Shirley MacLaine, Reincarnation, and an Oscar for Terms of Endearment | 1983 

Barbara Walters always managed to say something asinine. My favorite moment was when she asked Katharine Hepburn if she ever wore skirts, and Hepburn said, "I have one and I'll wear it to your funeral."

the twitter discourse section was the greatest piece of comedy i’ve seen this year. “liza minelli has outlived several versions of shirley maclane” broke me 😭

Your parody tweets are so spot on that I refuse to believe you didn't actually retrieve them from an alternate timeline

Shirley MacLaine is so phenomenally talented, and I don't think she's really gotten the credit that she deserves. She's that old school triple threat (singer, dancer and actor), and her comedic timing and physicality are so good. Thank you for a wonderful episode.

Now that you referenced Charlize Theron's transformation in Monster, I would LOVE to see your analysis on her win. Her career is certainly interesting before AND after her performance in that film.

The Apartment is one of my favorite films and Shirley MacLaine is amazing in it

The amount of serotonin that attacks my brain when I see there’s a new BKR video is insane. I fucking love these so much

I fell in love with Shirley when my parents packed us all into our station wagon, drove us to the local Drive-In, and we sat there and watched The Apartment and listened to it through the very tinny sounding speakers. Shirley's beautiful face, pixie hair cut, and charm captivated me. She's very special and always has been.

Shirley is such a dream. Also: it would such a neat experience to hear your thoughts on child actresses who win/get nominated for Oscars. Anna Paquin, Tatum O’Neal, Quvenzhané Wallis. What goes into a child getting nominated for an Oscar? How much is it the studio vs the critical/audience reception? I’m just saying it would be really cool to hear you talk about it

Shirley MacLaine roaming around the world as an intrepid and independent photojournalist in a TV Show. I think it’s a cool idea. It’s sad that no one had the vision to carry it.

Shirley is brilliant in the Apartment. I'm just blown away every time I watch it . That and Post Cards From The Edge are my favorite performances of hers.

I remember being surprised to see her in ‘Downton Abbey’ and I think she was brilliant as Martha Levinson. A reminder that she’s a comedic genius.

"liza minelli has outlived several versions of shirley maclaine" has KILLED me (so i guess liza minelli has outlived me too)

Crazy how Meryl is already seen as a perennial contender in 1983, just 5 years after her first nomination. They don’t know what’s coming LOL

maclane was so phenomenal in the childrens hour, i wish that movie was talked about more. it’s incredible

I see it now: From ‘The Apartment’ to ‘Only Murders in the Building’, it’s like she’s come full circle.

I'm gonna cry because I have been waiting this episode as long as her career 😃😃

There’s a moment in the 1992 Oscars when Liza Minnelli and Shirley MacLaine walk on stage and I love repeating it because it’s simply fabulous!

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her a few times, and she was absolutely wonderful. A beautiful example of poise and authenticity, she is a true master of her craft!

I saw “Terms of Endearment” in the theater, when I was in high school. I remember her appearances on Donohue and other talk shows; where she discussed her spiritual beliefs. I even read “Out On A Limb” and saw the TV movie of the same name where she played herself. At the time it was interesting. It was at the beginning of the suburban New Age movement. She’s incredibly talented. Too get an idea of how good she was in her cabaret performances; you can see ‘Shirley MacClaine at the Lido’ here on RU-vid. She’s incredibly dynamic.

"You'll never believe this but... I don't think I looked awful." GET HER, JADE 🤣

Her career is among the most unique in Hollywood history and you expertly highlight the minutia of what made it so. Excellent work on this and every video you’ve produced so far.

Yaaas! This video! Together with 'All About Eve' and 'The Lion in Winter, 'Terms of Endearment' has my favorite screenplay of all time. The dialogues are so wit! ♥️

MacLaine’s performance in Some Came Running deserves more attention here, as does the film itself. Watched now, her performance feels like the template for other actresses’ entire careers, including Melanie Griffith and Renee Zellwegger. The Apartment refines the qualities that were first defined in Some Came Running. It’s a fantastic performance. Debra Winger was never going to win the Oscar over Shirley MacLaine but I think she was very definitely seen as a worthy contender. A big part of MacLaine’s momentum as well was her 4 previous nominations. At the mention of her nearly 6 year absence from filmmaking in the ‘70s, I was reminded that MacLaine’s much admired body of work was ever present on tv. As a child of the ‘70s, I was well aware of who Shirley MacLaine was; she always seemed a part of the popular culture. As for Out On A Limb, of course she was jeered at and made fun of but I think, as noted, it was very much located in the Californian, New Age trends of the time - I mean, Dianetics had been a best seller for decades and the boomer generation had already been primed on Chariots of the Gods. If anything, it made her seem like an actress flake but I don’t think it ever threatened to cancel her. There were plenty before her. Lastly, we need a video on Glenda Jackson. :)

I'm kicking myself for not realizing that's Shirley Maclaine in Only Murders. She's one of my faves in Steel Magnolias (honestly maybe my fave after Sally Field). Additionally, this video told me that Shirley Maclaine is someone I need to watch to complete a lot of pre-2000s movies I've heard great things about for ages, like The Turning Point, Sweet Charity, Defending Your Life, and, of course, Terms of Endearment. Basically all that I come to this channel for wrapped into one! Great Twitter discourse jokes, realizing "omg wait she's her?!", and leaving with a list of amazing movies to catch up on. Great work as always!

Shirley MacLaine has always been one of my favourites! Sweet Charity is one of my fave musicals of all time and so undeniably Sixties and she is the most charming, adorable, hilarious character. Everyone should watch it.

I love you. This was exactly how I needed to wake up this morning. ♥️ Your channel is so rich and nourishing that the experience for this 54 year old queen is as exciting as sitting alone in that little chair at the end of a stack for hours in the public library at 13, 14 and 15 reading Pauline Kael books cover to cover.

I love, love, love Shirley! Thank you for this video in Honor of this Movie Legend. May she stay healthy a little longer. And "Only murders .." is fabulous and should not be missed

your fake twitter reads were scarily on point and i loved learning about a new actor. another great video!

I have no clue how I didn’t know about Shirley’s new age beliefs until today but honestly it kinda makes me love her. And the “Twitter discourse” bit is peak comic writing in every single detail from the usernames to the text. Brava!

I can’t believe I watched the whole thing and not ONCE did you mention Two Mules for Sister Sarah!!! 😂😂😂 thank you for doing such a great piece on her, I love it!

I ALWAYS forget her and Warren Beatty are siblings. I know it. Have known for years. Yet when it’s brought up I have a moment of “wait, what?”

Your Dolly Parton video got me to watch Steel Magnolias and I wasnt prepared for that emotional journey haha. This video makes me want to watch Terms of Endearment but I'm scared.

Another great contextualization of a great actress and fantastic film! I’ve always loved Shirley McClaine and felt she was a little oddly underrated. This also reminded me to watch the new season of OMITB!

After knocking around Hollywood for nearly 30 years, MacLaine had cemented herself within the ranks of the film industry and represented the irresistible and inevitable, much like force majeure: simply, it was her time and her year to win. Save for Vivien Leigh's taking the Oscar for Gone with the Wind, I doubt there are few Oscar wins more certain than MacLaine's.

YESSSSSSSS. As someone introduced to maclaine via parodies of her persona (namely the animaniacs theme song) its been an incredible lifelong journey discovering that yes she was an icon for her talent first. Her performance in the apartment imo is lightyears ahead of its time-its almost hard to believe its in black and white. i also think its interesting this opened with only murders in the building. I feel like that show is very classic in its set up-ive been saying it could be an early 60s movie w/ hope and crosby reuniting and gomez channeling the kind of archetype maclaine or audrey hepburn could have played.

It’s a Sunday and BKR releases a new video. It’s indeed a treat! 👏🏽

If you haven't seen "Defending Your Life", great comedy with Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep, there's an AMAZING gag about Shirley's reincarnation beliefs. It's a great movie, but I like that her scene in the film shows she can poke fun at herself (and has a sense of humor), she seems like a cool lady. Edit: my bad for not watching the very end of the video, her cameo from “defending your life” is there :) good stuff!!!

"The Apartment" is my all time favorite Christmas movie. The chemistry is off the charts.

I would legit watch six seasons & a movie of _Shirley Logan._

I love Shirley MacLaine, and I really enjoyed this exploration of her. As usual, your editing and writing is excellent. Also, holy shit, can you imagine having the audacity to fart in Shirley MacLaine’s face?! Wow.

