History Film / Tootsie

** All the complaints about Michael Dorsey? They were all real complaints about Dustin Hoffman.
** "Tootsie" was Dustin Hoffman's childhood nickname.

The film was well-received by both critics and the public, becoming the second highest-grossing film of 1982. It was nominated for ten UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s, winning Best Supporting Actress for Lange, and garnered Hoffman a UsefulNotes/{{BAFTA}} and a UsefulNotes/{{Golden Globe|Award}} for Best Actor. It was also praised for its innovative take on gender relations, showcased through the things Michael learns about men and women by living both lives. In 2019, it was adapted into a Broadway [[ScreenToStageAdaptation staged]] [[AllMusicalsAreAdaptations musical]] called ''Tootsie'' and changes the main setting of a TV show into a Broadway show and updating it to present-day New York City, whilst expanding roles of several characters. It starred Creator/SantinoFontana as Michael / Dorothy, Lili Cooper as Julie, Sarah Stiles as Sandy, Andy Grotelueschen as Jeff, Reg Rogers as Ron, and Michael [=McGrath=] as Stan.

The film was well-received by both critics and the public, becoming the second highest-grossing film of 1982. It was nominated for ten UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s, winning Best Supporting Actress for Lange, and garnered Hoffman a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for Best Actor. It was also praised for its innovative take on gender relations, showcased through the things Michael learns about men and women by living both lives. In 2019, it was adapted into a Broadway [[ScreenToStageAdaptation staged]] [[AllMusicalsAreAdaptations musical]] called ''Tootsie'' and changes the main setting of a TV show into a Broadway show and updating it to present-day New York City, whilst expanding roles of several characters. It starred Creator/SantinoFontana as Michael / Dorothy, Lili Cooper as Julie, Sarah Stiles as Sandy, Andy Grotelueschen as Jeff, Reg Rogers as Ron, and Michael [=McGrath=] as Stan.

'''Michael''': No, no, no - ''Sandy'' thinks I'm gay, ''Julie'' thinks I'm a lesbian.\\

'''Michael''': No, no, no - he wants to marry Dorothy.\\

* TearsOfRemorse: In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YBiS4GyyjM a 2013 interview]] with ''Good Morning America'', Hoffman reflected on Dorothy's beauty being average rather than bombshell gorgeous, and admitted that had he met her in public, he would not have talked to her. He wept when he realized how many people he missed having good times and conversations with, just because they weren't up to his or society's standards of beauty.

* TearsOfRemorse: In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YBiS4GyyjM a 2013 interview]] with ''Good Morning America'', Hoffman reflected on Dorothy's beauty being average rather than bombshell gorgeous, and admitted that had he met Dorothy in public, he would not have talked to her. He wept when he realized how many people he missed having good times and conversations with, just because they weren't up to his or society's standards of beauty.

* TearsOfRemorse: In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YBiS4GyyjM a 2013 interview]] with ''Good Morning America'', Hoffman reflected on Dorothy's beauty being average rather than bombshell gorgeous, and that had he met Dorothy in public, he would not have talked to her. He wept when he realized how many people he missed having good times and conversations with, just because they weren't up to his or society's standards of beauty.

* TearsOfRemorse: In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YBiS4GyyjM an interview with Good Morning America]], Hoffman reflected on Tootsie's beauty being average rather than bombshell gorgeous, and that had he met Tootsie in public, he would not have talked to them. He wept when he realized how many people he missed having good times and conversations with, just because they weren't up to his or society's standards of beauty.

---> '''Jeff:''' [''to Michael''] You ''slut''.

-->'''Michael:''' [''after a {{beat}} of thinking frantically''] My mind's a blank.

* RecycledSoundtrack: The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRIj3ejP_7E "Working Girl March"]] by Dave Grusin was recycled by Creator/MarkGoodson Production for three different pilots: 1983's ''Star Words'' and ''Series/BodyLanguage'', and 1986's ''On A Roll''. Only ''Body Language'' went to series and as a result, Edd Kalehoff composed a SuspiciouslySimilarSong (and in turn, the ticket plug that Kalehoff composed would be reused for '' Classic Series/{{Concentration}}'' starting in 1987).

