Editing Longtime Companion

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name             = Longtime Companion
| image            = Longtime Companion poster.jpg
| caption          = Film poster
| director         = [[Norman René]]
| producer         = Stan Wlodkowski<br />[[Lydia Dean Pilcher]]<small>(co-producer)</small>
| writer           = [[Craig Lucas]]
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Stephen Caffrey (actor)|Stephen Caffrey]]
* [[Patrick Cassidy (actor)|Patrick Cassidy]]
* Brian Cousins
* [[Bruce Davison]]
* [[John Dossett]]
* [[Mark Lamos]]
* [[Dermot Mulroney]]
* [[Mary-Louise Parker]]
* [[Michael Schoeffling]]
* [[Campbell Scott]]}}
| music            = Greg De Belles
| cinematography   = Tony C. Jannelli
| editing          = Katherine Wenning
| distributor      = [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]]
| released         = {{Film date|1989|10|11|[[Mill Valley Film Festival]]|1990|01|21|U.S. Film Festival|1990|05|11|New York City}}
| runtime          = 100 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=longtimecompanion.htm |title=Longtime Companion |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date= |accessdate=2021-05-29}}</ref>
| country          = United States
| language         = English
| budget           = $3 million<ref name = "PowerGrid">{{cite web|url=http://powergrid.thewrap.com/project/longtime-companion|title=Longtime Companion - PowerGrid|work=thewrap.com|date=12 December 2014|access-date=August 23, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=March 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| gross            = $4,609,953<ref name="PowerGrid"/>
}}
'''''Longtime Companion''''' is a 1989 American [[Romance film|romantic drama]] film directed by [[Norman René]] and starring [[Bruce Davison]], [[Campbell Scott]], [[Patrick Cassidy (actor)|Patrick Cassidy]], and [[Mary-Louise Parker]]. The first wide-release theatrical film to deal with the subject of [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]], the film takes its title from the euphemism ''[[The New York Times]]'' used during the 1980s to describe the surviving same-sex partner of someone who had died of AIDS.<ref>cf. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEFDB173DF937A25754C0A96F948260 Auctions], published July 14, 1989: "...Sam Wagstaff Jr., Mr. Mapplethorpe's longtime companion, who died of AIDS in 1987. Mr. Mapplethorpe died of AIDS in March."</ref>

==Plot==
{{long plot|section|date=August 2015}}
''Longtime Companion'' chronicles the first years of the AIDS epidemic as seen through its impact on several gay men and the straight friend of one of them. The film is split into several sections identified by dates.

===July 3, 1981===
Willy, a [[personal trainer]], and his friend John are spending time with affluent gay couple David and Sean at their beach house on [[Fire Island]] for the [[Independence Day (United States)|4th of July]]. Sean is a screenwriter for the popular daytime [[soap opera]] ''Other People'' and David comes from a [[Nobility#"Blue" blood|blue blood]] background and has a large [[trust fund]]. Back in the city, Howard is preparing to audition for Sean's soap. His boyfriend is Paul, a [[business executive]], and their next-door neighbor is Lisa, an [[antiques dealer]], whose brother Fuzzy is a lawyer who represents Howard.

That morning, ''The New York Times'' publishes its first article about the rise of a new "[[Kaposi's sarcoma|gay cancer]]". The news spreads as friends call each other. Some are immediately concerned, others dismissive. Willy meets Fuzzy at a [[tea dance]] later in the afternoon and they begin a relationship. Howard lands the role.

===April 30, 1982===
John is the first among the group to be diagnosed with the new disease, contracting [[Pneumocystis pneumonia|pneumonia]]. Howard is given script pages in which his character is slated to become the first openly gay character on daytime television. He is very concerned about [[typecasting]], fearing that by playing gay he will not be offered other sorts of parts. Willy and Fuzzy move in together.

John dies shortly after his admission to the hospital.

===June 17, 1983===
Willy, Fuzzy, Lisa, David, and Sean gather back on Fire Island with friends Michael and Bob to watch Howard's character [[coming out|come out]] on the soap opera. The group also discuss a sick neighbor who has become a pariah on the island. That evening, Sean and David argue over Sean's fears that he might be getting sick.

===September 7, 1984===
Paul is hospitalized with [[toxoplasmosis]]. Sean is also hospitalized. Willy visits Sean and is so terrified of becoming infected that he dons a surgical mask and protective gown and, when Sean kisses him on the neck, excuses himself to the bathroom to scrub the spot. Michael is also visiting Sean, bringing with him [[homeopathy|homeopathic]] preparations and a book by [[Louise Hay]]. Howard visits Paul and breaks down sobbing. Paul tries to reassure and comfort him.

