Terms of Endearment (1983)
- Starring:
- Debra Winger, Shirley MacLaine , ( more )
- Director(s):
- James L. Brooks
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
Terms of Endearment covers three decades in the lives of widow Aurora Greenway (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 (Leslie 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. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 131 mins
Complete Cast:
- Debra Winger - Emma Greenaway
- Jack Nicholson - Garrett Breedlove
- John Lithgow - Sam Burns
- Troy Bishop - Tommy
- Lisa Hart Carroll - Patsy
- Norman Bennett - Edward
- Judith Dickerson - Checkout Girl
- Mary Kay Place - Doris
- Jennifer Josey - Young Emma Greenway
- Sharisse Baker-Bernard - Lee Anne
- Megan Morris - Melanie
- Michelle Watkins - Woman
- David Wohl - Phil
- F. William Parker - Doctor
- Shirley MacLaine - Aurora Greenaway
- Jeff Daniels - Flap
- Huckleberry Fox - Teddy
- Danny DeVito - Vernon
- Betty King - Rosie
- Alexandra O'Karma - Jane
- Albert Brooks - Rudyard
- Tara Yeakey - Baby Melanie
- Nancy Mette - Woman at Party
- Paul Menzel - Dr. Maise
- Shane Serwin - Young Tommy Horton
- Charles Beall - Rudyard's Employer
- Kate Charleson - Janet
- Director(s):
- James L. Brooks
- Writer(s):
- Larry McMurtry, James L. Brooks
- Producer(s):
- James L. Brooks
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Profanity)
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - Directors Guild of America - Best Director
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - Golden Globe - Best Picture - Drama
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Screenplay
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Picture - Drama
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Director
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Actress
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Supporting Actor
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Screenplay
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Picture
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - National Board of Review - Best Picture
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - National Board of Review - Best Director
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - National Board of Review - Best Actress
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - National Board of Review - Best Supporting Actor
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Supporting Actor
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Picture
- 1983 - Terms of Endearment - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actress
Other Ways to Watch*
Buy Download
Tools & Resources
FIND US ONLINE
Help
- See all Help Topics





