This article is about the film. For the human form of copulation, see Sexual intercourse.

Making Love is a 1982 film about a married man coming to terms with his homosexuality and the love triangle that develops around him, his wife and another man. It stars Kate Jackson, Harry Hamlin, and Michael Ontkean. Arthur Hiller (born November 22, Canadian film maker. ... Andrew Scott Berg (born December 4, 1949 in Norwalk, Connecticut) is a well-known American biographer. ... Barry Sandler is an American screenwriter and film producer. ... Michael Ontkean Michael Ontkean (born 24 January 1946 in Vancouver, British Columbia) is a Canadian actor. ... Catherine Elise Kate Jackson (born on October 29, 1948 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American actress best known for her role as Sabrina Duncan in the 1970s television series Charlies Angels. ... Harry Hamlin (born October 30, 1951 in Pasadena, California) is an American actor. ... Leonard Rosenman (born September 7, 1924 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American film, television and concert composer. ... There have been several historical figures named William Reynolds. ... Fox Plaza, the company headquarters. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Coition of a Hemisected Man and Woman (c. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Homosexuality refers to sexual and romantic attraction between two individuals of the same sex. ... A love triangle refers to a romantic relationship involving three people. ... Catherine Elise Kate Jackson (born on October 29, 1948 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American actress best known for her role as Sabrina Duncan in the 1970s television series Charlies Angels. ... Harry Hamlin (born October 30, 1951 in Pasadena, California) is an American actor. ... Michael Ontkean Michael Ontkean (born 24 January 1946 in Vancouver, British Columbia) is a Canadian actor. ...

Plot summary

Zack Elliot (Ontkean) is a successful young doctor in Los Angeles married to Claire (Jackson), an equally successful television network executive. They have been married for eight years. They are generally happy in their relationship, sharing in common a love for Gilbert and Sullivan and the poetry of Rupert Brooke, to whom they were introduced by their elderly former neighbor, Winnie Bates (Wendy Hiller). They just recently bought a big house together with plans to soon start a family and, if they have a boy, to name him Rupert. Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... A television network is a distribution network for television content whereby a central operation provides programming for many television stations. ... W. S. Gilbert Sir Arthur Sullivan Librettist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) collaborated on a series of fourteen comic operas in Victorian England between 1871 and 1896. ... A statue of Rupert Brooke in Rugby Rupert Chawner Brooke (August 3, 1887 – April 23, 1915) was a British poet best known for his idealistic War Sonnets written during the First World War. ... Wendy Hiller in I Know Where Im Going! (1945) Dame Wendy Hiller (August 15, 1912 – May 14, 2003) was a distinguished English film and stage actress. ...

Unknown to Claire, Zack has been struggling with feelings of attraction to other men. He picks up men in his car and starts frequenting gay bars on his lunch hour, although he doesn't follow through sexually. This changes when he meets Bart McGuire (Hamlin), a novelist who comes to see him for a medical concern. Bart leads a fairly hedonistic lifestyle, picking up multiple sexual partners, occasionally doing a variety of recreational drugs, and so on. Zack and Bart are mutually but unspokenly attracted to each other and go out for lunch. A few days later, Zack calls Bart and asks him on a dinner date. He lies to Claire, saying he has to work late. Back at Bart's house, Zack and Bart talk. Zack is not yet able to identify as gay, instead labeling himself "curious." That night Zack has sex with Bart, the first time for Zack. After, Zack wants to stay the night but Bart, following his usual pattern, brushes him off. Angered, Zack leaves but returns the next day to confront Bart further about Bart's fear of intimacy. Bart makes definite plans for them to get together during the weekend. Gadabout redirects here. ...

Claire, concerned about the growing distance in her marriage, goes to her boss seeking a year-long leave of absence. Instead, he promotes her and sends her to New York City on a weekend business trip. Zack takes advantage of the opportunity to spend more time with Bart. They end up arguing. Zack calls the outline for Bart's new novel less than honest and Bart confronts Zack about his own lack of honesty about his sexuality. That night in bed, Zack tells Bart that he loves him. The next morning, fearful of his own growing feelings for Zack, Bart pushes him away again. Nickname: Big Apple Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ...

