Butterflies Are Free is a 1972 American comedy-drama film based on the 1969 play by Leonard Gershe . The 1972 film was produced by M. J. Frankovich , released by Columbia Pictures , directed by Milton Katselas and adapted for the screen by Gershe. It was released on July 6, 1972, in the U.S. The film is about a woman, Jill Tanner, who moves into an apartment beside a blind man, Don Baker, who recently moved out independently. The two become attracted to each other and combine the divided apartment into one, but Don's mother tries to end the romance, fearing that Jill will break her son's heart.
52-605: Goldie Hawn and Edward Albert starred. Eileen Heckart received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 45th Academy Awards for her performance as Don's overly protective mother, Mrs. Florence Baker. While the original play was set in East Village, Manhattan , the screenplay written for the 1972 film was set in the 1355, 1355A, 1357, 1359 Grant Avenue building in North Beach, San Francisco . In
104-720: A ballet school, having dropped out of American University where she was majoring in drama. She made her professional dancing debut in a production of Can-Can at the Texas Pavilion of the New York World's Fair . She began working as a professional dancer a year later and appeared as a go-go dancer in New York City and at the Peppermint Box in New Jersey . Hawn moved to California to dance in
156-492: A change of heart and returns to Don. They reconcile, pledging to nurture a loving and dedicated relationship. As Don listens to "Butterflies Are Free," he sheds tears, a mixture of disappointment and relief. Variety wrote: "Although the setting has been changed from New York to San Francisco for no apparent reason, Leonard Gershe's screen adaptation of his successful Broadway play ... is an excellent example of how to switch from one medium to another without sacrificing any of
208-535: A critically panned but commercially successful film that paired Hawn with Mel Gibson . Hawn had mixed success in the early 1990s, with the thriller Deceived (1991), the drama CrissCross , and opposite Bruce Willis and Meryl Streep in Death Becomes Her (both 1992). Earlier that year, she starred in Housesitter , a screwball comedy with Steve Martin , which was a commercial success. Hawn
260-573: A leading role, in its 2020 sequel The Christmas Chronicles 2 . Hawn has studied meditation. In a 2012 interview, she stated, "I don't think of myself as a Buddhist . I was born Jewish , and I consider that my religion." She also stated, "It's not the idea of a particular religion that's important; it's the development of a spiritual life." Hawn is a supporter of the LGBT community . Speaking on nations such as Nigeria and others which have criminalized gay people, she denounced these laws, stating, "This
312-510: A montage. The special later went on to be nominated for a primetime Emmy. Four months later the film Foul Play (with Chevy Chase ), was released and became a box office smash, reviving Hawn's film career. The plot centered around an innocent woman in San Francisco who becomes mixed up in an assassination plot. Hawn's next film, Mario Monicelli 's Lovers and Liars (1979), was a box office bomb . In 1972, Hawn recorded and released
364-491: A pact they made, allowing him to live independently for two months without her interference. Jill, who had an early marriage at sixteen, reveals that she has sworn off commitments to avoid hurting people. She eventually learns that Don is blind. Jill shares her favorite quote with Don, thinking it is from Mark Twain. Don reveals that it is from Dickens' "Bleak House": "I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. Mankind will surely not deny to Harold Skimpole what it concedes to
416-677: A passionate but ultimately misunderstood encounter. The next day, Jill expresses her joy over their intimacy and shares her keepsake box's secrets with Don. Their moment is interrupted when Florence arrives unexpectedly, appalled by the living conditions and Jill's presence in her underwear. Florence berates Don and questions Jill's suitability. Florence decides to cut off financial support and begins packing Don's belongings to take him home. Despite Don's objections, Florence extends an invitation to Jill for lunch, hoping to convince her to end her involvement with Don. However, Jill defends her relationship with him, emphasizing that Florence tends to focus on
468-483: A radio disc jockey, with a stereotypical " dumb blonde " personality. Her next role, which brought her to international attention, was also as a dumb blonde, as one of the regular cast members on the 1968–1973 sketch comedy show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In . Hawn often broke out into high-pitched giggles in the middle of a joke, then delivered a polished performance a moment after. Noted equally for her chipper attitude as for her bikini-attired and painted body, Hawn
