I Ought to Be in Pictures

1982
PG
1h 48m

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

1.1K

YOUR RATING

Comedy Drama

Brooklynite Libby Tucker leaves her mother in Brooklyn to visit her screenwriter dad Herbert Tucker in L. A. She hasn't seen him for years and aspires to find a fast-paced life in movies. Al... Read allBrooklynite Libby Tucker leaves her mother in Brooklyn to visit her screenwriter dad Herbert Tucker in L. A. She hasn't seen him for years and aspires to find a fast-paced life in movies. Along the way, Libby discovers who her dad is.Brooklynite Libby Tucker leaves her mother in Brooklyn to visit her screenwriter dad Herbert Tucker in L. A. She hasn't seen him for years and aspires to find a fast-paced life in movies. Along the way, Libby discovers who her dad is.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

1.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Walter Matthau once said of this movie: "It's filled with very real emotions . . . there were a few seconds while I was acting when I flashed back to my childhood when my father deserted us . . . I was exhausted at the end of each day. Some roles are easier but comedy, such as Neil Simon writes, is twenty times more difficult than straight acting or tragic acting. I prefer the challenge of comedy. It requires a great deal more energy, a great deal of kinetic output."

Goofs
In the closing scenes Libby is first seen sitting on the left side of the bus talking to her seat mate, then when Herb drives his car up next to the bus on the right side she sees him through the right side window.

Quotes
Libby: Grandma was right. Once a shitheel, always a shitheel.
Herbert: Your grandmother talks like that?
Libby: The words are mine, the wisdom is hers!

Connections
Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Walter Matthau/Ricky Schroder (1982)

Soundtracks
One Hello
Music & Lyrics by Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager
Sung by Randy Crawford
Produced by Tommy LiPuma
(P) 1982 WEA International Inc.

User reviews15

Review

Featured review

6/10

I Liked This Movie

What's a daughter to do when she wants to get in touch with her father who she hasn't seen in 16 years and lives 3,000 miles away? Answer: watch this movie and find out. It would be easy to rag this movie, to cite all its flaws, to point out its corniness, to dwell on Dinah Manoff's incredibly loud performance; to emphasize all the schlock, dreck, schmoozing and kvetching that identifies this movie as another example of 'ethnic" humor. Yes, one could easily rag this movie, but I won't do it. Not here, not in this website, not on the pc. Why? Let me tell you: I LIKED THIS MOVIE!!!!! Yes, I admit it. THIS WAS A GOOD MOVIE!!!!. So what if the acting was a bit strained! So what if the story was as stale as a corn beef sandwich that's been sitting in the refrigerator all night! This movie is a about a father and daughter who re-establish a relationship and that's something that cannot be ragged. No way. So what if the daughter talks with a certain ethnic inflection! So what if Walter Matthau reminded me of Oscar Homolka in "I Remember Momma." So what if this movie contains what has to be Ann-Margret's most forgettable role!! So what if this movie is like a pastrami sandwich with a lot of fat!!! So what if this movie's most inspiring character is a deceased grandmother!!!! I liked this movie and you will too if you just keep an open mind and remember: IT'S JUST A MOVIE!!!