Kramer vs. Kramer
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| Kramer vs. Kramer | |
|---|---|
 original movie poster |
|
| Directed by | Robert Benton |
| Produced by | Richard Fischoff Stanley R. Jaffe |
| Written by | Avery Corman (novel) Robert Benton |
| Starring | Dustin Hoffman Meryl Streep Justin Henry Jane Alexander |
| Music by | Paul Gemignani Herb Harris John Kander Erma E. Levin Roy B. Yokelson Antonio Vivaldi |
| Cinematography | Néstor Almendros |
| Editing by | Gerald B. Greenberg Ray Hubley Bill Pankow |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) |  December 17, 1979 |
| Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Kramer vs. Kramer is a 1979 drama film adapted by Robert Benton from the novel by Avery Corman, and directed by Benton. The film tells the story of a married couple's divorce and its impact on everyone involved, including the couple's young son. It received the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1979.
Music for the film features New York guitarist Frederic Hand.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
In Kramer vs. Kramer, Joanna Kramer (Meryl Streep), a Smith College graduate, is a stay-at-home mother for her son Billy (Justin Henry). Feeling confined in this role, and neglected by her husband Ted (Dustin Hoffman), Joanna leaves the marriage in order "to find herself."
Ted, who has been focusing on his career in advertising, and was just given his agency's biggest new account, is shocked by Joanna's decision and is left to raise Billy by himself. With the help of his neighbor and Joanna's friend, Margaret (Jane Alexander), Ted comes to understand why Joanna left. In the process, he also becomes more invested in raising Billy than in his job (which he eventually loses).
About a year and a half after leaving, Joanna returns to New York in order to claim Billy, and a custody battle ensues. The courts side with the mother, but on the morning that Billy is to move in with Joanna, she comes to the apartment and tells Ted that, while she loves Billy and wants him with her, she knows that his true home is with Ted, and it is implied that she chooses to let Billy stay with his father. The movie ends with the elevator doors closing on the emotional Joanna, as she heads upstairs to talk to Billy.
[edit] Cultural impact
Kramer vs. Kramer reflected a cultural shift which occurred during the 1970s and the period of second-wave feminism, when ideas about "motherhood" and "fatherhood" were changing. The film was widely praised for the way in which it gave equal weight and importance to both Joanna and Ted's points of view [1].
[edit] Cast and Crew
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Dustin Hoffman | Ted Kramer |
| Meryl Streep | Joanna Kramer |
| Justin Henry | Billy Kramer |
| Jane Alexander | Margaret Phelps |
| Petra King | Petie Phelps |
| Melissa Morell | Kim Phelps |
| Howard Duff | John Shaunessy |
| George Coe | Jim O'Connor |
| JoBeth Williams | Phyllis Bernard (as Jobeth Williams) |
| Howland Chamberlain | Judge Atkins |
| Dan Tyra | Court Clerk |
[edit] Awards
[edit] 1979 Academy Awards (USA)
[edit] Wins
- Best Picture
- Best Director
- Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
- Best Actor in a Leading Role - Dustin Hoffman
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Meryl Streep
[edit] Nominations
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Jane Alexander
- Best Cinematography
- Best Film Editing
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Justin Henry. Henry was and is to date the youngest acting Academy Award nominee.
[edit] David di Donatello (Italy)
[edit] Wins
- Best Foreign Film 1980
- Best Foreign Actor 1980 - Dustin Hoffman
[edit] Other uses
"Kramer vs Kramer" was also sometimes used in reference to the strained relationship between sitcom actor Michael Richards (who played Cosmo Kramer on the popular show Seinfeld) and Kenny Kramer, the real-life inspiration for the character. Kenny Kramer starred in a documentary named for the film, Kramer vs Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo, on the DVD release of the series.[2]
The term was also used to refer to Kenny Kramer speaking out against Richards's use of racial epithets at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood on November 17, 2006.[citation needed]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Deer Hunter |
Academy Award for Best Picture 1979 |
Succeeded by Ordinary People |
| Preceded by Midnight Express |
Golden Globe for Best Picture - Drama 1980 |
Succeeded by Ordinary People |
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