Paternity (film)
Encyclopedia
Paternity is a 1981 film comedy that stars Burt Reynolds
, Beverly D'Angelo
, Paul Dooley
, Elizabeth Ashley
and Lauren Hutton
, directed by David Steinberg
. The film was released by Paramount Pictures
on October 2, 1981.
arena in New York
. He is a confirmed bachelor who lives alone except for his housekeeper Celia.
But the more Buddy is around children, the more he wants a son of his own. Someone to remind the world after he is gone that "Buddy Evans was here."
Buddy decides to hire a surrogate mother. Even a waitress, Maggie, at the local coffee shop thinks that's a modern, civilized approach, so why not? With help from his pals Larry and Kurt, he begins to conduct interviews, offending a number of the women who apply for the job.
One day, bright and attractive Jenny Lofton turns up at Buddy's office. She is an interior decorator, but Buddy mistakes her for a surrogate applicant. His crass questioning sends Jenny running, with Buddy in hot pursuit to explain.
By coincidence, Maggie returns to his life. She is an aspiring musician who has been waitressing only to make ends meet. She could use the money that Buddy is offering to move to Paris and pursue her goal.
Buddy and Maggie try to conceive. It is awkward at first, but Maggie engages him in a little seductive play-acting and, sure enough, she gets pregnant. The arrogant Buddy gives himself all the credit.
Maggie moves in at his apartment so Buddy can keep an eye on her. He supervises her diet, exercise, everything -- he can't wait to sire a son. But otherwise he pays her little mind, continuing to date Sophia and others.
Before long, Maggie not only resents being ignored, she begins to want to keep her baby. Buddy is about to lose everything, her and the son he has always wanted. but in the end he comes to his senses.
He and Maggie marry and live happily after. But instead of a son, every child they have is a girl.
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
, Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly Heather D'Angelo is an American actress and singer.-Early life:D'Angelo was born in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Priscilla , a violinist, and Gene D'Angelo, a bass player and television station manager. She is of part Italian ancestry...
, Paul Dooley
Paul Dooley
-Personal life:Dooley was born Paul Dooley Brown in Parkersburg, West Virginia, the son of Ruth Irene , a homemaker, and Peter James Brown, a factory worker. Dooley was a cartoonist as a youth and drew a strip for a local paper in Parkersburg. He joined the Navy before discovering acting while at...
, Elizabeth Ashley
Elizabeth Ashley
Elizabeth Ashley is an American actress who first came to prominence as the ingenue in the Broadway play Take Her, She's Mine, which earned her a Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Play.-Early life:...
and Lauren Hutton
Lauren Hutton
Lauren Hutton is an American model and actress. She is best-known for her starring roles in the movies American Gigolo and Lassiter, and also for her fashion modeling career.-Personal life:...
, directed by David Steinberg
David Steinberg
David Steinberg is a Canadian comedian, actor, writer, director, and author. At the height of his popularity, during the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was one of the best-known stand-up comics in the United States...
. The film was released by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
on October 2, 1981.
Plot
Buddy Evans manages events at the famed Madison Square GardenMadison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
arena in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He is a confirmed bachelor who lives alone except for his housekeeper Celia.
But the more Buddy is around children, the more he wants a son of his own. Someone to remind the world after he is gone that "Buddy Evans was here."
Buddy decides to hire a surrogate mother. Even a waitress, Maggie, at the local coffee shop thinks that's a modern, civilized approach, so why not? With help from his pals Larry and Kurt, he begins to conduct interviews, offending a number of the women who apply for the job.
One day, bright and attractive Jenny Lofton turns up at Buddy's office. She is an interior decorator, but Buddy mistakes her for a surrogate applicant. His crass questioning sends Jenny running, with Buddy in hot pursuit to explain.
By coincidence, Maggie returns to his life. She is an aspiring musician who has been waitressing only to make ends meet. She could use the money that Buddy is offering to move to Paris and pursue her goal.
Buddy and Maggie try to conceive. It is awkward at first, but Maggie engages him in a little seductive play-acting and, sure enough, she gets pregnant. The arrogant Buddy gives himself all the credit.
Maggie moves in at his apartment so Buddy can keep an eye on her. He supervises her diet, exercise, everything -- he can't wait to sire a son. But otherwise he pays her little mind, continuing to date Sophia and others.
Before long, Maggie not only resents being ignored, she begins to want to keep her baby. Buddy is about to lose everything, her and the son he has always wanted. but in the end he comes to his senses.
He and Maggie marry and live happily after. But instead of a son, every child they have is a girl.
Cast
- Burt ReynoldsBurt ReynoldsBurton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
as Buddy - Beverly D'AngeloBeverly D'AngeloBeverly Heather D'Angelo is an American actress and singer.-Early life:D'Angelo was born in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Priscilla , a violinist, and Gene D'Angelo, a bass player and television station manager. She is of part Italian ancestry...
as Maggie - Lauren HuttonLauren HuttonLauren Hutton is an American model and actress. She is best-known for her starring roles in the movies American Gigolo and Lassiter, and also for her fashion modeling career.-Personal life:...
as Jenny - Norman FellNorman FellNorman Fell , born Norman Noah Feld, was an American actor of film and television, most famous for his role as landlord Mr. Roper on the sitcom Three's Company and its spin-off, The Ropers.-Early life:...
as Larry - Paul DooleyPaul Dooley-Personal life:Dooley was born Paul Dooley Brown in Parkersburg, West Virginia, the son of Ruth Irene , a homemaker, and Peter James Brown, a factory worker. Dooley was a cartoonist as a youth and drew a strip for a local paper in Parkersburg. He joined the Navy before discovering acting while at...
as Kurt - Elizabeth AshleyElizabeth AshleyElizabeth Ashley is an American actress who first came to prominence as the ingenue in the Broadway play Take Her, She's Mine, which earned her a Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Play.-Early life:...
as Sophia - Juanita MooreJuanita MooreJuanita Moore is an American film and television actress. She is the fifth African American to be nominated for an Academy Award in any category, and the third in the Supporting Actress category.-Career:...
as Celia - Peter BillingsleyPeter BillingsleyPeter Billingsley , also known as Peter Michaelsen and Peter Billingsley-Michaelsen, is an American actor, director, and producer best known for his role as Ralphie in the 1983 movie A Christmas Story. He began his career as an infant, in television commercials.-Early life, family and...
as Tad