Max keeps buying extravagant cars, appliances, and renovations for Nora and Michael, making it harder for Nora to hide the truth from an increasingly suspicious Brian. In Max Dugan Returns, Max Dugan (Jason Robards), a … Grandmother has nothing to say when Libby tells her that she is off to LA to look up Dad, a Hollywood screenwriter. "Film: 'Dugan Returns'". He makes up for being an absent dad and grandfather in a very short period of time. Max Dugan Returns is a Neil Simon comedy starring Jason Robards as ex-con Max Dugan, a man trying to make up with his daughter and impress his grandson by showering them with presents bought with money stolen from the Mob. You're likely to be laughing. Does Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Peacock, and 50+ streaming services have Max Dugan Returns (1983)? Nora, a high school English teacher and widow, lives with Michael in a broken down house in Venice, Los Angeles. Sutherland made his screen debut in Max Dugan Returns (as did Matthew Broderick), in which his father Donald Sutherland also starred. MAX DUGAN RETURNS is a lightweight comedy from Neil Simon about a widowed schoolteacher (Marsha Mason) with a young son (Matthew Broderick, in his film debut), struggling to make ends meet, who one night is reunited with her estranged father (Jason Robards), who shows up on her doorstep wanting to make up for lost time with $687,000.00 in tow. Max Dugan Returns is a 1983 American comedy-drama film starring Jason Robards as Max Dugan, Marsha Mason as his daughter Nora, Matthew Broderick as Nora’s son Michael, and Donald Sutherland. Lau was also one of the most renowned batting instructors in MLB history. Throw into the mix a police detective (Donald Sutherland) who, upon finding out who Max is, is definitely torn between getting his man and or getting the girl. The moving story of a small Texas town in 1918. as a teacher. Both Matthew Broderick and Kiefer Sutherland (cameo) are featured in their first film appearance. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. The life of a suburban American family is scarred after a nuclear attack. Brian stops Nora as she heads to Michael's baseball game. Max Dugan, the long-lost father of Nora McPhee, appears at her door one night. Max Dugan Returns 1983 Full movie online MyFlixer MyFlixer is a Free Movies streaming site with zero ads. Max Dugan Returns (1983) Directed by Herbert Ross Genres - Comedy Drama | Sub-Genres - Domestic Comedy | Release Date - Mar 25, 1983 (USA - Unknown) | Run Time - 98 min. Find out where you can buy, rent, or subscribe to a streaming service to watch Max Dugan Returns (1983) on-demand. Max is a fixer and a miracle maker and his eccentricities are contagious. Before he leaves again, he rights a lot of wrongs. Nora is a single mother who lives with her son Michael in a small house. The real-life father of Matthew Broderick, noted character actor James Broderick (whose birthname is James Joseph Broderick III), died on November 1, 1982  – around the time of the making of this film. It has to be temporary because of his larcenous past. "Take the Money and Decorate". She pleads with Max to turn himself in, confident that the police will take the money and release him to her care for his final few months. A single mother's long-lost father shows up with a suitcase full of cash hoping to make up for the past. Max Dugan Returns. "Max Dugan Returns" is by no means without the trademark Simon touches that can cause one to wince. Mason, to her credit, manages to keep her whiny, please-love-me stereotypical movie persona in check; she's almost believable here. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 2.5 stars out of 4, calling it "watchable and sort of sweet. Directed by Herbert Ross. "[3], Variety described the film as "a consistently happy comedic fable which should please romanticists drawn again to another teaming of Neil Simon, Marsha Mason and Herbert Ross. Siskel, Gene (March 28, 1983). After Michael hits the game winning home run – his first hit of the season, thanks to training from MLB coach Charley Lau, paid for by Max – Nora tells Brian everything. Nora refuses to do anything until after the game. When adjusted for inflation, the amount equates to $1,779,378 in 2020 dollars. We let you watch movies online without having to register or … They don't have much money but at least they have each other. Jason Robards returns to the family unit (temporarily). Out of the blue comes Nora's father Max Dugan, who left her and her mother when Nora was nine years old. When she's later murdered, Michael becomes the chief suspect and goes on the run. Max Dugan Returns is a Neil Simon comedy starring Jason Robards as ex-con Max Dugan, a man trying to make up with his daughter and impress his grandson by showering them with presents bought with money stolen from the Mob. Looking for more? I got quite a kick seeing Matthew Broderick at such a young age. Nora is a single mother who lives with her son Michael in a small house. Max Dugan Returns 1983 Poster Gallery. 