Bart exits the film shortly thereafter, realizing that he does have feelings for Zack but that he isn't ready for the level of commitment that Zack needs.

With Claire home from her trip, Zack tells Claire of his feelings for other men. Although she said she could handle anything he could tell her, she reacts very badly and Zack leaves the house. A few days later, an emotional Claire trashes some of Zack's clothes and finds a matchbook with a man's name and number written in it. She locates the man, someone Zack had picked up, and they talk. She learns from him that gay people can live happy lives and takes his advice to talk to Zack. She and Zack, after much discussion, decide to divorce. Zack takes a job in New York City working with cancer patients.

The film ends several years in the future, with the death of Winnie Bates. Zack is in a committed relationship with another man by this time. Zack returns to Los Angeles for the funeral. Claire has re-married and has a young son named Rupert. After the funeral, Zack and Claire discuss their lives and express their own happiness and their gratitude that the other is happy.

In an unusual structural choice, each of the three lead characters deliver several mini-monologues throughout the film, speaking directly to the audience about aspects of their pasts and their feelings about the scenes that had just played out on-screen.

Themes

Making Love was the first mainstream Hollywood drama to address the subjects of homosexuality, coming out and the effect that being closeted and coming out has on a marriage. The film contrasts two visions of the so-called "gay lifestyle." Zack wants to settle into a long-term relationship similar to a heterosexual marriage, while Bart represents the somewhat stereotypical view of gay men as being promiscuous and uninterested in forming commitments. Dispite this the film all in all paints a more simpathetic view when it comes to homosexuality. Greetings from Hollywood Hollywood is a district of the city of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., that extends from Vermont Avenue on the east to just beyond Laurel Canyon Boulevard above Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards on the west; the north to south boundary east of La Brea Avenue... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Coming out of the closet (very often shortened to coming out in winking reference to the public introduction of debutantes) describes the voluntary public announcement of ones sexual orientation, sexual attractions, gender identity, or (less commonly) paraphilia. ... The expression being in the closet has been used to describe keeping secret ones sexual behavior or orientation, most commonly homosexuality or bisexuality, but also including transgender and transsexual people, paedophiles, and pederasts. ...

Issues of the tension many women felt over pursuing careers are also touched on in Claire's fears that she is being forced to choose between her career and having a baby. By film's end she does have a child but it's unstated whether she's still working, so that theme ultimately remains unresolved.

Popular and critical reaction

Making Love was one of several mainstream Hollywood films to be released in 1982 dealing with themes of homosexuality. Others included Personal Best, Victor/Victoria and Partners. According to gay film historian Vito Russo's book The Celluloid Closet, straight critics found the film boring while gay critics, glad for any attention paid to the subject, praised the film. Making Love opened to strong box office its first week, but poor word of mouth led to a large drop-off in box office receipts the following week. Greetings from Hollywood Hollywood is a district of the city of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., that extends from Vermont Avenue on the east to just beyond Laurel Canyon Boulevard above Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards on the west; the north to south boundary east of La Brea Avenue... Personal Best is a 1982 movie centered around a group of women who are trying to qualify for the Olympic Games track-and-field team. ... Victor/Victoria is a 1982 musical comedy film. ... Partners is a gay-themed buddy comedy from 1982. ... Vito Russo (1946 New York, NY - 7 November 1990 Los Angeles CA) was a gay activist and author who wrote the 1981 book The Celluloid Closet. ... The Celluloid Closet is the title of a 1995 documentary film directed and written by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. ...

DVD release

Making Love was released on Region 1 DVD on February 7, 2006. This article is becoming very long. ... February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Awards and nominations

Golden Globe Award nomination, Best Original Song - Motion Picture Burt Bacharach (lyrics) Bruce Roberts (lyrics/music) Carole Bayer Sager (lyrics) The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... Burt Bacharach (born May 12, 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri) is a Jewish-American pianist and composer. ... Carole Bayer Sager (born March 8, 1947 in New York City, New York) is an American lyricist, songwriter and singer best-known for writing the lyrics to many popular songs performed on Broadway and in Hollywood films. ...

External link

• Making Love at the Internet Movie Database