Terms of Endearment (1983) Movie Overview

Terms of Endearment is a 1983 romantic comedy-drama film adapted by James L. Brooks from the novel by Larry McMurtry and starring Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, and Jack Nicholson. It covers the relationship between Aurora Greenway (MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Winger). A sequel, The Evening Star, in which MacLaine and Nicholson reprised their roles was released in 1996, to much less acclaim. Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) and Emma Greenway Horton (Debra Winger) are mother and daughter searching for love. Beginning with Emma’s early childhood, Aurora reveals how difficult and caring she can be by nearly climbing into Emma’s crib in order to make sure her daughter is breathing – only to be reassured once Emma starts crying. The film follows both women across several years as each find their reasons for going on living and finding joy. Emma’s marriage to Flap Horton (Jeff Daniels) becomes loveless and she finds a lover in Sam Burns (John Lithgow). Aurora cultivates the attention of several gentlemen in the area but is attracted to the ne’er-do-well retired astronaut Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson), developing a tenuous relationship. Emma returns home after leaving her husband, hav… Source

• Terms of Endearment Movie Details
• Director: James L. Brooks
• Tagline: Come to Laugh, Come to Cry, Come to Care, Come to Terms.
• Country: USA
• Run Time: 132 min
• Genre: Romance , Comedy , Drama

• Cast Overview
• Shirley MacLaine as Aurora Greenway
• Debra Winger as Emma Horton
• Jack Nicholson as Garrett Breedlove
• Danny DeVito as Vernon Dahlart
• Jeff Daniels as Flap Horton
• John Lithgow as Sam Burns

Terms of Endearment Movie Review from New York Times

Terms of Endearment covers three decades in the lives of widow Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger). Fiercely protected by Aurora throughout childhood, Emma runs into resistance from her mother when she marries wishy-washy college teacher Flap (Jeff Daniels). Aurora is even more put out at the prospect of being a… Source

Terms of Endearment Movie Details from Imdb

Aurora and Emma are mother and daughter who march to different drummers. Beginning with Emma’s marriage, Aurora shows how difficult and loving she can be. The movie covers several years of their lives as each finds different reasons to go on living and find joy. Aurora’s interludes with Garrett Breedlove, retired astronaut and next door neighbor ar… Source

Terms of Endearment (1983) from YouTube