Terms of Endearment

1983
15
2h 12m

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

68K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

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Widow Aurora Greenway juggles her own struggles with a new romantic interest while trying to sort out the emotional problems of her daughter who's married to a philandering husband.Widow Aurora Greenway juggles her own struggles with a new romantic interest while trying to sort out the emotional problems of her daughter who's married to a philandering husband.Widow Aurora Greenway juggles her own struggles with a new romantic interest while trying to sort out the emotional problems of her daughter who's married to a philandering husband.

Director
- James L. Brooks
Writers
- Larry McMurtry
- James L. Brooks
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

68K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,219

305

Director
- James L. Brooks
Writers
- Larry McMurtry
- James L. Brooks
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 5 Oscars
- 32 wins & 22 nominations total

Videos2

Trailer 1:01

Official Trailer

Clip 4:03

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Clip 4:03

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Photos90

+ 83

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Debra Winger behaved erratically on the set because she was fighting severe cocaine addiction. At one point, she and Shirley MacLaine got into a shoving match.

Goofs
During the opening credits, set in the 1950s, a 1980s station wagon is parked in a driveway in the background.

Quotes
Emma Horton: You both of you have beautiful eyes and your hair is too long. I mean, I don't care how long it gets in the back, but keep your bangs cut, OK, it's too long.
Tommy Horton: That's a matter of opinion.
Emma Horton: Just keep it short, alright?
Tommy Horton: Are you getting well?
Emma Horton: Look, I'm sorry about this but I can't help it, and I can't talk to you for too long or I'll get real upset. I want you to make a lot of friends. And I want you to be real nice to the girls 'cause they're gonna be real important to you, I swear.
Tommy Horton: I'm not afraid of girls. What makes you think that?
Emma Horton: Well, you may be later on.
Tommy Horton: I doubt it.
Teddy Horton: Why don't you shut up? Shut up!
Tommy Horton: You shut up!
Emma Horton: Ted, give me a kiss, come on. Tommy, you be sweet. Be sweet. And stop tryin' to pretend like you hate me. I mean, it's silly.
Tommy Horton: I like you.
Emma Horton: OK then, will you listen especially close?
Tommy Horton: What?
Emma Horton: Listen real hard?
Tommy Horton: I said 'what'?
Emma Horton: I know you like me. I know it. For the last year or two, you've been pretending like you hate me. I love you very much. I love you as much as I love anybody, as much as I love myself. And in a few years when I haven't been around to be on your tail about something or irritating you, you could... remember that time that I bought you the baseball glove when you thought we were too broke. You know? Or when I read you those stories? Or when I let you goof off instead of mowing the lawn? Lots of things like that. And you're gonna realize that you love me. And maybe you're gonna feel badly, because you never told me. But don't - I know that you love me. So don't ever do that to yourself, all right?

Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Nate and Hayes/A Night in Heaven/The Big Score/Terms of Endearment/Danton (1983)

Soundtracks
Anything Goes
By Cole Porter
Performed by Ethel Merman
Produced by Jule Styne (uncredited)
Orchestrated by Buddy Bregman (uncredited) and Nelson Riddle (uncredited)
Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

User reviews255

Featured review

10/10

Classic

Terms of Endearment stands the test of time. This film was released in 1983 and is defiantly a classic. Shirley MacLaine as Aurora Greenway and Debra Winger as Emma Horton are two of the best actresses of this generation. Not to mention, Jack Nicholson as the "Astronaut" Garrett Breedlove, his characters are always memorable no matter how big or small his role in a film.

This film is about the lifelong relationship between a daughter, Emma, her slightly neurotic mother, Aurora and the men in their lives. From the beginning of the film you see Aurora's dependence on Emma, even though Aurora is slightly cold towards her at first. You also see that Emma, as a daughter, doesn't care, she loves her mother unconditionally for who she is, as a child does. The film goes on to tell a realistic tale about how life is funny, exciting, disappointing and just plain sad.

Very few films have the ability to tell such a heart warming yet heart wrenching tale so realistically. The director's focus in this film is on the emotional effect, he wants to make you feel as if you are living life with these women. The use of natural lighting and the use of a subjective view point keep you sitting next to these woman as they experience dating "the astronaut" and having children with a spouse who is not always there for you.

I have to say my favorite part of the film was being transported back in time to the place where I grew up. A place of Laura Ashley furniture and phones that had a cords. The setting to this movie was so authentic that it made me wish for a simpler time before all the technology came along and children used to play outside. You really do feel that you are widowed housewife in Texas, trying to figure out that "astronaut" next door and what you may want from him. Maybe you're also the mother of three trying to figure out where your husband is; of course he is probably trying to figure out where you are.

One of the nicest things in life is being able to share your whole self with someone who will love you anyway. That is what this story conveys. It may not always be happy and rosy, but it is funny and real. It reminds me of the movie Steel Magnolias which Shirley MacLaine also does a terrific job. This is a must see movie for anyone.