It’s My Party **** (1996, Eric Roberts, George Segal, Margaret Cho, Bruce Davison, Lee Grant, Gregory Harrison, Marlee Matlin, Roddy McDowall, Olivia Newton-John, Bronson Pinchot, Paul Regina) – Classic Movie Review 11,967

The 1996 American drama film It’s My Party is written, produced and directed by Randal Kleiser, best known for directing the 1978 film Grease, which starred Olivia Newton-John who here plays Lina Bingham and sings the theme song ‘Don’t Cut Me Down’.

Eric Roberts gives his best performance in years as Nick Stark, a gay architect and AIDS sufferer who decides to hold a huge two-day party for all his friends and family before he commits suicide by taking Seconal. Director Kleiser handles this risky project with buoyant flair, helped by his own script that manages to be intelligent and thoughtful, while dealing with the issues in an unpreachy, even oddly cheery way.

Indeed, the film’s first half is surprisingly light-hearted, and, as laughter finally gives way to tears, the piece is very touching indeed. Despite all the waspish banter and the loud partying, Roberts’s character Nick Stark finally goes gentle into the night, helped by his returned estranged lover Brandon Theis (Gregory Harrison), a B-movie director, who effects a last-minute reconciliation, and a doctor friend (Ron Glass) who supervises the taking of the necessary drugs.

It’s a surprise to find Roberts, who lately has specialised in gung-ho macho parts, tackling this role, but he’s splendidly up to the task, as firm, solid and resolved in performance as his character is in his situation. Among a fine, large ensemble cast, Grant is especially moving as Nick Stark’s mother Amalia Stark, Marlee Matlin is sweet as his hearing-impaired sister Daphne Stark, and George Segal makes a strong impression as his estranged father Paul Stark. Bronson Pinchot plays to perfection the apparently obligatory stereotypical bitchy camp queen with a heart of gold.

The film even tiptoes effectively through the sentimental minefield of the Roberts character saying farewell to each other character in turn.

It’s a swell party.

It is based on the events of the death of Kleiser’s ex-lover, architect and designer Harry Stein, whose farewell party was held in 1992.

It’s My Party opened in only 28 US cinemas on 22 March 1996 and grossed just $622,503 in the US.

A DVD was released in 2003 with deleted and extended scenes, and audio commentary by the director and actors.

Kleiser is also well known for directing the 1980 film The Blue Lagoon, starring Christopher Atkins, who here plays Jack Allen.

The cast are Eric Roberts as Nick Stark, Margaret Cho as Charlene Lee, Lee Grant as Amalia Stark, Bruce Davison as Rodney Bingham, Olivia Newton-John as Lina Bingham, Devon Gummersall as Andrew Bingham, George Segal as Paul Stark, Marlee Matlin as Daphne Stark, Gregory Harrison as Brandon Theis, Bronson Pinchot as Monty Tipton, Roddy McDowall as Damian Knowles, Steve Antin as Zack Phillips, Sally Kellerman as Sara Hart, Lou Liberatore as Joel Ferris, Nina Foch as Mrs. Theis, Christopher Atkins as Jack Allen, Dennis Christopher as Douglas Reedy, Ron Glass as Dr. David Wahl, Paul Regina as Tony Zamara, Dimitra Arliss as Fanny Kondons, Cassandra Peterson as Party guest, Joey Cramer as Party guest, Steve Antin, Peter Murnik, Fleix Pire, Jon David Weigand, Robert Fitzpatrick, Talia Paul, Eugene Robert Glazer, David Knapp, Jim Kline, Raul Seymour, Mike Pointer, David Medina, Brian To, David Holladay, Michael Kearns, Matthew Rickard, Steve Kmetko, and Greg Louganis.

Sally Kellerman (June 2, 1937 – February 24, 2022).

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 11,967

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com