It’s My Turn *** (1980, Jill Clayburgh, Michael Douglas, Charles Grodin) – Classic Movie Review 11,964

Claudia Weill’s 1980 romantic comedy-drama film It’s My Turn stars Jill Clayburgh, Michael Douglas and Charles Grodin. It is an unfairly forgotten film with an unfairly forgotten star.

Director Claudia Weill’s 1980 American romantic comedy-drama film It’s My Turn stars Jill Clayburgh, Michael Douglas, and Charles Grodin. A forgotten film with a forgotten star, it is a neglected but charming 1930s-style sophisticated comedy with a touch of 1980-style women’s lib.

Chicago university mathematics professor Kate Gunzinger (Jill Clayburgh) thinks it’s her turn to be happy but isn’t sure how to manage it. Charles Grodin plays her estate agent live-in lover, divorcé Homer, and Michael Douglas plays her new stepfather’s son, married former professional baseball player Ben Lewin, for whom she falls and they have an affair.

It’s My Turn is a little sedate and hesitant in places, but its offbeat humour and excellent performances (particularly by Grodin) pull it through nicely. It is a first film script by novelist Eleanor Bergstein, and unfairly she was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Screenplay.

The title track, with music by Michael Masser and lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager, is sung by Diana Ross during the end credits.

The cast are Jill Clayburgh as Kate Gunzinger, Michael Douglas as Ben Lewin, Charles Grodin as Homer, Beverly Garland as Emma, Steven Hill as Jacob, Teresa Baxter as Maryanne, Joan Copeland as Rita, Charles Kimbrough as Jerome, Roger Robinson as Flicker, Jennifer Salt as Maisie, Daniel Stern as Cooperman, and Dianne Wiest as Gail.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 11,964

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