===March 22, 1985===
Sean has deteriorated to the point of [[dementia]]. David is helping with his writing and deceiving the studio into thinking that Sean is still able to work. Fuzzy tries to get Howard a movie role but the producer refuses to cast him because of the rumor that he has AIDS. The same rumor got him fired from his role on ''Other People''. Paul is back in the hospital following a seizure. David takes Sean for a walk but has to take him home when Sean urinates in a fountain at a park. That night Willy catches Fuzzy checking himself for swollen glands and they talk about their fear of dying.

===January 4, 1986===
Sean has deteriorated to the point of near-[[catatonia]] and is in constant pain. He has to be strapped into his bed and has lost control of his bowels and bladder and has to wear [[adult diapers]] as a result. After sending Sean's nurse Henry on an errand, David sits with Sean and tells him that it is all right to let go. Sean dies. Willy and Lisa come by to help David, and they pick out a suit for Sean to wear to be cremated. Fuzzy calls [[GMHC]] to find a funeral home. Lisa and Willy stumble across a slinky red dress in Sean's closet and consider giving it to the undertaker, but ultimately decide against it.

The four go to a Chinese restaurant to write Sean's obituary and include David as his "longtime companion".

===May 16, 1987===
David has died in his sleep, and this is the day of his memorial service. Bob and Willy [[eulogy|eulogize]] him. At the following reception, the friends recall a time when David tried on his sister's wedding dress, accidentally tripped, and fell down the stairs, still wearing it.

===September 10, 1988===
Fuzzy and Lisa are volunteering answering phones at GMHC. Willy is a "buddy" to a GMHC client, Alberto.

Howard has been diagnosed with [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]]. Although it is not mentioned, the presumption is that Paul has died. Howard uses his remaining fame to raise money for AIDS causes by hosting a benefit which includes a performance by Finger Lakes Trio of the [[Village People]] song "[[Y.M.C.A. (song)|Y.M.C.A.]]" performed in a pastiche of chamber music style.

===July 19, 1989===
Willy, Fuzzy and Lisa walk along the beach. They talk about an upcoming [[ACT UP]] demonstration. They talk about remembering a time before AIDS and wonder about finding a cure. The film ends with a momentary fantasy sequence, with the friends and others lost to AIDS appearing with them on the beach, before they vanish again and the three are left to walk off the deserted beach.

==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Campbell Scott]] as Willy
* [[Patrick Cassidy (actor)|Patrick Cassidy]] as Howard
* [[John Dossett]] as Paul
* [[Mary-Louise Parker]] as Lisa
* [[Stephen Caffrey (actor)|Stephen Caffrey]] as "Fuzzy"
* Welker White as Rochelle
* [[Bruce Davison]] as David
* [[Mark Lamos]] as Sean
* [[Dermot Mulroney]] as John
* [[Michael Schoeffling]] as Michael
* Brian Cousins as Bob
* [[Annie Golden]] as Heroin Addict
* [[Brent Barrett]] as Soap Actor
* [[Dan Butler]] as Walter
* Robi Martin as Transvestite
* [[Robert Joy]] as Ron
* [[Tony Shalhoub]] as Paul's Doctor
* [[David Drake (actor)|David Drake]] as GMHC Volunteer
* [[Michael Carmine]] as Alberto
* [[Melora Creager]] as Finger Lakes Trio
* Jesse Hultberg as Finger Lakes Trio
* Lee Kimble as Finger Lakes Trio
* Brad O'Hare as Restaurant Waiter
}}

