Kotch (1971) Online
Wanting to avoid settling in a nursing home, Joseph Kotcher, a retired salesman, is obliged to leave his son's family. He embarks on a road trip during which he strikes up a friendship with a pregnant teenager and begins to understand the true meaning of life as he helps the girl give birth to her child.
Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Walter Matthau | - | Joseph P. Kotcher | |
Deborah Winters | - | Erica Herzenstiel | |
Felicia Farr | - | Wilma Kotcher | |
Charles Aidman | - | Gerald Kotcher | |
Ellen Geer | - | Vera Kotcher | |
Donald Kowalski | - | Duncan Kotcher | |
Dean Kowalski | - | Duncan Kotcher | |
Arlen Stuart | - | Mrs. Fisher | |
Jane Connell | - | Miss Roberts | |
James Brodhead | - | Mr. Weaver (as James E. Brodhead) | |
Jessica Rains | - | Dr. McKernan | |
Darrell Larson | - | Vincent Perrin | |
Biff Elliot | - | Motel Manager | |
Paul Picerni | - | Dr. Caudillo | |
Lucy Saroyan | - | Sissy |
Directorial debut for Jack Lemmon. Lemmon found direction duties both emotionally and physically draining and felt very uncomfortable behind the camera. This was his one and only film as a director.
Director Jack Lemmon's real life actress-wife Felicia Farr played Kotch's daughter-in-law Wilma Kotcher. This is the only time Farr was directed by her husband in a movie.
Walter Matthau was only 50 at the time of filming. The actor playing his son (Charles Aidman) was 45.
Producer Richard Carter originally asked Jack Lemmon to play Kotch in this movie. Lemmon instead wanted to direct this movie and let Walter Matthau play Kotch.
Larry Linville's film debut.
Walter Matthau received a Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his role as Kotch in this movie. Matthau did not win, but a few years later Art Carney won a Best Actor Oscar for Harry and Tonto (1974), a similarly themed movie. Matthau and Carney would later appear together in House Calls (1978).
Kotch star Walter Matthau's real-life step-daughter actress Lucy Saroyan played a featured role (as Sissy) in this movie.
Ellen Geer playing Vera Kotcher, the late wife of Kotch (Walter Matthau), actually later played the director Jack Lemmon's ex-wife in Veider paar 2 (1998).
Walter Matthau was 7th at the US box office in 1971.
The meaning and relevance of this movie's Kotch (1971) title is that it refers to a nickname. Kotch is the known name of this picture's protagonist, Joseph P. Kotchner, played by Walter Matthau. The character is also known as Joe Kotcher.
Jack Lemmon: Uncredited as a sleeping bus passenger. Known for his acting though, Lemmon, apart from this cameo, does not star in this movie; he directs it.
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