Tootsie
Released December 1982
Starring Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange (as Julie), Terri Garr, Dabney Coleman, Charles Durning, Bill Murray, Geena Davis
Directed by Sydney Pollack
116 min.Box office gross - 177.2 million
See complete credits at Internet Movie Database
Following her intense work on Frances, co-star Kim Stanley advised Jessica to do a comedy. The opportunity arose when she was offered the role of Julie (Nurse Charles) in the Sydney Pollack comedy, Tootsie. Filming began only three weeks after she had completed Frances. Although a supporting role, the role was a strong one and she would be acting with such talents as Dustin Hoffman, Charles During, Dabney Coleman, Terri Garr and Bill Murray. The part was a complete opposite to Frances and one that she needed to get her mind of her past project.
Tootsie was a first rate production and is considered today on the funniest comedies ever made. To date, it is the highest grossing film of any Jessica Lange film. It received 10 Oscar nominations but Lange’s Supporting Actress win was the only award it received. It ranked #62 on the American Film Institute’s Greatest American Films List and #2 on its Greatest American Comedies List.
When the Academy Award nominations were announced, Jessica received dual nominations - a Best Actress nomination for Frances and a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Tootsie. No actress had accomplished this feat except for Teresa Wright back in 1942. Meryl Streep would win in the Best Actress category (for Sophie’s Choice) but Jessica would win the Best Supporting Actress award.
Critical Sampling:
"When Jessica Lange appears, the movie changes from the crackling, rapid-fire presentation of the hopes vs. the realities of out-of-work actors' lives to something calmer, and perhaps richer. She has a facial structure the camera yearns for, and has talent, too." - Pauline Kael, The New Yorker
"Lange brings a beguilingly spacey sensuality, Monroe-like in its poignancy, to her part..." - David Ansen, Newsweek
"Lange is a total delight in a comedy role in which she brings the same sort of intelligent gravity that distinguishes her work in 'Frances'" - Vincent Canby, New York TImes