TOOTSIE
A Synthesis Analysis of Tootsie
Tootsie is one of the most beloved comedies made in the last few decades. This gender bending film has been praised by critics and audiences all over the world. Tootsie was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won 1 Oscar for Jessica Lange’s performance as Julie Nichols. The Library of Congress deemed the film “culturally significant” in 1998 and was selected for film preservation by the National Film Registry. The American Film Institute has listed Tootsie as part of their 100 Best Movies in the last 100 years film series. Tootsie is the story of a talented but difficult to work with actor named Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) and his struggles to find acting jobs. When Dorsey’s attempts to motivate his friend, Sandy Lester (Teri Garr) with an audition she has for a daytime soap fail, Dorsey disguised as alter ego, Dorothy Michaels auditions for the same part. Dorsey as Dorothy nails the audition and lands the part of Hospital Administrator of Southwest General, Emily Kimberley. With Dorsey’s new role as a man playing a woman playing a woman on a daytime television series, Dorsey begins a journey of self discovery about men, women, and especially himself. Tootsie is a comedy with a message clearing stating the differences of how society treats men and women. While Dustin Hoffman’s tour de force performance as Michael Dorsey and Dorothy Michaels and the excellent supporting cast is what made Tootsie popular amongst moviegoers, Tootsie provides a social relevance that is equally effective today as when the film was originally released therefore making Tootsie a cinema classic.
Sound
The music in the film enhances the story and character development. The song, “It Might Be You” by Stephen Bishop became a big hit across the United States. The song is placed intricately in the film where Dorsey as Dorothy Michaels has fallen in love with his Southwest General co-star, Julie Nichols while visiting her father’s farm over a holiday weekend. The dialogue of the song includes “Time – I’ve been passing time watching trains go by, all of my life, lying on the sand, watching seabirds fly, wishing there would be, someone waiting home for me, something’s telling me it might be you, it’s telling me it might be you, all of my life” which falls into place perfectly at the point of the film where Dorsey comes to the realization he is in love with Nichols. Another song written especially for the film, also by Stephen Bishop is entitled “Tootsie” which is played while Dorsey is becoming a television phenomenon as Dorothy Michaels playing Emily Kimberley showcasing several photo shoots for various magazine covers. While the actors tape their scenes for the daytime drama, Southwest General, you hear melodramatic music in between takes to heighten the drama of the show. The music tracks, sounds effects, and audio flow well together to make Tootsie a cohesive effort.
Mise en Scene
Pollack collaborates with the actors and production staff to achieve visionary excellence in Tootsie. Pollack’s movie set within the fictionalized daytime drama, Southwest General lends a sense of humor to the surroundings. The movie cameras film the cameras taping the daytime series in tight, confined spaces in the television studio. The proxemic patterns are evident throughout the film. The intimate pattern is conveyed when Les Van Horn tries to manhandle Dorothy Michaels in Dorsey and Slater’s apartment late one night. The personal pattern is highlighted in a scene where Julie and Dorothy embrace almost kissing one another. The public pattern is utilized when fans stop actors requesting autographs outside the Southwest General studio. The social pattern is visible when Nichols and Carlisle attend a dinner party while Dorsey watches them nearby among the party guests then makes a pass at Nichols, unbeknownst to them that Dorsey is Dorothy Michaels. Dorsey, not wanting to continue to play Dorothy Michaels playing Emily Kimberley, decides to make his true identity known when the cast and crew of Southwest General have to do a party scene live. As Dorsey, dressed as Emily Kimberley descends down the long flight of stairs giving his random, unscripted monologue of his true identity the audience is aware of the other actors looking startled and frazzled by Kimberley’s speech. The production crew, specifically the producer and director are completely taken aback by what is happening on live television as they watch on the tiny monitors in the control room. With all the action occurring on live TV, the audience is privy to Jeff, Les, and Sandy’s reaction to the drama. Les realizes he has a crush on a man while Sandy screams in horror at the fact that her friend, Dorsey is the one who ended up with the part she was auditioning for and Jeff slyly commenting on “that is one nutty hospital.”
