Daily Dialogue — April 4, 2017

“This is a one-day only offer, gentlemen. You saw my portfolio, you know I can handle the work, I’m willing to take salary cut. The only thing is, you’re going to have to let me know today, not tomorrow, not at the end of the holidays. If you want me, you need to make a decision right now.”

— Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), screenplay by Robert Benton, novel by Avery Corman

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Job Interview.

Trivia: Dustin Hoffman, who was going through a marital separation and who divorced his first wife soon after filming ended, contributed many personal moments and dialogue. Director Robert Benton, offered shared screenplay credit, but Hoffman turned it down.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) needs this job in order to have any chance of legally maintaining custody of his son with whom he has bonded over time. He insists on taking a meeting during an office Christmas party. His response to their “we’ll get back to you” is classic moxie. The subtext plays wonderfully under the words: I’m not letting your typical business tactics block me from keeping my son.