''A Family Upside Down'' is a 1978 American

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

directed by

David Lowell Rich David Lowell Rich (August 31, 1920 – October 21, 2001) was an American film director and producer. He directed nearly 100 films and TV episodes between 1950 and 1987. He was born in New York City. He began directing on a regular basis in 1 ...

and written by Gerald Di Pego. It stars

Helen Hayes Helen Hayes MacArthur (; October 10, 1900 – March 17, 1993) was an American actress. Often referred to as the "First Lady of American Theatre", she was the second person and first woman to win EGOT, the EGOT (an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and ...

and

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz, May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, actor, singer, musician, choreographer, and presenter, whose career in stage, film, and television spanned 76 years. He is widely regarded as the "g ...

as an elderly married couple, with Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Pat Crowley, and

Patty Duke Anna Marie Duke (December 14, 1946 – March 29, 2016), known professionally as Patty Duke, was an American actress. Over the course of her acting career, she was the recipient of an Academy Awards, Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three ...

in supporting roles. The film was praised for the performances of the cast, earning Astaire a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy Special. It also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Film.

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

as Emma Long *

as Ted Long * Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Mike Long * Pat Crowley as Carol Long *

as Wendy * Brad Rearden as Scott Long * Ford Rainey as Mr. Case * Kim Hamilton as Paula * Phillip R. Allen as Dr. Russo * Carl Held as Al * Lanna Saunders as Mrs. Lovell * Belinda Palmer as Rhonda * Miiko Taka as Mrs. Taka * David Haskell as House Painter * R. Norwood Smith as Wes Allen * Charles Walker as Aide * Gary Swanson as Instructor * Gail Landry as Candy Striper * Matthew Tobin as Dr. Chisholm * Nolan Leary as Mr. Willy * Ernestine Barrier as Mrs. Willy

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* *
''A Family Upside Down''
at

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...

A Family Upside Down at Internet Archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Family Upside Down 1978 films 1978 drama films 1978 television films American drama television films Films about families Films about old age Films directed by David Lowell Rich Films produced by Ross Hunter Films scored by Henry Mancini Columbia Pictures films NBC original films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films