FORGOTTEN FILM: IT'S MY TURN (1980)

The 1980 film IT’S MY TURN may be best known for its theme song. Sung by Diana Ross, and written by Carole Bayer Sager and Michael Masser, the song can still be heard today while the film it is from has been forgotten



Here is the song.

In the film, Jill Clayburgh is a mathematics professor in Chicago. She lives with Charles Grodin. It isn’t an exciting life. She heads off to an interview in New York, which coincides with her father’s wedding. Steven Hill plays her father.

At the wedding, she meets her father’s bride’s son (a bearded Michael Douglas). Douglas is a former baseball player who injured his shoulder and has retired. The two develop a relationship.

IT’S MY TURN is a film that could have only been released in the late 70’s, early 80’s. It is a character driven story. I think I have given away the entire plot of the film. Once Clayburgh gets to New York, she and Douglas walk around and talk. That just doesn’t go on in films anymore. Characters don’t matter any more.

It also works as a look at turn of the decade New York. There is a lengthy scene set in the hotel game room. This is a fascinating time capsule of an arcade pre-Pac Man that I loved to see again.

There is another trip to an Old timers game at Yankee Stadium where former baseball greats Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Whitey Ford and more are shown playing the game.

Sadly, while little happens in the film, the film isn’t all that interesting as it goes on. Douglas’ character undergoes several odd and rather unbelievable personality switches. You never really buy his character.

Still, Clayburgh more than carries the film. Of all the actresses of the era, she was one of the most reliable. She is wonderful here as she usually is.

The theme song is present in instrumental throughout the film, only to kick in with the Diana Ross version at the end. Also present is a very peppy Patrick Williams score that has the feel of other Columbia Pictures films of the time period (and judging by the fact he did the scores for HOT STUFF, USED CARS, THE TOY, and several other films, that makes sense)

This was the first screenplay by Eleanor Bergstein. Her next film would be even bigger, DIRTY DANCING. Director Claudia Weill had more success in TV, directing episodes of some of the best series of the 90’s including thirtysomething, MY SO-CALLED LIFE, and ONCE AND AGAIN.

As it is a Columbia Picture, rights are with Sony. Sony has given up on library titles so this will probably remain on the shelf.

I recently saw it on Universal HD. It was good looking print, only with some of the language edited and the ending theme sped up for time!! Through it, there were ads in the middle saying “Universal HD. Uncut movies”.

Kind of false advertising.