==Production==
The beach house featured in the film is located in [[Fire Island Pines, New York]] and was built in 1958.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsday.com/classifieds/real-estate/fire-island-pines-home-featured-in-longtime-companion-on-market-1.13764172 |title=Fire Island Pines home featured in 'Longtime Companion' on market |publisher=Newsday |date=2017-06-27 |accessdate=2021-05-29}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
The film received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reports a score of 91% based on 22 reviews with an average rating of 7.7/10. The site's consensus reads, "''Longtime Companion'' is a sensitive ensemble AIDS drama, lensed with sympathy which builds to a moving finale".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/longtime_companion/ |title=Longtime Companion (1990) |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |date= |accessdate=2022-11-15}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] wrote “''Longtime Companion'' is about friendship and loyalty about finding the courage to be helpful and the humility to be helped.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=25 May 1990 |title=''Longtime Companion'' movie review (1990) |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/longtime-companion-1990 |access-date=26 September 2023 |website=rogerebert.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Peter Travers]] from ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' commented “Funny, Touching and Vital, ''Longtime Companion'' is the best American movie so far this year. It is also, astonishingly, the first major feature to detail the gay community's battle against the AIDS epidemic.”<ref name="Ryll 2014">{{cite web |author=Travers |first=Peter |date=11 May 1990 |title=Longtime Companion |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/longtime-companion-107265/ |access-date=26 September 2023 |website=rollingstone.com}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
|-
| [[63rd Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]<ref name="Oscars1991">{{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1991 |title=The 63rd Academy Awards (1991) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 20, 2011 |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020005240/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1991 |archive-date=October 20, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Mitchell">{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Kerrie |title='Longtime Companion' Is 25: An Oral History of the Trailblazing, Heartbreaking First Major Movie About AIDS |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/longtime-companion-turns-25-an-oral-history-of-127421596292.html |date=August 25, 2015 |publisher=yahoo.com |access-date=18 August 2018}}</ref>
| [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| [[Bruce Davison]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Casting Society of America#Artios Awards|Artios Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/1990 |title=Nominees/Winners |publisher=[[Casting Society of America]] |accessdate= January 6, 2019}}</ref>
| [[Artios Award for Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Big Budget Feature (Drama)|Best Feature Film Casting – Drama]]
| Jason LaPadura and Natalie Hart
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Deauville American Film Festival]]
| Critics Award
| [[Norman René]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[GLAAD Media Award]]s
| colspan="2"| [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Wide Release|Outstanding Film – Wide Release]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[48th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/longtime-companion |title=Longtime Companion – Golden Globes |website=[[HFPA]] |access-date=July 28, 2021 |ref={{harvid|HFPA|1991}}}}</ref>
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture]]
| rowspan="5"| Bruce Davison
| {{won}}
|-
| [[6th Independent Spirit Awards|Independent Spirit Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/SA_SubForm_etc/2021_SA_ALLNomineesWinners_063021.pdf |title=36 Years of Nominees and Winners |website=[[Independent Spirit Awards]] |access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>
| [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male|Best Supporting Male]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[1990 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards|Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lafca.net/Years/1990.php |title=The 16th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards |website=[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]] |access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> 
| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| {{Runner-up}}
|-
| [[1990 National Society of Film Critics Awards|National Society of Film Critics Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationalsocietyoffilmcritics.com/about-2/ |title=Past Awards |website=[[National Society of Film Critics]] |date=December 19, 2009 |access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref>
| [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[1990 New York Film Critics Circle Awards|New York Film Critics Circle Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nyfcc.com/awards/?awardyear=1990 |title=1990 New York Film Critics Circle Awards |website=[[New York Film Critics Circle]] |access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref>
| [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| {{won}}
|-
| Political Film Society Awards
| colspan="2"| [[Political Film Society Award for Human Rights|Human Rights]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Sundance Film Festival]]<ref>[http://history.sundance.org/events/25 1990 Sundance Film Festival] sundance.org</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=25 Movies That Defined The Sundance Film Festival |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2014/01/25-movies-that-defined-the-sundance-film-festival-89970/#! |access-date=18 August 2018 |work=indiewire.com |date=21 January 2014}}</ref>
| Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic
| rowspan="2"| Norman René
| {{nom}}
|-
| Audience Award: Dramatic
| {{won}}
|}

The film was screened in the [[Un Certain Regard]] section at the [[1990 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/207/year/1990.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Longtime Companion |access-date=2009-08-07 |work=festival-cannes.com |archive-date=2012-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004074124/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/207/year/1990.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
*''[[An Early Frost]]'' (1985)
*''[[Buddies (1985 film)|Buddies]]'' (1985)
*''[[Parting Glances]]'' (1986)
* [[Fire Island Pines, New York]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0100049}}
*{{Mojo title|longtimecompanion}}

{{Norman René}}
{{GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Wide Release}}
{{Sundance Audience Award Dramatic}}

[[Category:1989 films]]
[[Category:1989 LGBTQ-related films]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ-related films]]
[[Category:American Playhouse]]
[[Category:Films directed by Norman René]]
[[Category:Films set on Long Island]]
[[Category:Films set in New York City]]
[[Category:Films shot in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Gay-related films]]
[[Category:HIV/AIDS in American films]]
[[Category:The Samuel Goldwyn Company films]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe winning performance]]
[[Category:1989 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1989 independent films]]
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
[[Category:1980s American films]]
[[Category:Sundance Film Festival award–winning films]]
[[Category:English-language independent films]]
[[Category:Fire Island, New York in fiction]]