-->'''Michael''': ''[Dorothy voice]'' George, George, ''[[[LarynxDissonance natural voice]]]'' it's Michael Dorsey. Your favorite client? ''[Dorothy voice]'' How are ya?

Michael Dorsey (Hoffman) is a struggling actor in New York City who, despite being very talented, has trouble finding work because he's too much of a perfectionist and consequently very difficult to work with. Desperate for money to finance a play written by his roommate Jeff (Creator/BillMurray), Michael goes to his agent George (Pollack), who tells him that no one in New York will hire him.[[note]]George tells him no one in Hollywood wants to work with him either.[[/note]] After taking his friend Sandy (Creator/TeriGarr) to an unsuccessful audition for the part of a female hospital administrator in a soap opera, he decides to put on a dress and wig and audition for the part himself. After initially being dismissed as ''too'' feminine, "Dorothy Michaels" lands the part and gains immense popularity with the fans.

Michael Dorsey (Hoffman) is a struggling actor in New York City who, despite being very talented, has trouble finding work because he's too much of a perfectionist and consequently very difficult to work with. Desperate for money to finance a play written by his roommate Jeff (Creator/BillMurray), Michael goes to his agent George (Pollack), who tells him that no one in New York will hire him.[[note]]George tells him no one in Hollywood wants to work with him either.[[/note]] After taking his friend Sandy (Creator/TeriGarr) to an unsuccessful audition for the part of a female hospital administrator in a soap opera, he decides to dress in drag and audition for the part himself. After initially being dismissed as ''too'' feminine, "Dorothy Michaels" lands the part and gains immense popularity with the fans.

''Tootsie'' is a 1982 romantic comedy film starring Creator/DustinHoffman and Creator/JessicaLange and directed by Creator/SydneyPollack, who also has a supporting role. Larry Gelbart (''Series/{{MASH}}'') and Murray Schisgal wrote the screenplay, with uncredited contributions from Barry Levinson and Creator/ElaineMay.

** More subtly, We are shown Julie signing autographs and then later, Julie signing autographs and "Dorothy" signing lots and lots of autographs.

* InksuitActor: Michael Dorsey pretty much IS Dustin Hoffman, albeit much less successful.

* WomenAreWiser: Michael muses Dorothy is smarter than him.

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/15xti6q.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:320:Dustin Hoffman + red sequins = awesome.]]

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/15xti6q.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Dustin Hoffman + red sequins = awesome.]]

Michael Dorsey (Hoffman) is a struggling actor in New York City who, despite being very talented, can never get work because he's too much of a perfectionist and consequently very difficult to work with. Desperate for money to finance a play written by his roommate Jeff (Creator/BillMurray), Michael goes to his agent George (Pollack), who tells him that no one in New York will hire him.[[note]]George tells him no one in Hollywood wants to work with him either.[[/note]] After taking his friend Sandy (Creator/TeriGarr) to an unsuccessful audition for the part of a female hospital administrator in a soap opera, he decides to dress in drag and audition for the part himself. After initially being dismissed as ''too'' feminine, "Dorothy Michaels" lands the part and gains immense popularity with the fans.

-->'''Michael''': ''[Dorothy voice]'' George, George, ''[natural, deep voice]]'' it's Michael Dorsey. Your favorite client? ''[Dorothy voice]'' How are ya?

* YourCheatingHeart: Ron is cheating on Julie with April. Meanwhile, Michael is "cheating" on Sandy by going after Julie, but he was never interested in Sandy to begin with.

* InsistentTerminology: It's not a "soap opera", it's a "daytime drama".

* ActorAllusion: All the complaints about Michael Dorsey? They were all real complaints about Dustin Hoffman.

* WhoWritesThisShit: When asked if her character intentionally gave an overdose to a woman, April shrugs and says, "I have no idea. I don't write this shit."