It's My Party (film)

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It's My Party
original poster
Directed by	Randal Kleiser
Starring	Eric Roberts Margaret Cho Bruce Davison Lee Grant Devon Gummersall George Segal
Release date(s)	1996
Running time	110 min
Country	USA
Language	English
IMDb profile

It's My Party is a 1996 American dramatic film.

Written and directed by Randal Kleiser, it was one of the first feature films to address the topic of AIDS patients dying with dignity. It chronicles a two-day party hosted by Nick Stark who, having been diagnosed with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, will fall into a state of mental lapse lasting for months until his death. He decides instead to host a party for his family and friends, at the end of which he will commit suicide by taking Seconal.

The film is based on the true events of the death of Harry Stein, accomplished architect and designer, who was also director Kleiser's ex-lover. Stein's actual farewell party was held in 1992.

While features like Longtime Companion (1990) and Philadelphia (1993) had already dealt with AIDS, such films in 1996 -- especially featuring well-known actors -- were rare. While It's My Party may have had mixed reviews, it remains a classic for chronicling the desperate path some AIDS patients took when facing an inevitable physical decline with no available treatment.

The cast includes Olivia Newton-John, Margaret Cho, Bronson Pinchot, Devon Gummersall, George Segal, Lee Grant, Marlee Matlin, Roddy McDowall, Steve Antin, Bruce Davison, Sally Kellerman, Lou Liberatore, Nina Foch, Eric Roberts as Nick Stark and Gregory Harrison as Brandon, Stark's estranged lover who returns to attend the party and say goodbye.

A DVD with special features was released in 2003. It contains deleted and extended scenes, featurettes on the making of the movie and commentary by the director and some of the actors.