Movement
The streets of New York City play a prominent part in Tootsie as the city is highlighted in several scenes in which Pans are featured to show the movement of the characters and the city. There is always movement and action in the film displaying the fast paced lifestyle of New York City and the Acting Industry. Many scenes show the exteriors of New York City so the audience is aware of the surroundings and watching the residents in the background such as when Dorsey and Fields walk the streets of New York City discussing Dorsey’s future as Dorothy Michaels. Dolly Shots highlight Dorsey’s transformation into Dorothy Michaels as the camera reveals the audience’s first look at Dorothy walking in the crowded streets of New York City. These shots are noticeable when Dorothy visits the Russian Tea Room; fans interact with the Southwest General actors outside of television studio, and outside of Dorsey’s and Slater’s apartment building. Zoom Shots capture when the cameras are getting close ups of the actors while shooting the daytime drama, Southwest General on their television studio set. For example, one specific scene has the Director telling the cameramen to get a close up of Dorothy Michaels while the Producer and Director in unison yell frantically “Not too close” as they want to highlight Dorothy as more attractive to the television audience. Pollack’s kinetic use of the subjective camera enhances the story, characters, and the film.
Editing
Frederic and William Steinkamp apply many unique editing methods in forming Tootsie. Cutting to continuity is prominent when the audience gets their first glimpse of Michael Dorsey as Dorothy Michaels. When Dorsey realizes no one on the East or West coast will work with him, there is no plotting to figure out what his character must do next – the editors simply show Dorsey as Dorothy Michaels, walking down a crowded street in New York City. The audience can feel Dorothy blending in with the crowd and Dorsey realizes he does not stand out in the crowd and could actually pull himself off as his newly created Dorothy Michaels. Another scene where this editing technique is featured is during Dorsey’s daily routine of transforming himself into Dorothy Michaels after hired to play Emily Kimberley on Southwest General. The audience is able to view Dorsey shaving, plucking eyebrows, putting on make-up, painting fingernails, and fixing hair. Thematic Montage is captured with Dorothy Michaels success as television personality, Emily Kimberley through photo shoots of various magazines including TV Guide, Ms., Cosmopolitan, and Woman’s Day. To demonstrate Dorothy’s pop culture status, there is a People magazine cover with her and Andy Warhol. Classical cutting is featured when Dorsey as Dorothy Michaels visits Julie at her father, Les’s country home for the holidays. Close up shots convey the relationship developing between Dorothy and Nichols. The audience can genuinely feel the emotion, the intimacy, and the love in Dorothy’s facial expressions for Nichols.
Writing
Tootsie is written from an original screenplay by Larry Gelbart, Murray Schisgal, and Don McGuire. Emily Kimberley is the symbolic character created by Michael Dorsey as Dorothy Michaels, the assertive woman he plays in the daytime drama, Southwest General. The character of Emily Kimberley becomes a national phenomenon thus empowering women to stand up for themselves and to take control of their lives. Dorsey transforming himself into Tootsie is the catalyst for the action of the film. The whole focal point of the film is the underlying differences between men and women. One instance is when Lange’s character, Julie Nichols is talking to Dorothy about men and dating. She states she wishes a guy would come up and say “I could lay a big line on you and we could do a lot of role playing but the simple truth is I find you very interesting and would like to make love to you.” Later, at a dinner party, Dorsey approaches Nichols and gives her this line, only to have her throw her drink in his face. Dorsey learns that women may say they want one thing from a man to another woman however if offered this by a man, it doesn’t necessarily mean they want it or will accept it.
