It's My Party (film)
| It's My Party | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Randal Kleiser |
| Written by | Randal Kleiser |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Bernd Heinl |
| Edited by | Ila von Hasperg |
| Music by | MGM Distribution Co. |
Release date |
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Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $622,503 (USA)[1] |
It's My Party is a 1996 American
The film is based on the true events of the death of Harry Stein, accomplished architect and designer, who was actually director Kleiser's ex-lover. Stein's actual farewell party was held in 1992.The cast includes
Plot
It's My Party chronicles a two-day party hosted by Nick Stark, a gay
"You won't leave me, will you?" Nick asks his estranged lover, Brandon Theis, a B movie director, shortly after revealing to him the results of his last blood test for HIV. "I don't want to die alone." In spite of Brandon's protestations, the two soon find the love they had shared for many years in ruins. One year after their breakup, Nick is confronted with a ravaged immune system and a CT Scan and lab values which, along with his worsening forgetfulness, clinches the diagnosis of Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) -- a condition he has seen claim his friends and one which he vows will not take him. Due to the aggressive nature of the disease, he has only a few days of conscious life remaining. His plan, he announces to family and "extended family," is to voluntarily end his life himself before the disease renders him unrecognizable to those he loves and he, in turn, is unable to recognize them. Uninvited to the farewell party, Brandon's presence is greeted with jeers from those who see him as having abandoned Nick in his time of greatest need.
Cast
- Eric Roberts as Nick Stark
- Margaret Cho as Charlene Lee
- Lee Grant as Amalia Stark
- Bruce Davison as Rodney Bingham
- Olivia Newton-John as Lina Bingham
- Devon Gummersallas Andrew Bingham
- George Segal as Paul Stark
- Marlee Matlin as Daphne Stark
- Gregory Harrison as Brandon Theis
- Bronson Pinchot as Monty Tipton
- Roddy McDowall as Damian Knowles
- Steve Antin as Zack Phillips
- Sally Kellerman as Sara Hart
- Lou Liberatore as Joel Ferris
- Nina Foch as Mrs. Theis
- Christopher Atkins as Jack Allen
- Dennis Christopher as Douglas Reedy
- Ron Glass as Dr. David Wahl
- Paul Regina as Tony Zamara
- Dimitra Arliss as Fanny Kondons
- Joey Cramer (uncredited) as Party guest
- Cassandra Peterson (uncredited) as Party guest
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 50% based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 5.7/10.[4]
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 3 out of 4 stars.[5]
Box office
It's My Party opened in 28 theaters on March 22, 1996 with $148,532. The film would eventually gross $622,503 domestically.[1]
Home media
A DVD with several special features was released in 2003.[6] It contains deleted and extended scenes, featurettes on the making of the film and audio commentary by the director and some of the actors.
See also
References
- ^ a b "It's My Party (1996)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (1996-03-22). "FILM REVIEW; Giving a Farewell Party With Death as a Guest". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
- ISBN 9780415306515. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
- ^ "It's My Party". Rotten Tomatoes. 22 March 1996. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (March 22, 1996). "It's My Party movie review & film summary (1996) | Roger Ebert". Chicago Sun-Times.
- ^ Houston, Don (June 21, 2003). "It's My Party". DVD Talk. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
External links
- It's My Party at IMDb
- It's My Party at Box Office Mojo
- It's My Party at Rotten Tomatoes
