January 21, 1977 – The Live-Action Feature Film Freaky Friday is Generally Released
“I wish I could switch places with her for just one day…”
On January 21, 1977, the live-action feature film Freaky Friday was generally released, after it played in select cities since December 17, 1976. The film was based on the 1972 children’s novel of the same name by Mary Rodgers, who also wrote the screenplay for the film. The lead song of the film, “I’d Like to Be You for a Day,” written by Joel Hirschhorn and Al Kasha, was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song – Motion Picture. Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris were also each nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Neither Harris nor Foster did any of the waterskiing in the film, but instead did cutaway shots in front of a rear projection screen. The film was directed by Gary Nelson, and starred Jodie Foster as Annabel Andrews, Barbara Harris as Ellen Andrews, John Astin as Bill Andrews, Sparky Marcus as Ben Andrews, and Marc McClure as Boris Harris.
The story begins on Friday the 13th with Annabel Andrews narrating the story, introducing the audience to her life and her family. She adores her father, and notes that she and her mom have not been getting along lately. As Annabel leaves for school, her mother intercepts her, and the two have a tense conversation which seems to be a holdover from a fight the night before. Her mother, Ellen, tries to talk to her husband, Bill, who doesn’t seem to take her opinions seriously. Annabel goes to the local diner to meet her best friend, Virginia. As Annabel and her mother complain about the other, simultaneously they wish to be in each other’s place for just one day. Suddenly, Annabel finds herself smoking a cigarette at home, and Ellen finds herself eating an ice-cream sundae at the diner.
When “Annabel” calls home to check on “Ellen,” Bill reports that Ellen is acting rather odd
Ellen tries to call home to see what has happened, and Bill reports that “Ellen” is now acting strangely. Annabel tells Ellen not to worry about her, and informs her that she has a big typing test and the field hockey playoffs that day. Ellen hangs up the phone and greets Annabel’s friends, but ends up making them laugh as she tries to explain her situation. At home, Annabel has to take care of her little brother and cater to the whims of her husband, who finds her Annabel-like behavior increasingly odd. The two begin to explore each other’s lives, with Annabel trying all of her mother’s makeup, and Ellen taking the bus to school.
Unfortunately for the two, things don’t get easier through the day; Annabel has problems with the washing machine, while Ellen ends up blowing up all the typewriters in the typing class. Annabel finds herself overwhelmed with all of the chores that have to be done and all the visitors that arrive at the house, including the housekeeper, the car repairman, carpet cleaners, drapery cleaners, and the grocery deliveryman. At band rehearsal, Ellen has no idea where to go or what to play, disrupting the entire formation. Finding herself bored with housework, Annabel calls up her crush, her neighbor Boris, hoping to talk herself up while in her mother’s body. Unfortunately, Annabel only succeeds in having Boris fall for Ellen rather than Annabel. Ellen gets in over her head when it comes to the field hockey match, and leads the team to a loss.
Bill volunteers his wife to cater for twenty-five people, and Annabel has no idea how to cook
As Annabel plays ball with her little brother in the park, she discovers that he thinks Annabel is an amazing older sister. He worries that Annabel will only continue to hate him as they get older, but Annabel reassures him that it will be okay. When she gets home, she finds that Bill has been calling, desperate for her help, telling her that he’s volunteered her for catering his big event that evening. Ellen arrives at Bill’s work, meeting his new, young secretary, who dresses rather provocatively. Ellen intimidates the secretary, making her believe that “her mother” is rather frightening. The secretary then shows up with a rather unflattering look, terrified of the wrath of Ellen. At home, Annabel is trying to prepare the big meal for Bill’s event, when she gets a call that she’s late for meeting with her principal.
Ellen goes to Annabel’s orthodontist appointment and gets her braces off, and decides to give her daughter a makeover as well. As she leaves the store, she is kidnapped by the water-skiing team and taken away to her father’s big event, where “Annabel” is supposed to be the main attraction. Annabel meets with her principal, where she discovers that her teachers think she’s highly intelligent, but perhaps is rebelling against her mother. Chaos continues to ensue at home when the entire meal Annabel has been preparing burns up in the oven. Finding out that Ellen is at the marina, Annabel races to event, having to learn rather quickly how to drive. Ellen is sent flying into the water, not knowing how to water ski. At the same time, the two wish they had their own bodies back, and Ellen is waterskiing in her own body while Annabel is driving her mother’s car. After a police chase and a rather strange waterskiing routine, mother and daughter are reunited at the marina, and the two have a new appreciation for each other’s lives. The film ends with Bill and Ben wishing to be in the other’s shoes, with Ellen and Annabel hiding their faces in horror.
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