Drama
The costumes in Tootsie are contemporary and modern since the story is set in present day. Dorsey, Slater, and Lester are all struggling actors so they are presented in casual attire such as jeans and t-shirts. When Dorsey lands his new gig as Emily Kimberley on Southwest General, Dorothy Michaels has to maintain an actress’s wardrobe so more name brand and stylish clothing is used for her character. This is true of the other actors and actresses from the Southwest General cast. When Dorsey is playing Dorothy, the character takes on a more maternal and matronly look with her costumes. When Dorsey is playing Dorothy playing Emily Kimberley, the wardrobe is more of a business professional with suits and skirts since Kimberley is a Hospital Administrator. Dorsey’s agent, George Fields is representative of a business professional with his suit and tie attire. The story is set in New York City where many of the exterior shots were filmed on location. An urban feel of the city is present in the scenes shot outside of Dorsey and Slater’s apartment. Their bachelor pad is filled with mismatched furniture and clothes strewn throughout over the disorganized and unkempt space. The exterior of the television studio where Southwest General is taped provides a metropolitan appeal of the city.
Acting
Dustin Hoffman is a versatile actor playing both comedic and dramatic roles such as in The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Lenny, All the President’s Men, and his Oscar winning role in Kramer vs. Kramer. With Tootsie, this expanded his comedic range to a whole new level and demographic reaching a younger generation and a wide female audience. The cast of Tootsie features many actor stars and character actors including Jessica Lange, who won an Academy Award playing Julie Nichols, the actress that Michael Dorsey falls for from the daytime drama, Southwest General. Charles Durning as Les Nichols, Julie’s widowed father who begins to court Dorsey’s alter ego, Dorothy Michaels. Tootsie Director Sydney Pollack moonlights as Dorsey’s agent, George Fields in a role that utilizes Pollack’s skills brilliantly. Dabney Coleman plays the sexist Director of Southwest General who brands Dorothy Michaels her nickname, Tootsie. Teri Garr as Dorsey’s neurotic friend, Sandy Lester adds a hilarity and comedic tone to her scenes. George Gaynes is well cast as Southwest General co-star, Les Van Horn who develops a crush on Dorothy Michaels. An un-credited Bill Murray as Dorsey’s friend and roommate, Jeff Slater has some of the films funniest moments. Director Pollack has cast Tootsie with perfection to make it one of the best films of all time.
Ideology
Tootsie explores the vast differences between the genders demonstrating that sexism is still prevalent in society especially the workplace. With the Ron Carlisle character, the audience is fed a viewpoint of a man who views women as sex objects. The Les Nichols character is from an older generation where “men are men, and women are women.” Les provides a traditional view where the man takes care of the woman and the woman’s place is in the home. The John Van Horn character is of the same generation as Les Nichols; however we see that Van Horn is attracted to Dorothy’s strong independent feminist beliefs as a woman. The film’s setting is a decade after the women’s movement detailing the affects of women wanting it all – career, husband, and children. Women want to be equal to men without losing their femininity. The film presents itself leftist by nature with Dorothy Michaels as the heroine but Pollock balances this out to make the film appear middle of the road with Michael Dorsey playing the Dorothy Michaels character. Pollack wants to reach all audiences – left, right, and center. Dorothy Michaels makes a statement in the film that “Power makes women masculine – masculine women are ugly” She is representing what many men feel about women in power and is bringing truth to the statement since Dorsey, is playing Dorothy Michaels. As the film progresses, Dorsey realizes that all men and women have aspects of the opposite gender within themselves, one is not superior to the other, and through our similarities and differences, we can learn from one another and grow as human beings. Dorsey states this best at the conclusion of the film when he tells Julie “I was a better man with you, as a woman... than I ever was with a woman, as a man.”
The success of Tootsie can be contributed to the original writing, interesting casting, brilliant direction, and the unique characters especially Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal of Dorothy Michaels, who captured the hearts of audiences with her triumphant spirit, courage, and grace. Although Tootsie is essentially a comedy, the film’s message is loud and clear about sexism in society. The movie shines a light on the differences between men and women providing a glimpse of how a person’s opinion could change if they see the opposite gender in their shoes like Dorsey experiences as Dorothy Michaels. Dorsey as Dorothy Michaels found a connection to audiences and the world as Emily Kimberley. She represents the strength that all of us hope to have the courage to find and explore within ourselves.
