Terms of Endearment

Aurora and Emma are mother and daughter who march to different drummers. Beginning with Emma’s marriage…

• Director: James L. Brooks
• Genre:Comedy / Drama / Romance
• Runtime:132 minutes

Cast

Shirley MacLaine: Aurora Greenway
Debra Winger : Emma Horton
Jack Nicholson : Garrett Breedlove
Danny DeVito : Vernon Dahlart
Jeff Daniels : Flap Horton

Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) and Emma Greenway Horton (Debra Winger) are mother and daughter searching for love. Beginning with Emma’s early childhood, Aurora reveals how difficult and caring she can be by nearly climbing into Emma’s crib in order to make sure her daughter is breathing – only to be reassured once Emma starts crying.

The film follows both women across several years as each find their reasons for going on living and finding joy. Emma’s marriage to Flap Horton (Jeff Daniels) becomes loveless and she finds a lover in Sam Burns (John Lithgow). Aurora cultivates the attention of several gentlemen in the area but is attracted to the ne’er-do-well retired astronaut Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson), developing a tenuous relationship.

Emma returns home after leaving her husband, having caught her husband flirting with a grad student. There are consequences for Aurora, however: the brief appearance of Emma and her children spooks Garrett into reassessing his relationship with Aurora and breaking it off with her. Emma attempts reconciliation with Flap accepting that they both made mistakes. She ends the relationship with Sam, but discovers that her husband is still cheating on her.

On a scheduled checkup with the doctor, Emma is diagnosed with malignant cancer. After taking a few tests, it is determined to be terminal and incurable. Flap and Aurora remain by her side in the hospital. After discussions with Flap (while not acknowledging his suspicions of her infidelity), Emma and Flap reconcile. Emma talks to her children, telling them both she loves them and even if they disagree, she knows they love her as well. Read more

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