520-538: A relationship. In 2003, Hawn founded the Hawn Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides youth education programs intended to improve academic performance through "life-enhancing strategies for well-being". The Hawn Foundation has supported research studies conducted by external researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of its educational program for children, called MindUP. Vincent Canby Vincent Canby (July 27, 1924 – October 15, 2000)
572-537: A show at Melodyland Theatre , a theater in the round across from Disneyland , joining the chorus of Pal Joey and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying during the June 14 to September 1966 season. Hawn began her acting career as a cast member of the short-lived sitcom Good Morning World during the 1967–1968 television season, her role being that of the girlfriend of
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#1732802142803624-431: A solo country LP for Warner Brothers , titled Goldie . It was recorded with the help of Dolly Parton and Buck Owens . AllMusic gives the album a favorable review, calling it a "sweetly endearing country-tinged middle of the road pop record". Hawn's popularity continued into the 1980s, starting with another primetime variety special alongside actress and singer Liza Minnelli , Goldie and Liza Together (1980), which
676-565: A stylish ensemble to boost his self-assurance. At their apartments, Don shares the story of Florence's children's books featuring the character "Donnie Dark," a young blind superhero. Despite his mother's intentions to inspire him, Don felt inadequate under her high expectations. Jill empathizes with Don's disappointment in love and suggests they open the door connecting their apartments as a gesture of friendship. Attracted to Don, Jill offers for him to touch her face, allowing him to "see" her. However, an accidental mishap with her accessories leads to
728-476: A television special hosted by Bobbie Gentry and Noel Harrison . Other guests were Meredith MacRae , Irwin C. Watson , Rod McKuen , Shirley Bassey and Harpers Bizarre . After Hawn's Academy Award win, her film career took off. She starred in a string of successful comedies starting with There's a Girl in My Soup (1970), $ (1971), and Butterflies Are Free (1972). She continued proving herself in
780-641: Is an American actress. She rose to fame on the NBC sketch comedy program Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968–1970), before going on to receive the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Cactus Flower (1969). Hawn appeared in such films as There's a Girl in My Soup (1970), Butterflies Are Free (1972), The Sugarland Express (1974), Shampoo (1975), Foul Play (1978), Seems Like Old Times (1980), and Private Benjamin (1980), for which she
832-475: Is creditable as the blind boy, and Eileen Heckart is appropriately hateful as the mother, although she is unable to be convincing in her transformation. But then nobody could be." The film holds a score of 67% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 12 reviews. The film was rated in M in New Zealand and Australia where it was previously rated PG. Goldie Hawn Goldie Jeanne Hawn (born November 21, 1945)
884-493: Is in the service of the kind of sentimentality that shrivels the mind, like something left in water too long." Charles Champlin of the Los Angeles Times wrote that "a very well-made commercial play—funny, sentimental, positive, tight—has become a well-made commercial movie—light, bright, extremely well and personably acted, and preserving the intimacy and the unity which were the virtues of the play." Gene Siskel of
936-668: Is man's inhumanity to man, of the first order." Hawn's pre-fame boyfriends included actor Mark Goddard and singer Spiro Venduras. Her first husband was dancer (later director) Gus Trikonis , who appeared as a Shark in West Side Story . They married on May 16, 1969, in Honolulu and separated on April 9, 1973. Hawn then dated stuntman Ted Grossman, Swedish actor Bruno Wintzell and Italian actor Franco Nero , but did not file for divorce from Trikonis until New Year's Eve 1975, after becoming engaged to musician Bill Hudson of
988-416: Is nothing to brag about, but I doubt if one could transpose it much more adroitly and presentably. Instead of inflating or vulgarising this frail property, Katselas tries to keep it intimate and engaging." John Gillett of The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote "Occasionally it is all rather twee, plumping for the easy emotional response and the easy tear; yet much of the writing has sharpness and bite, notably in
1040-474: Is the mother of actors Oliver Hudson , Kate Hudson , and Wyatt Russell . She has been in a relationship with Kurt Russell since 1983. In 2003, she founded The Hawn Foundation, which educates underprivileged children. Hawn was born in Washington, D.C. to Laura (née Steinhoff), a jewelry shop/dance school owner, and Edward Rutledge Hawn, a musician and conductor who was a descendent of Edward Rutledge ,