2 of 2 found this interesting Interesting? Until an influenza epidemic hit and several broken young men returned from the war in Europe. Instead, he leaves a message that he is fleeing to Brazil with a portion of the money, leaving the rest for them. Frustrated with a legal system gone haywire, a secret society of judges hires hitmen to snuff out criminals who escape courtroom justice - but one young judge questions the ethics of their vigilante system. Marsha Mason-Wikipedia. Other actors might have had fun with the part; Robards may have realized that there would be enough jokes happening around him that he didn't need to be silly. A group of young recruits go through boot camp during the Second World War in Biloxi, Mississippi. They don't have much money, but at least they have each other. Mason's Max Dugan Returns (1983), also written by Simon, grossed a modest $17.6 million at the box office. "[1], Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune also awarded 2.5 stars out of 4 and wrote: .mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, This sort of story is the kind of whimsical comedy that would have been made and made memorably in the '30s or '40s. It stars Marsha Mason, Jason Robards in the titular role, Donald Sutherland, and Matthew Broderick (in his film debut). And the film's ending is so predictable that you will be putting on your coat at least two or three minutes before the end credits start to roll. Pius X High School - 7851 Gardendale St. - Downey, California, USA. At the time of the movie, Lau was the hitting coach for the Chicago White Sox. 15 of 15 people found this review helpful. Title: After two weeks together, Nora is now sure that it truly is her father. This is compounded by busybody neighbor Mrs. Litke, who keeps reporting things to the police. Rent £3.49 Buy £5.99 Once you select Rent you'll have 14 days to start watching the film and 48 hours to finish it. Max is seen driving away, apparently headed for Brazil. After he's laid off, a husband switches roles with his wife. [2], Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote, "Mr. Simon's original screenplay is fast and buoyant, and Herbert Ross's direction shows off the abundant jokes to their best possible advantage. They don't have much money but at least they have each other. Max Dugan Returns marks the first of only three times (as of 2018) that Donald Sutherland and his son Kiefer have appeared together in a dramatic film project, the others being A Time to Kill and Forsaken, in the latter of which they both starred in the leads. Click to enlarge. Ansen, David (March 28, 1983). Max Dugan Returns is a consistently happy comedic fable which should please romanticists drawn to a teaming of Neil Simon, Marsha Mason and Herbert Ross. Although wary of her father re-contacting her after so many years, the widow lets her father stay with her and her son after he begs her to let him get to know his grandson. Wisecrack piles on top of wisecrack in some scenes to the point that you can't see any of the characters. Max Dugan had a total of $687,000 in cash in his suitcase. The money comes from his shady career in Las Vegas and Nora is dating a policeman who is very interested in meeting him. He tells her that he is dying within the year, and wants to give Nora and her 15-year-old son, Michael, the $687,000 ($1.8 million today) he managed to embezzle from a Las Vegas casino after they appropriated his property, worth that same amount. Find the cheapest option or how to watch with a free trial. For the first half of Max Dugan Returns, you have a charming comedy about a hard working single mother, her son, and her estranged father who returns, saying that he's dying and wants to make amends. It was one of my all time favorite movies as a kid. This was the last motion picture that Mason and Simon collaborated on before their divorce. Max Dugan Returns This FAQ is empty. See the fabulous presenters and gracious winners at this year's Oscars. "'Max Dugan Returns': Robards an island of sanity in a sea of Simon silliness". Co-star Jason Robards, who knew James and was a friend, helped Matthew through his grief over the loss of his father. Nora is a single mother who lives with her son Michael in a small house. Nora, a single mother, lives in a small house with her son, Michael. I love the storyline of the movie. Max Dugan Returns is a Neil Simon comedy starring Jason Robards as ex-con Max Dugan, a man trying to make up with his daughter and impress his grandson by showering them with presents bought with money stolen from the Mob. View production, box office, & company info. Check out the full list of winners. Was this review helpful to you? A teenage boy living in a Cape Breton coal mining community during the 1930's finds himself contemplating life and is haunted by a murder he witnessed in town. Max Dugan Returns. This would be the last of five Neil Simon-based films to be directed by Herbert Ross, as well as the last of his films starring Mason (Simon's wife at the time). Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. It is the last of five Simon-Ross collaborations, as well as the last of Simon's films starring Mason (his wife at the time). 1983, Comedy, 1h 38m. They don't have much money but at least they have each other. Menu. I have never seen a more entertaining plot in a movie. Completely innocent man, Michael Jordon, is drawn into a web of government secrets when a girl carrying a mysterious package gets into a taxi with him. Richard Marks Dies: Four-Time Editing Oscar Nominee Who Worked On ‘Apocalypse Now’ & ‘As Good As It Gets’ Was 75, Matthew Broderick on Neil Simon: ‘I Would Like One More Play’, Check Out All The Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix in October. He brings a suitcase with dollar bills and showers her and Michael with gifts, trying to make up for lost time, knowing that he has a fatal heart ailment. Nora keeps refusing his money, only wanting his presence in her life. I'm thinking of that lost American paradise inhabited by Blondie and Dagwood, Ozzie and Harriet and the Beaver -- a world where the family gets together for a cute-talk confab in the breakfast nook. Max Dugan Returns is a comedy film released in 1983 and was the last Neil Simon film directed by Herbert Ross. Nora and her (possible) father keep his identity a secret from Michael and Brian, with Dugan telling Michael that he knew "Max" in prison – then tells Nora the same, further obfuscating what she can believe. 