A Family Upside Down
A Family Upside Down is a 1978 American made-for-television drama film starring Helen Hayes, Fred Astaire, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Pat Crowley and Patty Duke. Directed by David Lowell Rich from a teleplay written by Gerald Di Pego, it was originally broadcast on April 9, 1978 on NBC.
| A Family Upside Down | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Gerald Di Pego |
| Directed by | David Lowell Rich |
| Starring | Helen Hayes Fred Astaire Efrem Zimbalist Jr. Pat Crowley Patty Duke |
| Music by | Henry Mancini |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Ross Hunter Jacque Mapes |
| Cinematography | Joseph Biroc |
| Editor(s) | Richard Bracken |
| Running time | 98 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Paramount Television Ross Hunter Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | April 9, 1978 |
Astaire won a Primetime Emmy Award as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy Special for his performance and the film also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Made for Television.
Plot
Ted Long (Fred Astaire) is a retiree who suffers a debilitating heart attack that leaves him incapable of caring for himself. Unable to rely on his wife Emma (Helen Hayes), herself suffering from deteriorating health, Ted grows increasingly dependent on his adult children for his basic needs. Familial bonds are tested when Ted and Emma decide to move in with their son Mike (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) and daughter-in-law Carol (Pat Crowley) rather than face the prospect of living in a retirement home.
Cast
- Helen Hayes as Emma Long
- Fred Astaire as Ted Long
- Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Mike Long
- Pat Crowley as Carol Long
- Patty Duke as Wendy
- Ford Rainey as Mr. Case
- Kim Hamilton as Paula
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy Special | Fred Astaire | Won |
| 1978 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Cinematography in Entertainment Programming for a Special | Joseph Biroc | Nominated |
| 1978 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama or Comedy Special | Helen Hayes | Nominated |
| 1978 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama or Comedy Special | Patty Duke | Nominated |
| 1978 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Special | Efrem Zimbalist Jr. | Nominated |
| 1979 | Golden Globe Award | Best Motion Picture Made for Television | A Family Upside Down | Won |
References
- A Family Upside Down at Library of Congress
- A Family Upside Down - Awards & Nominations at Emmys.com
- A Family Upside Down Award at Golden Globes.com