1092-696: The Chicago Tribune gave the film three stars out of four and wrote that "one of the attractive aspects of Butterflies Are Free is that each of the three characters is incomplete and flawed. To that degree the Leonard Gershe screenplay approaches believability, and this is a rare quality for a tear-jerker to have." Gary Arnold of The Washington Post stated "While the material is essentially shallow and often insufferable in its sentimental opportunism, Gershe and Katselas demonstrate some theatrical talent and mechanical aptitude ... The play itself
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#17328021428031144-540: The 1976 release of the romantic comedy western The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox , while she was focusing on her marriage and the birth of her son. On the special she performed show tunes and comedy bits alongside comic legend George Burns , teen matinee idol Shaun Cassidy , television star John Ritter (during his days on Three's Company ), and even the Harlem Globetrotters joined her for
1196-612: The Hudson Brothers , whom she'd met the previous summer on a first-class flight from New York to Los Angeles. Hawn was granted a divorce in June 1976 and married Hudson on July 3 in Takoma Park, Maryland . They had two children, son Oliver (born September 7, 1976) and daughter Kate (born April 19, 1979). Hudson filed for divorce on August 15, 1980. Hawn subsequently had romances with French actor Yves Rénier and Moroccan businessman Victor Drai . The divorce from Hudson
1248-716: The Jedi , Night of the Living Dead , After Hours , Blazing Saddles , A Christmas Story , Witness , Mask , The Natural , Rain Man , The Exorcist , One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest , Deliverance , The Godfather Part II , Alien and The Thing . Among the best-known texts written by Canby was an extremely negative review of the movie Heaven's Gate by Michael Cimino . In December 1994, Canby switched his attention from film to theatre, having been named
1300-572: The Mud , was published. In 2013, Hawn guest-starred, along with Gordon Ramsay , in an episode of Phineas and Ferb , in which she provided the voice of neighbor Peggy McGee. In 2017, Hawn returned to the big screen for the first time since 2002, co-starring with Amy Schumer in the comedy Snatched , playing mother and daughter. In 2018, Hawn cameoed as Mrs. Claus in the Netflix film The Christmas Chronicles . She played Mrs. Claus again, in
1352-627: The Sunday theatre critic. He was replaced as the Times' chief film critic by Janet Maslin . Canby was also an occasional playwright and novelist, penning the novels Living Quarters (1975) and Unnatural Scenery (1979) and the plays End of the War (1978), After All (1981) and The Old Flag (1984), a drama set during the American Civil War . The career of Vincent Canby is discussed in
1404-666: The aging, alcoholic actress Elise Elliot in the financially and critically successful The First Wives Club , opposite Bette Midler and Diane Keaton , with whom she covered the Lesley Gore hit " You Don't Own Me " for the film's soundtrack. Hawn also performed a cover version of the Beatles ' song, " A Hard Day's Night ", on George Martin 's 1998 album, In My Life . She starred in Woody Allen's musical Everyone Says I Love You (1996) and reunited with Steve Martin for
1456-427: The bohemian San Francisco of the early 1970s, 19-year-old Jill Tanner returns to her apartment one day to discover her new neighbor, 20-year-old aspiring songwriter Don Baker, peering through a window. Through their paper-thin walls, she overhears him arguing with his overprotective mother, Florence. Intrigued, Jill introduces herself to Don. Don explains that his frequent phone conversations with Florence revolve around
1508-561: The butterflies." Don improvises a song and begins strumming "Butterflies Are Free" on his guitar. Jill continues to inquire about Don's life as a blind individual, and Don supports her in developing confidence in her inquiries. Together, they explore a bohemian clothing store on Union Street, and receive assistance from the owner, Roy, in choosing free-spirited and liberating fashion pieces. While talking to Don, Jill shares her upcoming audition with theater director Ralph Santore, who has romantic interests. Acting on Jill's suggestion, Don purchases
1560-656: The comedy The Out-of-Towners (1999), a remake of the 1970 Neil Simon hit . The film was critically panned and was a box office failure. In 1997, Hawn, along with her co-stars from The First Wives Club , Diane Keaton and Bette Midler , received the Women in Film Crystal Awards . In 1999, she was awarded Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year . In 2001, Hawn was reunited with former co-stars Warren Beatty (her co-star in $ and Shampoo ) and Diane Keaton for
