A Family Upside Down Explained

Director:David Lowell Rich
Composer:Henry Mancini
Country:United States
Language:English
Cinematography:Joseph Biroc
Editor:Richard Bracken
Runtime:98 minutes
Company:Ross Hunter Productions
Network:NBC

A Family Upside Down is a 1978 American drama television film directed by David Lowell Rich and written by Gerald Di Pego. It stars Helen Hayes and Fred Astaire as an elderly married couple, with Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Pat Crowley, and Patty Duke 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

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResultRef.
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy SpecialFred Astaire[1]
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama or Comedy SpecialHelen Hayes
Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama SpecialEfrem Zimbalist Jr.
Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama SpecialPatty Duke
Outstanding Cinematography in Entertainment Programming for a SpecialJoseph Biroc
Golden Globe AwardsBest Television MovieA Family Upside Down[2]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A Family Upside Down . Emmys.com . . May 29, 2023.
  2. Web site: A Family Upside Down – Golden Globes . . May 29, 2023 . .