Du rire aux larmes

Original title: Only When I Laugh

1981
R
2h

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

1.7K

YOUR RATING

Kristy McNichol and Marsha Mason in Du rire aux larmes (1981)

Play trailer2:53

2 Videos

11 Photos

Comedy Drama

A Broadway actress fresh out of rehab navigates sobriety, her career, demanding daughter, and supporting her troubled friends' personal crises.A Broadway actress fresh out of rehab navigates sobriety, her career, demanding daughter, and supporting her troubled friends' personal crises.A Broadway actress fresh out of rehab navigates sobriety, her career, demanding daughter, and supporting her troubled friends' personal crises.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

1.7K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 2 wins & 8 nominations total

Videos2

Trailer 2:53

Only When I Laugh

Clip 1:28

Only When I Laugh: Leaving The Hospital

Clip 1:28

Only When I Laugh: Leaving The Hospital

Photos10

+ 5

‘Snow White’ Stars Test Their Wits

Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and director Marc Webb take our Ultimate Disney Quiz.

Watch now

9:57

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
James Coco became the first actor to be nominated for both an Academy Award and a Razzie for the same performance. Coco won neither award. The only people to repeat this have been Amy Irving for Yentl (1983) and Glenn Close for Hillbilly Elegy (2020).

Goofs
In one of the opening scenes when Marsha Mason's character is leaving the "Betty Ford Clinic" of the time, there is an employee, Sandy, who passes her by the stairs says good-bye but addresses her as Mrs. Simon instead Mrs. Hines the character's real name.

Quotes
Jimmy: You're a lousy liar!
Jimmy: I am a wonderful liar! I'm only lousy when I lie to you!

Alternate versions
NBC edited 24 minutes from this film for its 1984 network television premiere.

Connections
Featured in Sneak Previews: Continental Divide, Mommie Dearest, Only When I Laugh, Body Heat, First Monday in October (1981)

Soundtracks
Heart
from Damn Yankees (1958)
Music and Lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
Performed by Kristy McNichol (uncredited) and Nancy Nagler (uncredited)

User reviews19

Featured review

8/10

One of the Better Simon Adaptations

For a playwright as well-regarded and prolific as Neil Simon, a lot of his film adaptations have left a lot to be desired. Thankfully, Only When I Laugh (a variation on his lesser known play, The Gingerbread Lady) breaks this losing streak and manages to give us an incredibly funny, but deeply moving story about an alcoholic actress who brings destruction everywhere she goes, but who is too well loved by her friends and family to desert her completely.

Marsha Mason delivers one of her finest performances as Georgia and is well matched by Kristy McNichol as her young daughter. Supporting performances from James Coco and Joan Hackett are fantastic as well and add most of the humor to the film.

There are a few minor pacing lags throughout, but that's the biggest issue I can think of. Only When I Laugh is more than worth a watch.