Author! Author!

1982
PG
1h 50m

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

5.9K

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.

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Comedy Drama Family Romance

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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

5.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations

Trivia
Actress Dyan Cannon was initially offered the part of Gloria Travalian but Cannon turned down the role because she felt the character was too "bitchy" and had played a "bitch" before. Later on, Cannon was given the role of Alice Detroit, and thoroughly enjoyed making this film and likened the experience to like "being on a cruise". And Tuesday Weld was cast as Gloria.

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

User reviews53

Review

Featured review

7/10

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.