Leave 'Em Laughing

1981 1h 38m EN

🙌

8.0

BANGER

★8.0TMDB · 2

DramaTV Movie

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Real-life clown Jack Thum, along with his devoted wife, Shirlee, cared for dozens of homeless children — 37 of them over the years — in the Chicago area, all of whom come back to visit when they discover he's terminally ill.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Mickey Rooney
Jack Thum
Anne Jackson
Shirlee Thum
Allen Garfield
Dr. Arthur Abrams
Elisha Cook Jr.
Jetter
Michael LeClair
Tom
William Windom
Smiley Jenkins
Red Buttons
Roland Green
Carol Ann Susi
Gina

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jackie Cooper
Writers: Cynthia Whitcomb, Peggy Chantler Dick
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

45 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jackie Cooper, shot by Howard Schwartz. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jerry Dronsky shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Mickey Rooney and Anne Jackson and Allen Garfield carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0082646 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jackie Cooper directs. Howard Schwartz behind the camera. Jerry Dronsky cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

145 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Jackie Cooper, shot by Howard Schwartz. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Editor Jerry Dronsky shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
4Mickey Rooney and Anne Jackson and Allen Garfield carry the top of the cast.
5IMDB entry: tt0082646 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
6Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.