1612-477: The comedy Town & Country , a critical and financial fiasco. Budgeted at an estimated US$ 90 million, the film opened to little notice and grossed only $ 7 million in its North American theatrical release. In 2002, she starred in The Banger Sisters , opposite Susan Sarandon and Geoffrey Rush , her last live action film for fifteen years. In 2005 Hawn's autobiography, A Lotus Grows in
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1664-477: The dramatic league in 1974 with the satirical dramas The Girl from Petrovka and Steven Spielberg 's theatrical debut The Sugarland Express . She then co-starred in Hal Ashby 's classic satire Shampoo (1975). She also hosted two television specials: Pure Goldie in 1971 and The Goldie Hawn Special in 1978. The latter was a sort of comeback for Hawn, who had been out of the spotlight for two years since
1716-508: The film For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism by contemporary critics such as The Nation ' s Stuart Klawans , who talks of Canby's influence. Canby never married, but was, for many years, the companion of English author Penelope Gilliatt , who died in 1993. He died from cancer at a hospital in Manhattan on October 15, 2000. Almost three years later, upon
1768-536: The image of herself in an Army uniform and she loved what the movie had to say. Private Benjamin also stars Eileen Brennan and Armand Assante and garnered Hawn her second Academy Award nomination, this time for Best Actress. Hawn's box office success continued with comedies like Seems Like Old Times (1980), written by Neil Simon ; Best Friends (1982), written by Valerie Curtin and Barry Levinson ; Protocol (1984), co-written by Nancy Meyers; Wildcats (1986)—Hawn also served as executive producer on
1820-475: The initial meetings between Jill and Don, when they talk out their pasts together and improvise meals on the floor." Time pointed out the talent of Goldie Hawn, stating: "Goldie Hawn, as the girl next door, has come a long way from her giddy role in Laugh-In ; she is often genuinely touching." Time praised the acting of both Edward Albert and Eileen Heckart: "Edward Albert, the son of Actor Eddie Albert ,
1872-452: The inspiration behind the "Donnie Dark" books as her way of helping him confront his fears, and she must now do the same for herself, albeit with sadness. They eventually come to terms with their evolving roles in life and make amends. Jill rushes back in, revealing her apprehensions about hurting Don. A dispute erupts between them regarding her departure, with Don insisting that she is the one emotionally handicapped. She departs, but later has
1924-533: The latter two; and the World War II romantic drama Swing Shift (1984). At the age of thirty-nine, Hawn posed for the cover of Playboy 's January 1985 issue and was the subject of the Playboy Interview . Her last film of the 1980s was opposite partner Kurt Russell , for the third time, in the comedy Overboard (1987). In 1990, she starred in the action comedy Bird on a Wire ,
1976-409: The need for a nude scene in her upcoming play, and Ralph inadvertently offends Florence, who hails from a wealthy background. Jill further embarrasses Don by suggesting that he touch Ralph's face to appreciate his handsomeness. After Jill and Ralph leave, a disheartened Don implores Florence to take him back home. However, she reminds him that sighted men also go through heartbreak. Florence then shares
2028-473: The negative aspects. Jill conveys that while she might not be the perfect match for Don, her presence has not diminished his self-confidence. Later that night, as Don and Florence await Jill's return, Florence admits to having spoken with Jill earlier. Don accuses Florence of attempting to push Jill away. When Jill eventually arrives, she is accompanied by Ralph. Jill hesitates as she shares her decision to move in with Ralph, igniting rising tensions. Don questions
2080-452: The qualities which makes the original version such a success." The review further praises the acting of Goldie Hawn, saying: "Miss Hawn, funny and touching, is a delight throughout and Miss Heckart finally gets another film role that enables her to display the versatility that has been evident for a long time in her stage roles." Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote: "The film is not completely without intelligence, but its intelligence
2132-626: The two became friends. He introduced Styron to the works of E.B. White and Ernest Hemingway ; the pair hitchhiked to Richmond to buy For Whom the Bell Tolls . He became an ensign in the United States Navy Reserve on October 13, 1942, and reported aboard the Landing Ship, Tank 679 on July 15, 1944. He was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) on January 1, 1946, while on LST 679 sailing near Japan. After
