Only When I Laugh *** (1981, Marsha Mason, Kristy McNichol, James Coco, Joan Hackett, David Dukes, Kevin Bacon) – Classic Movie Review 11,950

Writer Neil Simon.

Director Glenn Jordan’s 1981 comedy Only When I Laugh [It Hurts Only When I Laugh] stars Marsha Mason, Kristy McNichol, James Coco, and Joan Hackett.

Neil Simon revamps his play The Gingerbread Lady as a vehicle for his then wife Marsha Mason, who is often very touching and funny as the boozy, middle-ageing actress Georgia, fresh out of a 12-week cure, coping with her return to work and the needs of her friends, and trying to make it up with her needy teenage daughter Polly (Kristy McNichol).

Mason was rewarded with an Oscar nomination (as Best Actress), and so were the appealing James Coco (as Best Actor in a Supporting Role) as her gay actor chum Jimmy and Joan Hackett (as Best Actress in a Supporting Role) as a sad socialite called Toby. Hackett won the Golden Globe as Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Motion Picture. Coco was nominated for a Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor and the song ‘Only When I Laugh’ (David Shire music, Richard Maltby Jr lyrics) was nominated for a Razzie for Worst Original Song.

Occasionally the dialogue, artfully mixing wisecracks and tears, seems manufactured, but the one-liners and bright performances are always there to restore life.

On stage, Elaine Stritch played the star role in London’s West End in the 80s.

Also in the cast are David Dukes, John Bennett Perry, Kevin Bacon, Ed Moore, John Vargas, Nancy Nagler, Michael Ross, Tom Ormeny, Ken Weisbrath, Peter Coffiels, Henry Olek, Byron Webster, Jane Atkins, Ron Levine, Rebecca Stanley, Ellen la Gamba and Venida Evans.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 11,950

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