Tootsie is one of the most beloved comedies made in the last few decades. This gender bending film has been praised by critics and audiences all over the world. Tootsie was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won 1 Oscar for Jessica Lange’s performance as Julie Nichols. The Library of Congress deemed the film “culturally significant” in 1998 and was selected for film preservation by the National Film Registry. The American Film Institute has listed Tootsie as part of their 100 Best Movies in the last 100 years film series. Tootsie is the story of a talented but difficult to work with actor named Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) and his struggles to find acting jobs. When Dorsey’s attempts to motivate his friend, Sandy Lester (Teri Garr) with an audition she has for a daytime soap fail, Dorsey disguised as alter ego, Dorothy Michaels auditions for the same part. Dorsey as Dorothy nails the audition and lands the part of Hospital Administrator of Southwest General, Emily Kimberley. With Dorsey’s new role as a man playing a woman playing a woman on a daytime television series, Dorsey begins a journey of self discovery about men, women, and especially himself. Tootsie is a comedy with a message clearing stating the differences of how society treats men and women. While Dustin Hoffman’s tour de force performance as Michael Dorsey and Dorothy Michaels and the excellent supporting cast is what made Tootsie popular amongst moviegoers, Tootsie provides a social relevance that is equally effective today as when the film was originally released therefore making Tootsie a cinema classic.
Sound
The music in the film enhances the story and character development. The song, “It Might Be You” by Stephen Bishop became a big hit across the United States. The song is placed intricately in the film where Dorsey as Dorothy Michaels has fallen in love with his Southwest General co-star, Julie Nichols while visiting her father’s farm over a holiday weekend. The dialogue of the song includes “Time – I’ve been passing time watching trains go by, all of my life, lying on the sand, watching seabirds fly, wishing there would be, someone waiting home for me, something’s telling me it might be you, it’s telling me it might be you, all of my life” which falls into place perfectly at the point of the film where Dorsey comes to the realization he is in love with Nichols. Another song written especially for the film, also by Stephen Bishop is entitled “Tootsie” which is played while Dorsey is becoming a television phenomenon as Dorothy Michaels playing Emily Kimberley showcasing several photo shoots for various magazine covers. While the actors tape their scenes for the daytime drama, Southwest General, you hear melodramatic music in between takes to heighten the drama of the show. The music tracks, sounds effects, and audio flow well together to make Tootsie a cohesive effort.
Mise en Scene
Pollack collaborates with the actors and production staff to achieve visionary excellence in Tootsie. Pollack’s movie set within the fictionalized daytime drama, Southwest General lends a sense of humor to the surroundings. The movie cameras film the cameras taping the daytime series in tight, confined spaces in the television studio. The proxemic patterns are evident throughout the film. The intimate pattern is conveyed when Les Van Horn tries to manhandle Dorothy Michaels in Dorsey and Slater’s apartment late one night. The personal pattern is highlighted in a scene where Julie and Dorothy embrace almost kissing one another. The public pattern is utilized when fans stop actors requesting autographs outside the Southwest General studio. The social pattern is visible when Nichols and Carlisle attend a dinner party while Dorsey watches them nearby among the party guests then makes a pass at Nichols, unbeknownst to them that Dorsey is Dorothy Michaels. Dorsey, not wanting to continue to play Dorothy Michaels playing Emily Kimberley, decides to make his true identity known when the cast and crew of Southwest General have to do a party scene live. As Dorsey, dressed as Emily Kimberley descends down the long flight of stairs giving his random, unscripted monologue of his true identity the audience is aware of the other actors looking startled and frazzled by Kimberley’s speech. The production crew, specifically the producer and director are completely taken aback by what is happening on live television as they watch on the tiny monitors in the control room. With all the action occurring on live TV, the audience is privy to Jeff, Les, and Sandy’s reaction to the drama. Les realizes he has a crush on a man while Sandy screams in horror at the fact that her friend, Dorsey is the one who ended up with the part she was auditioning for and Jeff slyly commenting on “that is one nutty hospital.”