Shirley MacLaine is just amazing in everything she does. She has such range and versatility. I think she is a living legend and I do feel that Oscar was a longtime coming. I feel like she got as the Academy was saying: "We get it. Here Shirley, here it is, we hope it is not too late." Hopefully they extend that to Glenn Close soon.

It's an absolute sin not to mention What A Way To Go. She's hysterical in it. I feel like it also says a lot about her "type." She's been very glamorous, but in very campy way, and she's clearly in on the joke. (Basically the joke being that she wasn't Marilyn or Elizabeth Taylor.) She wasn't so much de-glamming, because even when she played parts with more glamorous wardrobes, she was always a "regular girl" who somehow ended up in glamorous clothes, but usually of questionable taste. (see also: Sweet Charity, and Irma La Douce.)

I have such a fondness for Ms. MacLaine. She's like a pixie who decided to become human one day. She really was great in The Children's Hour. She did the best she could within the constraints of the stupid-ass code and the proto-bury-your-gays ending. I'm an Audrey Hepburn fan first and foremost, but she was frankly out-shined by SM. While I've always found her past life stuff bizarre, fundies scoffing at other people's religious/spiritual beliefs will never not be amusing/bemusing to me. Believe what you'd like, but talk about throwing stones in a glass house.

YAAAAS! I've been WAITING for you to do a video on this. I just recently saw Terms of Endearment for the first time and immediately came to your channel to see if you had a video on it, Shirley MacLaine or Debra Winger. Was shocked when I couldn't find any videos on any of them. Thank you for this! LOVE your content. Be well!

I grew up in the 1990's-2000's, seeing her on TV and regularly in movies; and watching her earlier movies on TCM. In short, Shirley Maclaine can do no wrong.

The "Liza Minelli has outlived" account cracks me up all the time and even tho this was satire, you managed to make satire of satire just so scrumptous! The "meta" of it all!!! Shout out to the "i'm tired ya'll" trope of everyone who gatekeeps everything being exhausted constantly LOL. Welp, maybe stop gatekeeping!

i spent TWO HOURS trying to find your channel. So glad I was able to find it again

Jennifer Lawrence reminds me a lot of a young 50's/60's era Shirley MacLaine. The difference now is that Hollywood can't seem to craft movies around actors like like they did with MacLaine and Jack Lemmon back then. Or the way they did later with Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. But if they did now Jennifer Lawrence would be a bonafide boxoffice movie star.

I love Shirley SO MUCH and I’m beyond excited that she’s gaining a whole new audience and is finally being appreciated

so awesome BKR! admire and enjoy your entire canon. PLEASE please keep these coming! 💋

Such a cool deep-dive. I recently gave Irma La Douce a shot after years of curiosity and was surprised by how much I actually liked it. The musical it's sorta/sorta-not based on has a wonderful score and as a super fan of Piaf, I was enchanted by the Marguerite Monnot of it all, and for whatever reason I find the story really fun and silly and entertaining. Shirley MacLaine's take was special, and I'm sad the reception has been spotty since, even by her own account. Her work in The Children's Hour and Sweet Charity are also very special, I concur. For Oscars '83, I'd have thrown a vote to Jane Alexander who I found riveting in one of the more bleak and gripping films on the theme that came about during that era (only Threads and When the Wind Blows come close I think). But I digress. As always, your work is incredible and I remain a mega-fan. Keep it up! x

Finally, a video about her! She's not talked about enough, some people did not even praise her (as far as I know) in the Children's Hour. My favorite from both her and Audrey Hepburn.

I always wait with anticipation for your videos. Your video essays on actresses are like candy for cinema junkies like myself. Thank you 🙏

i was literally thinking yesterday how i've been wanting more shirley maclaine and then you post this! perfect timing! i love your videos!

That was wonderful - thank you. Enjoyed all the clips along with the narration. You worked your a** off on this one and it shows. Thx again.

So happy you snuck in her "Defending Your Life" cameo at the end. That scene cracks me up to this day.

Thank you so, so much for this wonderful video essay on Shirley. One of the greatest living stars and Terms of Endearment is a masterpiece.

I also like a good nun movie and I also don't know why exactly. Maybe b/c I didn't grow up with real nuns. Black Narcissus is a gem! The Trouble with Angels also unexpectedly good. The Nun's Story is great.

