Editing Kotch

{{Short description|1971 American film by Jack Lemmon}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Kotch
| image          = Kotchposter.jpg
| caption        = Promotional poster
| director       = [[Jack Lemmon]]
| producer       = Richard Carter
| screenplay     = [[John Paxton]]
| based_on       = {{Based on|''Kotch''<br>1965 novel|[[Katharine Topkins]]}}
| starring       = [[Walter Matthau]]<br> [[Deborah Winters]]<br> [[Felicia Farr]]<br> [[Charles Aidman]] <br>[[Ellen Geer]]
| music          = [[Marvin Hamlisch]]
| cinematography = [[Richard H. Kline]]
| editing        = [[Ralph E. Winters]]
| production_companies = [[Jalem Productions]]<br>Brier Productions[[ABC Motion Pictures|ABC Pictures]]
| distributor    = [[Cinerama Releasing Corporation]]
| released       = {{film date|1971|9|17}}
| runtime        = 113 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $1.5 million<ref name="variety"/>
| gross          = $5 million<small> (rentals)</small><ref name="variety">"[[ABC Motion Pictures|ABC]]'s 5 Years of Film Production Profits & Losses", ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', 31 May 1973, pg 3.</ref>
}}

'''''Kotch''''' is a 1971 American comedy-drama film directed by [[Jack Lemmon]] and starring [[Walter Matthau]], [[Deborah Winters]], [[Felicia Farr]] (Lemmon's wife), [[Charles Aidman]] and [[Ellen Geer]].

Adapted by [[John Paxton]] from [[Katharine Topkins]]'s 1965 novel, 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. It was also co-produced by Lemmon's company, [[Jalem Productions]], in co-production with Paxton and Carter's company Brier Productions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1969-06-02 |title=The Star-Ledger from Newark, New Jersey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/1109086707/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1969-06-29 |title=The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/398425374/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Plot==
In [[Los Angeles]], young mother Wilma Kotcher hires Erica "Ricky" Herzenstiel to [[Babysitting|babysit]] her infant son Duncan. Wilma's father-in-law, nicknamed "Kotch", interrupts the arrangement with an unrelated and confusing story about another Herzenstiel. Erica takes Duncan to the park, but when her boyfriend arrives, she leaves Kotch behind. At the park, Kotch saves a young girl from drowning and, in an attempt to be friendly, gives her a pat on the back. The girl's mother and a Parks Department representative are offended, and Kotch's son Gerald is also displeased.

While Gerald and Wilma go out, Kotch discovers Erica and her boyfriend having sex in the living room. He quietly leaves and later discusses his frustrations with Gerald, questioning why he and Wilma do not trust him with Duncan. Kotch's complaints about Wilma taking [[Sedative|tranquilizers]] lead her to insist that Gerald remove Kotch from their household. Gerald subsequently takes Kotch to an upscale [[retirement community]], but Kotch is put off by the tests that he must take.

Kotch finds Erica at her high school, upset over her unplanned pregnancy and her decision to leave school for a job in [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]]. Despite her initial refusal, Erica accepts a small payment from Kotch, promising to repay it. Kotch subsequently travels across the country by bus, staying in motels and sending postcards to Duncan.

Returning unannounced to the Kotcher home, Kotch learns through a [[Halloween]] party letter that Erica cannot repay her debt due to serious issues. Acting as a private investigator, Kotch discovers that Erica was dismissed from her job as a hair stylist for being unlicensed and is now looking for work in [[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]]. Kotch finds Erica, takes her on a tram ride, and offers her a job as his housekeeper. After spending autumn alone, Erica returns on [[Christmas Eve]], ready to accept his offer.

In Palm Springs, Erica decorates and knits while Kotch buys an old car. Erica leaves a note saying that she is at a hospital, but Kotch finds out that she is attending a class on [[midwifery]]. When Erica decides to give up her baby for adoption, Kotch hires a nurse and tries to find a new family for Erica. However, Erica begins to have contractions and needs to be rushed to the hospital. Kotch ends up delivering the baby at a [[Filling station|gas station]].

Erica decides to keep her baby, and returns to Los Angeles. Gerald and Wilma offer a place to Kotch in their home, but he declines. Kotch instead plans to buy the Palm Springs house and work at a local hardware store. While cleaning up, Kotch finds a note indicating that he would have made a great-grandfather under better circumstances. He leaves with Pablo, ready for new adventures.

==Cast==
{{Div col}}
*[[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)
{{Div col end}}

==Production==
Portions of the film were shot and set in [[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]], California.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

==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.<ref name="variety"/>

On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an aggregate score of 75%, based on 6 positive and 2 negative reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kotch |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kotch |access-date=November 13, 2022 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref>

[[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."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=Kotch movie review & film summary (1971) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/kotch-1971 |access-date=2022-04-08 |publisher=www.rogerebert.com/ |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
! Ref.
|-
| rowspan="4"| [[44th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| [[Walter Matthau]]
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"| <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1972 |title=The 44th Academy Awards (1972) Nominees and Winners |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |access-date=August 26, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Best Film Editing]]
| [[Ralph E. Winters]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Song – Original for the Picture]]
| "Life Is What You Make It" <br> Music by [[Marvin Hamlisch]]; <br> Lyrics by [[Johnny Mercer]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]]
| [[Richard Portman]] and [[Jack Solomon (sound engineer)|Jack Solomon]] 
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[American Cinema Editors|American Cinema Editors Awards]]
| [[American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical|Best Edited Feature Film]]
| Ralph E. Winters
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| rowspan="4"| [[29th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]]
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/kotch |title=Kotch |publisher=[[Golden Globe Awards]] |access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]]
| Walter Matthau
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay – Motion Picture]]
| [[John Paxton]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song – Motion Picture]]
| "Life Is What You Make It" <br> Music by Marvin Hamlisch; <br> Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Kansas City Film Critics Circle|Kansas City Film Circle Critics Awards]]
| Best Actor
| Walter Matthau
| {{won}}{{efn|Tied with [[Gene Hackman]] for ''[[The French Connection (film)|The French Connection]]''.}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://kcfcc.org/kcfcc-award-winners-1970-79/ |title=KCFCC Award Winners – 1970-79 |publisher=[[Kansas City Film Critics Circle]] |date=December 14, 2013 |access-date=July 10, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[24th Writers Guild of America Awards|Writers Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Comedy – Adapted from Another Medium]]
| John Paxton
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1551 |title=Awards Winners |publisher=[[Writers Guild of America Awards]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205095022/http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1551 |archive-date=December 5, 2012 |access-date=June 6, 2010}}</ref>
|}

==Home media==
''Kotch'' was released on a Region 1 [[DVD]] by [[20th Century Studios Home Entertainment|20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]] July 6, 2004.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

==See also==
* [[List of American films of 1971]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{AFI film|54047|Kotch}}
* {{IMDb title | id = 0067314 | title = Kotch }}
* {{TCMDb title|id=22799|title=Kotch}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|kotch}}

[[Category:1971 films]]
[[Category:1971 comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:1971 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:ABC Motion Pictures films]]
[[Category:American comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Cinerama Releasing Corporation films]]
[[Category:Films about old age]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
[[Category:Films scored by Marvin Hamlisch]]
[[Category:Films set in California]]
[[Category:Films shot in California]]
[[Category:Teenage pregnancy in film]]
[[Category:1970s English-language films]]
[[Category:1970s American films]]
[[Category:Jalem Productions films]]
[[Category:English-language comedy-drama films]]