Movement
The streets of New York City play a prominent part in Tootsie as the city is highlighted in several scenes in which Pans are featured to show the movement of the characters and the city. There is always movement and action in the film displaying the fast paced lifestyle of New York City and the Acting Industry. Many scenes show the exteriors of New York City so the audience is aware of the surroundings and watching the residents in the background such as when Dorsey and Fields walk the streets of New York City discussing Dorsey’s future as Dorothy Michaels. Dolly Shots highlight Dorsey’s transformation into Dorothy Michaels as the camera reveals the audience’s first look at Dorothy walking in the crowded streets of New York City. These shots are noticeable when Dorothy visits the Russian Tea Room; fans interact with the Southwest General actors outside of television studio, and outside of Dorsey’s and Slater’s apartment building. Zoom Shots capture when the cameras are getting close ups of the actors while shooting the daytime drama, Southwest General on their television studio set. For example, one specific scene has the Director telling the cameramen to get a close up of Dorothy Michaels while the Producer and Director in unison yell frantically “Not too close” as they want to highlight Dorothy as more attractive to the television audience. Pollack’s kinetic use of the subjective camera enhances the story, characters, and the film.
Editing
Frederic and William Steinkamp apply many unique editing methods in forming Tootsie. Cutting to continuity is prominent when the audience gets their first glimpse of Michael Dorsey as Dorothy Michaels. When Dorsey realizes no one on the East or West coast will work with him, there is no plotting to figure out what his character must do next – the editors simply show Dorsey as Dorothy Michaels, walking down a crowded street in New York City. The audience can feel Dorothy blending in with the crowd and Dorsey realizes he does not stand out in the crowd and could actually pull himself off as his newly created Dorothy Michaels. Another scene where this editing technique is featured is during Dorsey’s daily routine of transforming himself into Dorothy Michaels after hired to play Emily Kimberley on Southwest General. The audience is able to view Dorsey shaving, plucking eyebrows, putting on make-up, painting fingernails, and fixing hair. Thematic Montage is captured with Dorothy Michaels success as television personality, Emily Kimberley through photo shoots of various magazines including TV Guide, Ms., Cosmopolitan, and Woman’s Day. To demonstrate Dorothy’s pop culture status, there is a People magazine cover with her and Andy Warhol. Classical cutting is featured when Dorsey as Dorothy Michaels visits Julie at her father, Les’s country home for the holidays. Close up shots convey the relationship developing between Dorothy and Nichols. The audience can genuinely feel the emotion, the intimacy, and the love in Dorothy’s facial expressions for Nichols.
Writing
Tootsie is written from an original screenplay by Larry Gelbart, Murray Schisgal, and Don McGuire. Emily Kimberley is the symbolic character created by Michael Dorsey as Dorothy Michaels, the assertive woman he plays in the daytime drama, Southwest General. The character of Emily Kimberley becomes a national phenomenon thus empowering women to stand up for themselves and to take control of their lives. Dorsey transforming himself into Tootsie is the catalyst for the action of the film. The whole focal point of the film is the underlying differences between men and women. One instance is when Lange’s character, Julie Nichols is talking to Dorothy about men and dating. She states she wishes a guy would come up and say “I could lay a big line on you and we could do a lot of role playing but the simple truth is I find you very interesting and would like to make love to you.” Later, at a dinner party, Dorsey approaches Nichols and gives her this line, only to have her throw her drink in his face. Dorsey learns that women may say they want one thing from a man to another woman however if offered this by a man, it doesn’t necessarily mean they want it or will accept it.
