This is My Life (film)
Encyclopedia
This Is My Life is a 1992 film that marked the directorial debut of screenwriter Nora Ephron
. The screenplay, written by Ephron and her sister, Delia Ephron
, is based on the book, This Is Your Life, by Meg Wolitzer
. The film tells the story of Dottie Ingels (Julie Kavner
), who works at a cosmetics
counter but aspires to be a stand-up comedian. Ingels' Aunt Harriet dies and leaves the family her home in Queens which Ingles then sells to move to an apartment in Manhattan
. Ingels' comedy career start to take off with the help her agent, Arnold Moss (Dan Aykroyd
) and Moss's assistant, Claudia Curtis (Carrie Fisher
). Ingels' children, Erica (Samantha Mathis
) and Opal (Gaby Hoffmann
) get angry at Dottie because they hardly ever see her. Erica and Opal then run away to find their father in upstate Albany
, whom Opal doesn't even remember, only being 1 or 2 years-old when he left them.
The character portrayed by Aykroyd, Arnold Moss, is based on the famous New York talent agent Sam Cohn
, and has some of the eccentricities for which Cohn was known, such as a habit of eating paper. 20th Century Fox
has yet to announce any plans to release the film onto DVD.
Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, playwright, journalist, author, and blogger.She is best known for her romantic comedies and is a triple nominee for the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay; for Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in...
. The screenplay, written by Ephron and her sister, Delia Ephron
Delia Ephron
Delia G. Ephron is a screenwriter and producer. She is the sister of Nora Ephron and Amy Ephron and Hallie Ephron; their parents were screenwriters Henry and Phoebe Ephron. She has written several children's books. The girl with the mermaid hair, which deals with body images and what negative...
, is based on the book, This Is Your Life, by Meg Wolitzer
Meg Wolitzer
Meg Wolitzer is an American writer, born on Long Island, New York. She is the daughter of novelist Hilma Wolitzer.She studied creative writing at Smith College and graduated from Brown University in 1981. She wrote her first novel, Sleepwalking, a story of three college girls obsessed with...
. The film tells the story of Dottie Ingels (Julie Kavner
Julie Kavner
Julie Deborah Kavner is an American film and television actress, comedian and voice artist. Noted for her role as Marge Simpson on the animated television series The Simpsons, she also voices other characters for the show, including Jacqueline Bouvier, and Patty and Selma Bouvier.Born in Los...
), who works at a cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
counter but aspires to be a stand-up comedian. Ingels' Aunt Harriet dies and leaves the family her home in Queens which Ingles then sells to move to an apartment in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. Ingels' comedy career start to take off with the help her agent, Arnold Moss (Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
) and Moss's assistant, Claudia Curtis (Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Frances Fisher is an American actress, novelist, screenwriter, and lecturer. She is most famous for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, her bestselling novel Postcards from the Edge, for which she wrote the screenplay to the film of the same name, and her...
). Ingels' children, Erica (Samantha Mathis
Samantha Mathis
Samantha Mathis is an American actress. The daughter of actress Bibi Besch, Mathis made her film debut in Pump Up the Volume , opposite Christian Slater...
) and Opal (Gaby Hoffmann
Gaby Hoffmann
Gabriella Mary "Gaby" Hoffmann is an American actress.-Birth:Hoffmann was born in New York City. Her mother, Viva , is an actress and writer and appeared in many of Andy Warhol's movies during the 1960s...
) get angry at Dottie because they hardly ever see her. Erica and Opal then run away to find their father in upstate Albany
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
, whom Opal doesn't even remember, only being 1 or 2 years-old when he left them.
The character portrayed by Aykroyd, Arnold Moss, is based on the famous New York talent agent Sam Cohn
Sam Cohn
Samuel Charles Cohn was a talent agent at International Creative Management, a firm he helped create, in the borough of Manhattan in New York City....
, and has some of the eccentricities for which Cohn was known, such as a habit of eating paper. 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
has yet to announce any plans to release the film onto DVD.
Source
- LeVasseur, Andrea "This Is My Life". Allmovie.