a therapist, Dr. Guttmacher (Tyne Daly), and she discusses with her the Walter Mitty-esque daydreams that have lately been pervading her thoughts. Harvey, on the other hand, is also seeing an analyst, Dr. Brown (Rance Howard), and as he tries to regain his lost youth after turning 50, he attracts the attentions of Muriel Johansen (Sandra Taylor), an attractive graduate student who is working with Harvey on her masters thesis concerning erotic literature. Suspecting that something is up with her husband, M.J. hires a private detective, Carmine Ficcone (Stuart Margolin), but she soon discovers that he's more interested in chasing her than in following Harvey. Mel Shapiro wrote the screenplay based on his own play, while leading lady Sally Kellerman also served as co-producer, in tandem with her husband Jonathan D. Krane. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast of The Lay of the Land
- Sally Kellerman - Mary Jane Dankworth
- Sandra Taylor - Muriel Johanson
- Tyne Daly - Dr. Guttmacher
- Avery Schreiber - Dean Bill Whittier
- Tom Nowicki - Bob Chambers
- Ed Begley, Jr. - Harvey Dankworth
- Stuart Margolin - Carmine Ficcone
- Rance Howard - Dr. Brown
- April Shawhan - Erma Whittier
- Elisabeth Redford - Blanche Cafferty
- Director(s):
- Larry Arrick
- Writer(s):
- Mel Shapiro
- Producer(s):
- Jonathan D. Krane, Sally Kellerman
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