Another fantastic dive into a Hollywood legends. Love your videos...ebery single one! Guilty of watching all of them multiple times...discovering things I missed. Thanks for keeping Hollywood history alive, and to reflect on its past and future.

When Be Kind Rewind uploads: you know it’s gonna be a good day! ☺️

I'm obsessed with the thumbnail for this and Miyoshi Umeki's videos, with the other nominees in the different numbers of the year

I remember the talk about how she and Debra Winger didn't get along on the set, and as you note it totally works for their characters' dynamics, but it's also interesting because they spend much of the movie apart after the daughter moves to Nebraska, which also probably helped their chemistry when they did appear in scenes together. I also remember HATING Jeff Daniels as Emma's no good husband, although he's a good enough actor to bring depth to a character that is almost irredeemably horrible. Thank you also for the brief on-screen glimpse of one of MacLaine's not-so-good movies, the deeply flawed "Change of Seasons," with Anthony Hopkins and Bo Derek. The college scenes in that film were shot on my campus, so I got to see it every year while at school, and we would just jeer through it, especially when they shot locations in a way that was physically impossible (at one point Derek rounds a corner and goes from one end of campus to the other).

I remember watching this film visiting family in Escondido Ca. The audience was geriatric and everyone was sobbing. I then knew “she’s going to win the Oscar” and she did😄👍🏼

Can't believe I'm on RU-vid at exactly the right time for once! Gonna watch this right away!

One of her best performances is in Being There. She really brings a lot to that movie. I love What A Way To Go too, so I'm glad to see that included here. Great work. Thanks.

Can I tell thee how much I absolutely adore your videos. It’s long overdue, but thank you 🙏 💗

The path for MacLaine’s best selling spiritual book was paved by the Beatles trip to India, as well as inner exploration off shoots of the hippie movement, the drug revolution, feminism and the Oscar winning movie “Gandhi”, with its Hindu protagonist, which came out in 1982. - Do a RU-vid search for videos for meditation or yoga & multiple titles will be listed. - BKR is right that Shirley, like Jane Fonda, had found a self improvement business opportunity and they both successfully ran with it. - As for the jokes, what very famous celebrity doesn’t receive ridicule. I can’t think of one. * As usual BKR does a top notch job with the research about Shirley and her well deserved win.

Whenever I see a CBS Sunday Morning fluff piece about looking back at a star or an era, I think about how disappointing and empty those segments feel compared to thoughtful, informative, well-researched pieces like this. I wish they had segment producers like you! Thanks for all the quality videos!

I love your videos, they’re so well researched and interesting, thank you.

LOVE all of your videos. So glad you are doing this full time now, you are unequalled in what you do!

I'm always so happy when I get a notification from your channel!

25:50 Ah I love this film and Julie Walters's performance. Remember that sad pub scene when everybody's singing and she's just sinking? I really need to re-watch this.

Great piece! I’ve always loved Shirley MacLaine! And I loved Out on a Limb!

I have waited this for so long... And now it's here. And it's my birthday in two hours... I'm so happy before even seeing this. Because the quality will overwhelm me... As always.

I’m glad to see the children’s hour getting some love. It’s highly problematic for various reasons but Shirley and Audrey are great.

Walters was a very deserving nomination indeed. It was a crowded year for actresses in 1983 another expected nomination was Bonnie Bedelia in "Heart Like a Wheel" the story of real life racecar driver Shirley Muldowny an amazing performance! Also, Oscar winner Anne Bancroft in "To Be Or Not To Be" a dynamic comedic performance! No other actress nominated or not could touch Maclaine that year! It was 100% her Oscar! P.S. Actress Jennifer Jones (Oscar winner "Song of Bernadette") owned the movie rights since the book's publication and intended to play Aurora herself but director James L. Brooks felt she wasn't right for a number of reasons mostly because she couldn't convincingly play the new mother Aurora in the beginning of the movie. A polite way of saying she was too old!

So happy you brought up Defending Your Life at the end. I was waiting for it 😁

Steel Magnolias, Terms of Endearment, Postcards From The Edge, The Turning Point, The Apartment and Sweet Charity are some of my favorite Shirley MacLaine movies. Especially The Turning Point because Anne Bancroft was also in it 😍

Honestly your twitter posts are both spot on and hilarious!

