To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1996)

14% of critics liked it
(28 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(6,046 ratings)

In this story of obsessive and enduring love, David Lewis (Peter Gallagher) spends most of his time swimming, dancing, and frolicking on the beach with the spirit of his dead wife Gillian (Michelle Pfeiffer). After Gillian's drowning death, David made their summer cottage on Nantucket Island into a… More In this story of obsessive and enduring love, David Lewis (Peter Gallagher) spends most of his time swimming, dancing, and frolicking on the beach with the spirit of his dead wife Gillian (Michelle Pfeiffer). After Gillian's drowning death, David made their summer cottage on Nantucket Island into a permanent home. He lives there with his teenage daughter Rachel (Claire Danes), who is being neglected because her father spends so much time with her dead mother's ghost. On the second anniversary of Gillian's death, over Labor Day weekend, he invites Gillian's sister Esther Wheeler (Kathy Baker) and Esther's husband Paul (Bruce Altman) for the weekend. David's in-laws bring with them a beautiful woman named Kevin Danford (Wendy Crewson), hoping that David's attentions will turn to her. But David ignores her and proceeds with his ritualistic celebration of Gillian's birthday, including a formal dinner, karaoke, and building sand castles. After Paul makes a pass at Rachel's young girlfriend, Esther and Paul re-examine their bickering marriage and find it paltry compared to David's overwhelming eternal passion. Nothing can interfere with David's love for Gillian, but he comes to realize that he must be more attentive to his daughter as well. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Michael Pressman
Written By: Michael Brady, David E. Kelley
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 18, 1996 Wide
On DVD: May 7, 2002
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, Variety
A bargian basement Ghost, a hybrid of the earnest nature of an inspirational play and the sleek calculation of a Lifetime TV movie.
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
Based upon a stageplay, the plot is very straightforward and predictable, and has no strong emotional payoffs, but the drama is stuffed with the feelings and confusions of grief and some viewers may find sufficient solace in that to respond to the film's
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Tries too hard to make the audience cry; practically each 'emotional' moment is highlighted by the soft musical sounds of a harp and wind section.
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online
Michelle Pfeiffer is appropriately cast as a ghost, but this meditation on death and remembrance is curiously spiritless.

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Featured Audience Ratings

♥Robyn

this movie is about a guy whose wife died and although she died two years ago, Gillian Lewis (Michelle Pfeiffer) is still very much alive for her grieving husband, David (Peter Gallagher who lives with his 16year old daughter on Nantucket island and spends time with his imaginary wife… More
this movie is about a guy whose wife died and although she died two years ago, Gillian Lewis (Michelle Pfeiffer) is still very much alive for her grieving husband, David (Peter Gallagher who lives with his 16year old daughter on Nantucket island and spends time with his imaginary wife every night on the beach. His life has basically stopped and his concerned sister in law (with husband and blind date for Peter) show up for the Labor Day Weekend. this movie is touching and moving as it deals with the emotions of letting go of the past and those left behind.
Leigh R

Beautiful.