Zack Elliot (Michael Ontkean) is a successful young doctor in LA married to Claire (Kate Jackson), a TV network executive. They have been married for eight years, are happy in their relationship, and they recently bought a big house with plans to start a family. If they have a boy, his name will be Rupert. Zack has been struggling with feelings of attraction to other men. He picks up men in his car and frequents gay bars in West Hollywood on his lunch hour, although he does not follow through sexually. This changes when he meets Bart McGuire (Harry Hamlin), a novelist who comes to see him for medical reasons. They become lovers, but Bart ends the relationship because he cannot commit. Claire finds out about Zack's gay life and eventually is willing to share him. But Zack wants a job in NYC and a divorce. The film ends a few years in the future, with the death of former neighbour Winnie Bates (Wendy Hiller). Zack is living in New York in a committed relationship with another man. He returns to LA for the funeral. Claire has re-married and has a young son named Rupert. After the funeral, Zack and Claire discuss their lives and express their gratitude that they are both happy.
This is one of the first Hollywood movies to take a positive view of homosexuality, and the first mainstream drama to address coming out and the effect that being closeted and coming out has on a marriage. According to gay film historian Vito Russo's book "The Celluloid Closet", straight critics found the film boring while gay critics, glad for any attention paid to the subject, praised the film. Leonard Rosenman composed the incidental music. Barry Sandler wrote the script based on A. Scott Berg's story, and Arthur Hiller directed.
This is one of the first Hollywood movies to take a positive view of homosexuality, and the first mainstream drama to address coming out and the effect that being closeted and coming out has on a marriage. According to gay film historian Vito Russo's book "The Celluloid Closet", straight critics found the film boring while gay critics, glad for any attention paid to the subject, praised the film. Leonard Rosenman composed the incidental music. Barry Sandler wrote the script based on A. Scott Berg's story, and Arthur Hiller directed.