Thank you for another intelligent and funny and insightful presentation! I do think “the apartment” is a most brilliant work of art. It certainly treads that line between comedy and tragedy, another work of genius from Billy Wilder. But it would not have been possible without Shirley McClain. She and Jack Lemmon give performances that should be in contention for “Best Actor Ever” award. I remember when “out on a limb” first came out. My mom and my sister were both interested in some of that same exploration and I think the bottom line of that whole part of her life/career/persona is that she was just being honest in exploring something and, forgive me, going out on a limb. While there are some rather unintentionally humorous bits of that story, I do think it’s her innate honesty that came through in all her roles. Her capacity as an actress is breathtaking and I think a lot of what happens to any of us, but especially an actor, has to do with luck, or maybe Fortune is a better word. And I think if you combine great talent and good fortune, you could explain the career of an unforgettable actress like Shirley MacLaine. Thank you! ps OMG about the nuns! Nice Jewish boy will go out on a limb and say that in a past life or three, he absolutely was a nun. How else does one explain Instant identification with “The Nuns Story” (if anyone ever wants to challenge Audrey Hepburn’s skill as an actress, just direct them there because clearly they’ve never seen it) “Bells of Saint Marys“ “Black Narcissus”, and I will add “Conspiracy of Hearts“ which I’m afraid to watch again because I don’t want to be disillusioned if it doesn’t hold up (Lili Palmer, 1960).

Another Banger Video! Such a great job!

After Winona Ryder and Louise Brooks, I think Mrs. MacLaine on The Apartment is the most beautiful woman witn short hair I've seen on the screen... Another great talent recovered!! Great as usual!! Thanx, BKR!!

I have been waiting for this video for a long time!

A new vídeo this Sunday morning, feels like Christmas morning!

EXCITED to see you post!!! Love your content. ❤💞❤💞❤💞❤💞❤

I grew up in the 1960s and enjoyed Maclaine's charming performances in "What A Way To Go", "Sweet Charity", and especially "Gambit". I watched her television show faithfully for the brief period in which it aired, and returned several times to witness her and Anne Bancroft batting each other around in "The Turning Point". Unfortunately, after "Terms of Endearment", she fell victim to playing variations of Aurora Greenway for the remainder of her career. Did others typecast her, or did she make this choice on her own? I can empathize with a performer if she takes what is offered, but the crotchety old lady meant to be charming routine became tiresome. Still, there is a great deal to enjoy overall from Shirley Maclaine.

As always, perfection. 👏👏👏 Thank you for all your incredible work.

Now you know I love anytime you upload anything

Brilliant, as always, Izzy! But I thought that Bonnie Bedelia was also a strong contender for a nomination that year for Heart Like a Wheel. And I truly enjoy seeing the tension between MacLaine and Winger play out on screen, as it really did work for those characters. Any chance of a deep dive on Winger's career at some point?

I have been waiting for this!! 💖💖💖💖

Your videos are Great 😫🥰 and very well put together! Thank you

I laughed out loud at the de-glaming bit. Thank you so much !

Omg those tweets are spot on 🤣🤣 great video as always

Your channel is a treasure and you are a rock star 🙏🏼

MacLaine's Oscar acceptance speech is one of my favorites as well! But I'm writing this comment mostly to give you kudos for the twitter reaction segment of this video... freaking brilliant and hilarious :)

Great post! I personally think " Postcards from the Edge" is an acting and comedic showcase for both Meryl & Shirley. I can rewatch anytime!

Great video as always, thankyou! x

I-I genuinely did not know what I expected at the end of that behind-the-scenes anecdote, but it was not a fart in the face. And the constant backhanded remarks actresses have to deal with the second they reach a day past 40…just wild in the worst way. And byeeeee the Twitter discourse section was perfect. I adore so much from these videos (like always coming away with a deeper understanding and/or appreciation for actresses I may or not have have seen) and there’s always these smaller awards and film history details I get from these videos too (e.g. like not only the story above, Streisand’s snubbing being a retaliation). Anyways, anyways, thanks again for another upload!

I love her in Bernie! I don't know if you've read the article by Skip Hollisworth in Texas Monthly called "Lights! Camera! Carthage!" about the move but there are some great anecdotes about her in there 😁👍🏽