A producers were criticized for merely nominating Timothy Hutton for Better Supporting Actor, since his role was a major role in the film.

This moving-picture show marked Mary Tyler Moore's career prison-breaking from either a stereotype of the weak-blithesome comedienne. Several felt that she did non win a Oscar for this role exclusively because it was therefore away from character for her.

Primary cast:
Donald Sutherland : Calvin Jarrett Mary Tyler Moore : Beth Jarrett Timothy Hutton : Conrad Jarrett Judd Hirsch : Dr. Tyrone C. Berger Elizabeth McGovern : Jeannine Pratt M. Emmet Walsh : Coach Salan Dinah Manoff : Karen

Trivia

Robert Redford and Timothy Hutton both won Academy Awards for their respective debuts: Redford as a director & Hutton as an actor.

Award wins: Academy Award for Best Picture Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Picture Academy Award for Directing - Robert Redford Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures - Robert Redford Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Robert Redford Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama – Mary Tyler Moore Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor - Timothy Hutton Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Timothy Hutton Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture – Male - Timothy Hutton Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay - Alvin Sargent WGA Award for Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium - Alvin Sargent

Award nominations: Academy Award for Best Actress - Mary Tyler Moore BAFTA Award for Best Actress - Mary Tyler Moore Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama - Donald Sutherland Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor - Judd Hirsch Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Judd Hirsch Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture - Alvin Sargent