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Tuesdays with Morrie (film)

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Tuesdays with Morrie
UK DVD cover
GenreBiographical drama
Based onTuesdays with Morrie
by Mitch Albom
Written byThomas Rickman
Directed byMick Jackson
Presented byOprah Winfrey
Starring
Music byMarco Beltrami
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
CinematographyTheo van de Sande
EditorCarol Littleton
Running time89 minutes
Production companyHarpo Films
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseDecember 5, 1999 (1999-12-05)

Tuesdays with Morrie is a 1999 American biographical drama television film directed by Mick Jackson and written by Thomas Rickman, based on journalist Mitch Albom's 1997 memoir of the same title. In the film, Albom (Hank Azaria) bonds with his former professor, Morrie Schwartz (Jack Lemmon), who is dying of ALS, over a series of visits.

Tuesdays with Morrie was produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films, and was filmed in Los Angeles and Santa Clarita, California. It aired on ABC on December 5, 1999, as part of the "Oprah Winfrey Presents" series. It received positive reviews and numerous accolades, including Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Television Movie, Outstanding Lead Actor for Lemmon, and Outstanding Supporting Actor for Azaria; a Directors Guild of America Award for Jackson; and a Writers Guild of America Award and a Humanitas Prize for Rickman.

Plot

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In 1995 Detroit, Mitch Albom becomes caught up in his career as a sports commentator and journalist. His girlfriend Janine, a backup singer, feels he never places her as a priority. One evening, while on the phone with Janine, Mitch flips through TV channels and lands on an edition of Nightline where his former professor Morrie Schwartz is being interviewed by Ted Koppel. Morrie discusses his current health and reveals he is dying of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease" or ALS. Morrie, a retired sociology professor from Brandeis University living in Boston, comes on the show to describe his final journey.

Over the following days, Mitch feels bothered he never got a chance to visit his old professor. Feeling so moved by the interview, Mitch reaches out for a visit with Morrie after sixteen years of no contact. Morrie loves food, which becomes a regular endeavor with his visits with Mitch. Office hours during university were on Tuesdays, where Morrie would grade papers and critique students' assignments, and Mitch now makes it a habit to visit him every Tuesday. Connie, Morrie's home nurse, is his primary caretaker. After leaving Morrie, Mitch continues working and cannot find a groove with Janine.

Mitch returns and witnesses a living funeral where friends and family come to honor a still alive Morrie, per the latter's request. As the two get reacquainted, they participate in conversations about substantial topics. Morrie divulges on his time as a young boy and how his relationships unfolded between his mother, stepmother, and father. Back home, Mitch continues with his busy career, and while out on a story, he receives a call from Janine breaking up with him.

Another visit prompts Mitch to bring a recording device to capture all of Morrie's pieces of advice and anecdotes about death, love, marriage, family, and relationships. The time spent with Morrie starts to affect Mitch's position at work, he argues with his boss and decides to prioritize his visits with Morrie. Mitch, being so immersed in this new world asks Connie to teach him skills to aid Morrie when no one else is around. New tasks Mitch learns include: helping Morrie in and out of his wheelchair, using his oxygen tank, feeding Morrie, and even special massages.

Finding meaning in Morrie's advice, Mitch proposes to Janine via letter. She rejects him but comes along on a visit to Morrie's home. Janine notices a change in Mitch's personality in the way he knows what to do around Morrie from the oxygen tank assistance to cleaning Morrie's crying eyes. Janine and Morrie speak without Mitch in the room. Later, on their way home, Mitch and Janine make up and decide a proper proposal should take place.

On a rainy visit, Mitch brings Morrie food, but learns he has not been able to eat solid foods for some time. Charlotte, Morrie's wife tells Mitch his visits have a great impact on Morrie. Mitch notices how the illness is worsening. They continue to speak about topics like regret, spiritual life, forgiveness, and love. Morrie reiterates that we all, as humans, must love one another or die. He recounts the story of his father's death. Mitch receives a call from Walter, his boss, and they find middle ground to allow Mitch to write again. Mitch takes Janine to the islands and proposes to her there. Back home, Mitch requests to have all of his Tuesdays off to continue his visits with Morrie.

