Kotch
Promotional poster
Directed by	Jack Lemmon
Screenplay by	John Paxton
Based on	Kotch 1965 novel by Katharine Topkins
Produced by	Richard Carter
Starring	Walter Matthau Deborah Winters Felicia Farr Charles Aidman Ellen Geer
Cinematography	Richard H. Kline
Edited by	Ralph E. Winters
Music by	Marvin Hamlisch
Production company	ABC Pictures
Distributed by	Cinerama Releasing Corporation
Release date	September 17, 1971 (1971-09-17)
Running time	113 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.5 million[1]
Box office	$5 million (rentals)[1]

Kotch is a 1971 American comedy-drama film directed by Jack Lemmon and starring Walter Matthau, Deborah Winters, Felicia Farr, Charles Aidman and Ellen Geer.

Adapted by John Paxton from Katharine Topkins's 1965 novel of the same title, the film tells the story of an elderly man who leaves his family rather than go to a nursing home, and strikes up a friendship with a pregnant teenage girl. It is Lemmon's only film behind the camera, and partnered him with friend and frequent co-star, Matthau.

Plot

Cast

Production

Portions of the film were shot and set in Palm Springs, California.^{[citation needed]}

Reception

The film earned rentals of $3.6 million in North America, and $1.4 million in other countries. It recorded an overall profit of $330,000.^[1]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an aggregate score of 75%, based on 6 positive and 2 negative reviews.^[2]

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film two stars out of four. He wrote, "There aren't many comic actors I admire more than Matthau, and he does his best to be an old man in Kotch, but the illusion simply isn't there."^[3]

Awards and nominations

Home media

Kotch was released on a Region 1 DVD by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment July 6, 2004.^{[citation needed]}