2:09 Max Dugan Returns. Written by Additionally, Kiefer Sutherland (in his film debut) briefly appears as Bill, Mike's school friend. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nora meets police detective Brian Costello when her car is stolen and they soon start dating. An English teacher and struggling single mother has her life disrupted when the father who abandoned her as a child comes back into her life. Add the first question. Estranged New Yorker (Kate Nelligan) turns to police after son disappears. After being dumped by her live-in boyfriend, an unemployed dancer and her 10-year-old daughter are reluctantly forced to live with a struggling off-Broadway actor. Rent €3.99 Buy €9.99 Once you select Rent you'll have 14 days to start watching the film and 48 hours to finish it. Yes, there are plot points that are left dangling and you just have to accept that, but if you can, MAX DUGAN RETURNS is a delightful and diverting comedy that will grown on you with multiple viewings. It's somewhere mid way through that the lead character (Marsha Mason in fine form) starts struggling and the conflict of the film dries up. Grandmother has been in a New York cemetery for six years and Dad has ... See full summary ». Oscar and Felix: A New Look at the Odd Couple, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Max_Dugan_Returns&oldid=1019805863, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 25 April 2021, at 14:44. Matthew Broderick was cast in this film and Simon's play Brighton Beach Memoirs simultaneously. The money comes from his shady career in Las Vegas and Nora is dating a policeman who is very interested in meeting him. She also convinces him that Max is unimportant, and that the off-duty Brian can call in the information after lunch. He has figured out who Max is, and that he is dying, and warns her that she could face prison time unless she turns Max in. She returns to the workforce, and he becomes a stay-at-home dad, a job he has no clue how to do. Max Dugan Returns is a Neil Simon comedy starring Jason Robards as ex-con Max Dugan, a man trying to make up with his daughter and impress his grandson by showering them with presents bought with money stolen from the Mob. It is a wonderfully unique storyline, one that you don't see much of these days. Max Dugan Returns is a Neil Simon comedy starring Jason Robards as ex-con Max Dugan, a man trying to make up with his daughter and impress his grandson by showering them with presents bought with money stolen from the Mob. An English teacher and struggling single mother has her life disrupted when the father who abandoned her as a child comes back into her life. There are certainly some questionable ingredients to the story, but you're not likely to notice them while the film is under way. From the play by Neil Simon. With Jason Robards, Marsha Mason, Donald Sutherland, Matthew Broderick. It involves a widow who reconnects with her father after many years of estrangement. Max Dugan Returns is a 1983 American comedy-drama film written by Neil Simon and directed by Herbert Ross. But in this version only Robards has that old style panache to carry it off. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Former professional baseball player Charley Lau appears as himself having been hired by Robards' character Dugan to coach Broderick's Michael to hit better for his high school team. Relive the most surprising wins, inspirational speeches, hilarious dance breaks, and more highlights from the 2021 Academy Awards. A teen must protect his family when his mother's sinister new boyfriend begins exerting his authority in their home. I have been watching Max Dugan Returns since I was a child. Having created living and breathing comic characters, he starts to suffocate them inside an increasingly mechanized plot. Maslin, Janet (March 25, 1983). Max Dugan Returns is a film produced by Neil Simon adapted from one of his original screenplays. Donald Sutherland also appears in the film as Mason's love interest, and more than his performance we notice simply that writer Simon has cared enough about the script to include Sutherland's character as a tension source. Max Dugan Returns (1983) - IMDb. 14 Reviews 1,000+ Ratings You might also like But Simon overplays his hand. An Air Force pilot joins a top secret military experiment involving chimps, but begins to suspect there might be something more to the mysterious "Project X". Out of the blue comes Nora's father Max Dugan, who left her and her mother when Nora was nine years old. Use the HTML below. This comedy charms from start to finish with a lot of classic Neil Simon one-liners and Robards turns in one of his most charming performances as Max Dugan. An English teacher and struggling single mother has her life disrupted when the father who abandoned her as a child comes back into her life. Max Dugan Returns. "Max Dugan Returns" is a sweet little movie that evokes, in its shallow wholesomeness, a world that has pretty well disappeared from TV and the movies. | Countries - United States | MPAA Rating - PG Neil Simon's bright dialogue, a true-to-life and endearing mother-son relationship, as well as wonderful performances by all the principles (including Matthew Broderick in his very first role) make for an enjoyable experience. He brings a suitcase with dollar bills and showers her and Michael with gifts, trying to make up for lost time, knowing that he has a fatal heart ailment. Young Matthew Broderick is just fine as the son. He plays Max Dugan seriously, not as a clown, and it works beautifully. (1983). Max Dugan Returns. She does not recognize him, as he went to prison when she was only 9 years old, and disappeared after serving a six year term. The cuteness gets a bit out of hand."[5]. Mattias Thuresson. 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