Seize the Day (1986)

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The PBS series Great Performances first presented the made-for-TV feature Seize the Day. The time is the success-driven '50s; Robin Williams plays Tommy Wilhelm, a middle-ager who has just lost his salesman's job. Margaret, his wife (Katherine Borowitz), is on the verge of divorce and fully intends… More The PBS series Great Performances first presented the made-for-TV feature Seize the Day. The time is the success-driven '50s; Robin Williams plays Tommy Wilhelm, a middle-ager who has just lost his salesman's job. Margaret, his wife (Katherine Borowitz), is on the verge of divorce and fully intends to take him to the cleaners whether he has an income or not. Doctor Adler (Joseph Wiseman), Tommy's judgmental father, cannot abide having a failure in the family and refuses to lend his son a single penny. In desperation, Tommy heads to New York City, where his old wheeler-dealer pal Dr. Tamkin (Jerry Stiller) has promised him a job. Even there, however, Tommy is defeated by the cold-shoulder treatment afforded him by the people whose opinions he values most. Seize the Day was adapted by Ronald Ribman from the novel by Saul Bellow. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Fielder Cook
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Sep 9, 1986 Wide
On DVD: Feb 18, 2003
Studio: HBO Video

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Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony V

Under rated Robin Williams performance.

Cast

            Robin Williams as Tommy Wilhelm

            Jerry Stiller as Dr. Tamkin

            Joseph Wiseman as Dr. Adler

            Glenne Headly as Olive

            William Hickey as Perls

            Tony Roberts as Bernie Pell

            Tom Aldredge as Rappaport

            Rose Arrick as Waitress

            Saul Bellow as Man in Hallway

            Katherine Borowitz as Margaret

            Fran Brill as Mother

            Kent Broadhurst as Trader #3

            James Cahill as Phil

            Mildred Clinton as Woman #2

            William Duell as Joey

            O.L. Duke as Funeral Home Attendant

            Fyvush Finkel as Shomier

            Jo Van Fleet as Mrs. Einhorn

            Walter Gorney as Panhandler

            Louis Guss as Rubin

            Eileen Heckart as Funeral Woman #1

            Jayne Heller as Mrs. Adler

            Carl Low as Rowland

            Elizabeth Perry as Funeral Woman #2

            Richard B. Shull as Rojax

            Joe Sharkey as Trader #2

            Stephen Strimpell as Stockbroker

            Allen Swift as Maurice Venice

            Paula Trueman as Woman #1

            Steve Vinovich as Zeigler

            John Fiedler as Carl

            Harry Davis as Elderly Man
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