"I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would be the object of so much genuine affection."
An out-of-work actor (Dustin Hoffman) in need of money to produce a play written by his roommate (Bill Murray) dresses like a woman and is given a role on a daytime soap opera, where he falls in love with a beautiful actress (Jessica Lange) who is dating the show's director (Dabney Coleman). Meanwhile, Hoffman-in-drag is pursued by both a co-star (George Gaynes) and Lange's widowed father (Charles Durning), all while trying to maintain a new romantic relationship with his longtime friend (Teri Garr).
Bill Murray Films
Dustin Hoffman Films
Jessica Lange Films
Mistaken or Hidden Identities
Strong Females
Sydney Pollack Films
Peary writes that this Sydney Pollack-directed film "is the kind of project that could have turned into a disaster", but instead "works beautifully." He points out the many parallels between this and Billy Wilder's comedy classic Some Like it Hot (1959): just as "[Jack] Lemmon and Tony Curtis masquerade as women and consequently free their better female sides from years of repression, Michael [Hoffman] becomes more kind, gentler, more perceptive (toward women mostly, but men also) and less inclined to blame everyone else for his failures". Interestingly, Hoffman chose not to "base [Dorothy] on famous female characters (although he uses a Blanche Dubois accent), but lets [her] character have a life of its own (influenced by his male knowledge of men and their power games)." Indeed, it's Michael/Dorothy's life-altering shift in perspective towards the world that fuels the film, rather than simple curiosity about how long he'll get away with his charade, and what the consequences will be when he's inevitably found out.
In his Alternate Oscars, Peary names Hoffman Best Actor of the Year, and describes how Hoffman spent no less than a year experimenting with the characterization, finally stating, "I'm not going to try to do a character; I'm just going to be myself behind this and see what happens". It's refreshing that while Michael is certainly flawed, self-absorbed, and deceptive, he's not "the biggest sexist pig around", and thus "we see that even the average man must change". Hoffman's excellent performance undeniably anchors the film (it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role!), but the supporting cast is all fine as well — most notably Lange (who won a Best Supporting Actress award for her performance) and Durning as her widowed father, who we feel genuine pity for as we watch him falling hard for Dorothy while being taken for an embarrassing ride. Adding welcome levity in the midst of so much narrative tension is the hilarious subplot involving "a lecherous actor" (Gaynes) whose character (unlike Lange and Durning) is so buffoonish we don't mind seeing him duped.
Dustin Hoffman as Michael/Dorothy
Fine supporting performances across the board
An often hilarious screenplay
Yes, as a comedy classic.
Noteworthy Performance(s)
Oscar Winner or Nominee
TCM Pop Culture Article
TCM The Big Idea Article
TCM Trivia Article
TCM Behind the Camera Article
Posted on February 28th, 2015 by admin
One Response to "Tootsie (1982)"
David Csontos, on July 30th, 2019 at 8:47 pm Said:
A no-brainer must – and don't be surprised if you find yourself returning to the film on-occasion; I have – many times.
Among the blu-ray extras is a 'making of' which gives extensive information re: just how long it took to get the film 'right'. The script went through a series of writers but it seems its 'core' wasn't really solidified until Elaine May came on-board to ghost-write – thus addressing issues that kept slipping up production.
This was (serious) director Pollack's *only* comedy – although, as an actor, he certainly had comic ability (i.e., 'Death Becomes Her'); even in his role as Hoffman's agent, he reveals comic timing. Pollack (it's noted on the DVD) did not direct 'Tootsie' as a comedy but (more or less) as a drama. What's interesting about that is that, during filming, no one involved in the production ever laughed (reportedly). Pollack's intent was just to have everything play as a real situation (though I'm sure he realized it was a funny script). It wasn't until the film was put before an audience that the real pay-off came.
If you ask me, I think 'Tootsie' is among the best comedies ever made. It's one of those movies that I could watch almost anytime. It has endless laugh lines while being anchored in a wonderful message. It is a genuine classic!
The main performances (as already noted) are superb. But I would also single out Bill Murray and Teri Garr – who are both endlessly appealing and hilarious.
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