Drama
The costumes in Tootsie are contemporary and modern since the story is set in present day. Dorsey, Slater, and Lester are all struggling actors so they are presented in casual attire such as jeans and t-shirts. When Dorsey lands his new gig as Emily Kimberley on Southwest General, Dorothy Michaels has to maintain an actress’s wardrobe so more name brand and stylish clothing is used for her character. This is true of the other actors and actresses from the Southwest General cast. When Dorsey is playing Dorothy, the character takes on a more maternal and matronly look with her costumes. When Dorsey is playing Dorothy playing Emily Kimberley, the wardrobe is more of a business professional with suits and skirts since Kimberley is a Hospital Administrator. Dorsey’s agent, George Fields is representative of a business professional with his suit and tie attire. The story is set in New York City where many of the exterior shots were filmed on location. An urban feel of the city is present in the scenes shot outside of Dorsey and Slater’s apartment. Their bachelor pad is filled with mismatched furniture and clothes strewn throughout over the disorganized and unkempt space. The exterior of the television studio where Southwest General is taped provides a metropolitan appeal of the city.
Acting
Dustin Hoffman is a versatile actor playing both comedic and dramatic roles such as in The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Lenny, All the President’s Men, and his Oscar winning role in Kramer vs. Kramer. With Tootsie, this expanded his comedic range to a whole new level and demographic reaching a younger generation and a wide female audience. The cast of Tootsie features many actor stars and character actors including Jessica Lange, who won an Academy Award playing Julie Nichols, the actress that Michael Dorsey falls for from the daytime drama, Southwest General. Charles Durning as Les Nichols, Julie’s widowed father who begins to court Dorsey’s alter ego, Dorothy Michaels. Tootsie Director Sydney Pollack moonlights as Dorsey’s agent, George Fields in a role that utilizes Pollack’s skills brilliantly. Dabney Coleman plays the sexist Director of Southwest General who brands Dorothy Michaels her nickname, Tootsie. Teri Garr as Dorsey’s neurotic friend, Sandy Lester adds a hilarity and comedic tone to her scenes. George Gaynes is well cast as Southwest General co-star, Les Van Horn who develops a crush on Dorothy Michaels. An un-credited Bill Murray as Dorsey’s friend and roommate, Jeff Slater has some of the films funniest moments. Director Pollack has cast Tootsie with perfection to make it one of the best films of all time.
Ideology
Tootsie explores the vast differences between the genders demonstrating that sexism is still prevalent in society especially the workplace. With the Ron Carlisle character, the audience is fed a viewpoint of a man who views women as sex objects. The Les Nichols character is from an older generation where “men are men, and women are women.” Les provides a traditional view where the man takes care of the woman and the woman’s place is in the home. The John Van Horn character is of the same generation as Les Nichols; however we see that Van Horn is attracted to Dorothy’s strong independent feminist beliefs as a woman. The film’s setting is a decade after the women’s movement detailing the affects of women wanting it all – career, husband, and children. Women want to be equal to men without losing their femininity. The film presents itself leftist by nature with Dorothy Michaels as the heroine but Pollock balances this out to make the film appear middle of the road with Michael Dorsey playing the Dorothy Michaels character. Pollack wants to reach all audiences – left, right, and center. Dorothy Michaels makes a statement in the film that “Power makes women masculine – masculine women are ugly” She is representing what many men feel about women in power and is bringing truth to the statement since Dorsey, is playing Dorothy Michaels. As the film progresses, Dorsey realizes that all men and women have aspects of the opposite gender within themselves, one is not superior to the other, and through our similarities and differences, we can learn from one another and grow as human beings. Dorsey states this best at the conclusion of the film when he tells Julie “I was a better man with you, as a woman... than I ever was with a woman, as a man.”
The success of Tootsie can be contributed to the original writing, interesting casting, brilliant direction, and the unique characters especially Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal of Dorothy Michaels, who captured the hearts of audiences with her triumphant spirit, courage, and grace. Although Tootsie is essentially a comedy, the film’s message is loud and clear about sexism in society. The movie shines a light on the differences between men and women providing a glimpse of how a person’s opinion could change if they see the opposite gender in their shoes like Dorsey experiences as Dorothy Michaels. Dorsey as Dorothy Michaels found a connection to audiences and the world as Emily Kimberley. She represents the strength that all of us hope to have the courage to find and explore within ourselves.
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