"Tootsie"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the American Film Institute chose the film "Tootsie" as one of it's one hundred best movies of the 20th Century, not only because of the impeccable comic timing of the ensemble crew, but also because of the ironic content of the story. The author points out that the real irony in this movie comes from the fact that Michael (actor Dustin Hoffman's character), who must dress and act as a woman to get an acting job, at the beginning truly of the film believes himself to be a feminist and a man who understands women. The paper relates that the use of cross-dressing as a way to bring characters together and to change a character from that of mildly misogynistic to a more understanding of the feminine condition as seen in "Tootsie" also was used in Billy Wilder's "Some Like it Hot".

From the Paper:

"If you are not familiar with the movie, I will give a brief synopsis here. Dustin Hoffman plays an actor who has gotten the reputation of being difficult and is therefore finding it hard to get work. Living from paycheck to paycheck, he eventually ends up dressing as a woman, not necessarily to the a part but more in order to soothe his bruised ego and prove that he can play a woman as well (or better) than any woman can. To his surprise he gets the part, and intrigued by the challenge (as well as the regular money) the position will offer, and he becomes a very popular character on this daytime drama show."

More papers on "Tootsie":

• Analytical Essay # 143045 : "Hershey and Tootsie Roll Industries"
• Analytical Essay # 1955 : "Hershey Foods Corporation and Tootsie Roll Industries"
• Essay # 35966 : "Tootsie"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: