1983 Terms of Endearment

Jack Nicholson was one of the most talented and popular actors of the late 70's and early 80's. His charm and sex appeal were not apparent if you saw him, but his charisma and style was enormous. There was never a doubt that Jack was wild. Terms of Endearment cemented his reputation on and off screen.

Directed by James L. Brooks and featuring an all-star cast of Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Nicholson, Danny DeVito, John Lithgow and Jeff Daniels. Here we have a comedy drama in which each get their turn to do something great. Based on a book by Larry MacMurty, it tells of a widow who is trying to stave off the affections of suitors. MacLaine shines, and so does her chemistry with Nicholson, here playing a retired astronaut originally written for Burt Reynolds. Nicholson was apparently quite crazy on set and improvised when he could. Sometimes this is to the detriment of the production, here it seemed to work completely.

The film won 5 Oscars, including for MacLaine and Nicholson, and came second in the box office to Return of the Jedi, taking $108m.

Brooks and Nicholson would work together again, in the comedy drama As Good As It Gets, for which Nicholson won more acclaim and bagged another Oscar. Brooks also won at the Oscars for Terms of Endearment and is perhaps most famous for producing a little cartoon called The Simpsons.