Dustin Hoffman in s scene from Tootsie (1982)

“I was a better man with you as a woman than I ever was with a woman as a man.  Know what I mean?”

Like Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis in Some Like It Hot, and Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria, Dustin Hoffman cross-dresses to great comedic effect in Tootsie.  Filmed on location in and around New York, Tootsie features Hoffman as Michael Dorsey, an uncompromising, out-of-work actor who disguises himself as “Dorothy Michaels” to land a role in a soap opera.  The film’s all-star cast includes Jessica Lange, Bill Murray, Teri Garr and Dabney Coleman.

With its many plot complications and instances of mistaken sexual identities, Tootsie is a rollicking comedy that still manages to be a touching love story.  When the film opened in December 1982, it became an instant hit; it went on to earn ten Academy Award® nominations, including one for Best Picture.  Lange took home the Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as Dorsey’s love interest, Julie Nichols.  Mirage/Punch Production; Columbia.  1982.  35mm.  119 mins.

Academy Award winner: Actress in a Supporting Role (Jessica Lange).

Academy Award nominee: Actor in a Leading Role (Dustin Hoffman), Actress in a Supporting Role (Teri Garr), Cinematography (Owen Roizman), Directing (Sydney Pollack), Film Editing (Fredric Steinkamp, William Steinkamp), Music – Original Song (“It Might Be You,” Music by Dave Grusin; Lyric by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman), Best Picture (Pollack and Dick Richards, producers), Sound (Arthur Piantadosi, Les Fresholtz, Dick Alexander, Les Lazarowitz), Writing – Screenplay written directly for the screen (Screenplay by Larry Gelbart, Murray Schisgal; Story by Don McGuire, Gelbart).

Animated short nominee The Great Cognito (1982), a stop-motion claymation short by Will Vinton, will be screened prior to the feature.  Vinton created the pop icons the California Raisins and won an Academy Award for the animated short Closed Mondays (1974).  Will Vinton Productions.  1982.  35mm.  4 mins.

Tickets are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID, and may be reserved by calling 1-888-778-7575.  Depending on availability, tickets may be purchased in person on the night of the screening.  Doors open at 6:30 p.m.  All seating is unreserved.