Kotch

Kotch
Promotional poster
Directed by	Jack Lemmon
Screenplay by	John Paxton
Based on	Kotch 1965 novel by Katharine Topkins
Produced by	Richard Carter
Starring	Walter Matthau Deborah Winters Felicia Farr Charles Aidman Ellen Geer
Cinematography	Richard H. Kline
Edited by	Ralph E. Winters
Music by	Marvin Hamlisch
Production company	ABC Pictures
Distributed by	Cinerama Releasing Corporation
Release date	September 17, 1971 (1971-09-17)
Running time	113 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.5 million^[1]
Box office	$5 million (rentals)^[1]

Kotch is a 1971 American comedy-drama film directed by Jack Lemmon and starring Walter Matthau, Deborah Winters, Felicia Farr, Charles Aidman and Ellen Geer.

Adapted by John Paxton from Katharine Topkins's 1965 novel of the same title, the film tells the story of an elderly man who leaves his family rather than go to a nursing home, and strikes up a friendship with a pregnant teenage girl. It is Lemmon's only film behind the camera, and partnered him with friend and frequent co-star, Matthau.

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Plot

Cast

Walter Matthau as Joseph P. Kotcher
Deborah Winters as Erica Herzenstiel
Felicia Farr as Wilma Kotcher
Charles Aidman as Gerald Kotcher
Ellen Geer as Vera Kotcher
Donald and Dean Kowalski as Duncan Kotcher
Arlen Stuart as Mrs. Fisher
Jane Connell as Miss Roberts
James E. Brodhead as Mr. Weaver
Jessica Rains as Dr. McKernan
Darrell Larson as Vincent Perrin
Biff Elliot as Motel Manager
Paul Picerni as Dr. Ramon Caudillo
Lucy Saroyan as Sissy
Kim Hamilton as Emma Daly
Amzie Strickland as Nurse Barons
Larry Linville as Peter Stiel
Penny Santon as Mrs. Segura
Jack Lemmon as Sleeping Bus Passenger (uncredited)

Production

Portions of the film were shot and set in Palm Springs, California.^{[citation needed]}

Reception

The film earned rentals of $3.6 million in North America, and $1.4 million in other countries. It recorded an overall profit of $330,000.^[1]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an aggregate score of 75%, based on 6 positive and 2 negative reviews.^[2]

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film two stars out of four. He wrote, "There aren't many comic actors I admire more than Matthau, and he does his best to be an old man in Kotch, but the illusion simply isn't there."^[3]

Awards and nominations

Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result
Academy Awards^[4]	Best Actor	Walter Matthau	Nominated
	Best Film Editing	Ralph E. Winters	Nominated
	Best Song – Original for the Picture	"Life Is What You Make It" Music by Marvin Hamlisch; Lyrics by Johnny Mercer	Nominated
	Best Sound	Richard Portman and Jack Solomon	Nominated
American Cinema Editors Awards	Best Edited Feature Film	Ralph E. Winters	Nominated
Golden Globe Awards^[5]	Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy		Nominated
	Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy	Walter Matthau	Nominated
	Best Screenplay – Motion Picture	John Paxton	Nominated
	Best Original Song – Motion Picture	"Life Is What You Make It" Music by Marvin Hamlisch; Lyrics by Johnny Mercer	Won
Kansas City Film Circle Critics Awards^[6]	Best Actor	Walter Matthau	Won^[a]
Writers Guild of America Awards^[7]	Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium	John Paxton	Won

Home media

Kotch was released on a Region 1 DVD by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment July 6, 2004.^{[citation needed]}

Explanatory notes

^ Tied with Gene Hackman for The French Connection.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "ABC's 5 Years of Film Production Profits & Losses", Variety, 31 May 1973, pg 3.
^ "Kotch". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
^ Ebert, Roger. "Kotch movie review & film summary (1971) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com/. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
^ "The 44th Academy Awards (1972) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
^ "Kotch – Golden Globes". HFPA. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
^ "KCFCC Award Winners – 1970-79". December 14, 2013. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
^ "Awards Winners". Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2010-06-06.