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2184-633: The verge of breaking up. During the alleged separations, Hawn was linked to newsman Charles Glass and Pakistani former cricketer and former Prime Minister, Imran Khan . Hawn and Russell, who celebrated 40 years together in 2023, own homes in Vancouver , Snowmass , Manhattan , Santa Ynez Valley , Brentwood ; and Palm Desert . Hawn has revealed that she has no plans to marry Russell, stating that she "would have been long divorced if [she'd] been married," and that she and Russell chose to stay together and they do not feel that marriage "cements"
2236-487: The war, he attended Dartmouth College , but did not graduate. He obtained his first job as a journalist in 1948 for the Chicago Journal of Commerce . In 1951, he left Chicago for New York and was employed as a film critic by Variety for six years, before beginning to work for The New York Times . In February 1969, he was designated The New York Times ' film critic, succeeding Renata Adler . Canby
2288-511: The youngest signatory of the Declaration of Independence. She was named after her mother's aunt. She has one sister, entertainment publicist Patti Hawn; their brother, Edward Jr., died in infancy before Patti was conceived. The girls were unaware of their deceased brother's existence growing up. Her father was a Presbyterian of German and English descent. Her mother was Jewish , the daughter of Jewish immigrants from Hungary . Hawn
2340-402: Was absent from the screen for four years while caring for her mother, who died of cancer in 1994. Hawn made her entry back into film as producer of the satirical comedy Something to Talk About starring Julia Roberts and Dennis Quaid and made her directorial debut in the television film Hope (1997) starring Christine Lahti and Jena Malone . Hawn returned to the screen again in 1996 as
2392-566: Was an American film and theatre critic who served as the chief film critic for The New York Times from 1969 until the early 1990s, then its chief theatre critic from 1994 until his death in 2000. He reviewed more than one thousand films during his tenure there. Canby was born in Chicago, the son of Katharine Anne (née Vincent) and Lloyd Canby. He attended boarding school in Christchurch, Virginia , with novelist William Styron , and
2444-494: Was an enthusiastic supporter of only specific styles of filmmakers, notably Stanley Kubrick , Spike Lee , Jane Campion , Mike Leigh , Rainer Werner Fassbinder , James Ivory and Woody Allen , who credited Canby's rave review of Take the Money and Run as a crucial point in his career. On the other hand, Canby was also highly critical of some otherwise acclaimed films, such as Rocky , The Empire Strikes Back , Return of
2496-466: Was finalized in March 1982. Hawn has been in a relationship with Kurt Russell since Valentine's Day 1983. The couple first met while filming The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band in 1967, but became involved after reconnecting on the set of Swing Shift . They have a son together, Wyatt (born July 10, 1986). In 2000 and again in 2004, news outlets reported that Hawn and Russell were on
2548-507: Was nominated for four Emmy Awards . In the same year, Hawn took the lead role in Private Benjamin , a comedy she co-produced with her friend Nancy Meyers , who co-wrote the script. Meyers recalls Hawn's reaction when she first described the idea for the story with Hawn as its lead: It was like watching the greatest audience I've ever seen. She laughed and then she got real emotional and her eyes would fill up with tears. She loved
2600-565: Was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing the title role. She later starred in Overboard (1987), Bird on a Wire (1990), Death Becomes Her (1992), Housesitter (1992), The First Wives Club (1996), The Out-of-Towners (1999), and The Banger Sisters (2002). Hawn made her return to film with roles in Snatched (2017), The Christmas Chronicles (2018), and The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020). Hawn
2652-538: Was raised Jewish in Takoma Park, Maryland , and attended Montgomery Blair High School in nearby Silver Spring, Maryland . Hawn began taking ballet and tap dance lessons at the age of three and danced in the corps de ballet of the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo production of The Nutcracker in 1955. She made her stage debut in 1964, playing Juliet in a Virginia Shakespeare Festival production of Romeo and Juliet . In 1964, Hawn ran and taught in
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#17328021428032704-733: Was seen as a 1960s "It" girl . Her Laugh-In persona was parlayed into three popular film appearances in the late 1960s and early 1970s: Cactus Flower , There's a Girl in My Soup , and Butterflies Are Free . Hawn made her film debut in a bit role as a giggling dancer in the 1968 film The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band , in which she was billed as "Goldie Jeanne", but in her first major film role, in Cactus Flower (1969), she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as Walter Matthau 's suicidal fiancée. The same year, she appeared in The Spring Thing ,
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