On a snowy visit, Mitch asks Morrie what a perfect day would be like. According to Morrie, it would be one spent with friends, family, food, dancing, and choosing his burial site. Morrie asks Mitch to visit once he has passed. Moved, Mitch cries and hugs Morrie. Mitch then promises to come back next Tuesday. Morrie dies Saturday morning. Charlotte keeps his funeral small, and all the people in his perfect day are included. The funeral is held on a Tuesday.

Cast

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Production and release

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The film was produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films. After reading the memoir, Winfrey promoted it on her television show and lobbied for the film rights. Albom doubted the film would be made: "There are no car crashes, no explosions, no intricate terrorist plots. It's just two people talking. What producer in their right mind would want to take that on?"[1]

The producers did believe that a straight adaptation of the memoir would be "limp and static", so the story was changed to place more emphasis on Albom, including scenes with his girlfriend and at his workplace. According to executive producer Kate Forte, director Mick Jackson was inspired by the German action film Run Lola Run to quicken the film's pace.[1] Filming took place in Los Angeles and Santa Clarita, California.[2]

Tuesdays with Morrie aired on ABC on December 5, 1999, as part of the "Oprah Winfrey Presents" series.[2]

Reception

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The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes give it a 71% rating based on 7 reviews.[3] Fred Topel from About.com says, "Movie of the week with film caliber performances".[4] Common Sense Media Editors states, "Oprah Winfrey presents a three-hanky weepfest".[5]

Ratings

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The film brought in a 15.2/22 rating/share, and was watched by 22.5 million viewers, ranking as the most watched program that week.[6][7]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2000
 Cinema Audio Society Awards Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television – Movies of the Week and Mini-Series Richard Van Dyke, Dan Hiland, and
Gary D. Rogers 		Nominated [8]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television or Miniseries Mick Jackson Won [9]
Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Jack Lemmon Nominated [10]
Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing – Television Movies and Specials – Dialogue & ADR Bob Newlan, David Hankins, John Green,
Sonya Henry, and Larry Goeb 		Nominated
Best Sound Editing – Television Movies and Specials (including Mini-Series) – Music Chris McGeary Nominated
Humanitas Prize 90 Minute or Longer Network or Syndicated Television Thomas Rickman Won [11]
Online Film & Television Association Awards Best Motion Picture Made for Television Nominated [12]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Jack Lemmon Won
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Hank Azaria Won
Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Mick Jackson Nominated
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Thomas Rickman Nominated
Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Made for Television Movie Kate Forte, Jennifer Ogden, and
Oprah Winfrey 		Won [13]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Jack Lemmon Won
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Hank Azaria Won
Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Carol Littleton Won
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Michael C. Casper, Daniel Leahy, and
Jim Tanenbaum 		Nominated
Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television Oprah Winfrey and Kate Forte Won [14]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Hank Azaria Nominated [15]
Jack Lemmon Won
TV Guide Awards Favorite TV Movie or Miniseries Nominated [16]
2001
 Writers Guild of America Awards Long Form – Adapted Thomas Rickman;
Based on the book by Mitch Albom 		Won[a] [17]

Notes

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  1. ^ Tied with John Logan for RKO 281.

References

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  1. ^ a b Noxon, Christopher (December 5, 1999). "Going Against the Usual Wisdom". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Richmond, Ray (December 2, 1999). "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays With Morrie". Variety. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  3. ^ "Tuesdays With Morrie (1999)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  4. ^ Tuesdays With Morrie (1999), retrieved 2019-04-26
  5. ^ "Tuesdays with Morrie Movie Review | Common Sense Media". Common Sense Media.
  6. ^ "Broadcasting & Cable" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  7. ^ "Rudolph Sleighs 'em in the Ratings". The Washington Post.
  8. ^ "Nominees/Winners". IMDb. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  9. ^ "52nd DGA Awards". Directors Guild of America Awards. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  10. ^ "Tuesdays with Morrie – Golden Globes". HFPA. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  11. ^ "Past Winners & Nominees". Humanitas Prize. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  12. ^ "4th Annual TV Awards (1999-2000)". Online Film & Television Association. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  13. ^ "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays with Morrie". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  14. ^ "Laurels to rest on". Variety. March 5, 2000. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  15. ^ "The 6th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  16. ^ TV Guide Book of Lists. Running Press. 2007. pp. 40. ISBN 978-0-7624-3007-9.
  17. ^ "Writers Guild Awards Winners". WGA. 2010. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
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