To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday poster & wallpaper
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Peter Gallagher, Claire Danes, Kathy Baker, Wendy Crewson, Michelle Pfeiffer ... see more see more... , Bruce Altman , Freddie Prinze Jr. , Laurie Fortier

In this story of obsessive and enduring love, David Lewis (Peter Gallagher) spends most of his time swimming, dancing, and frolicking on the beach with the spirit of his dead wife Gillian (Michelle Pf... read more read more...eiffer). After Gillian's drowning death, David made their summer cottage on Nantucket Island into a permanent home. He lives there with his teenage daughter Rachel (Claire Danes), who is being neglected because her father spends so much time with her dead mother's ghost. On the second anniversary of Gillian's death, over Labor Day weekend, he invites Gillian's sister Esther Wheeler (Kathy Baker) and Esther's husband Paul (Bruce Altman) for the weekend. David's in-laws bring with them a beautiful woman named Kevin Danford (Wendy Crewson), hoping that David's attentions will turn to her. But David ignores her and proceeds with his ritualistic celebration of Gillian's birthday, including a formal dinner, karaoke, and building sand castles. After Paul makes a pass at Rachel's young girlfriend, Esther and Paul re-examine their bickering marriage and find it paltry compared to David's overwhelming eternal passion. Nothing can interfere with David's love for Gillian, but he comes to realize that he must be more attentive to his daughter as well. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Flixster Users

43% liked it

6,046 ratings

Critics

14% liked it

28 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: Michael Pressman

Release Date: October 18, 1996

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DVD Release Date: May 7, 2002

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Stats: 150 reviews

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David and Rachel To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday
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Flixster Reviews (150)

  • BEACHBUNNI
    August 22, 2010
    BEACHBUNNI
    this movie is about a guy whose wife died and although she died two years ago, Gillian Lewis (Michelle Pfeiffer) is still very much alive for her grieving husband, David (Peter Gallagher who lives with his 16year old daughter on Nantucket island and spends time with his imaginary... read more wife every night on the beach. His life has basically stopped and his concerned sister in law (with husband and blind date for Peter) show up for the Labor Day Weekend.
    this movie is touching and moving as it deals with the emotions of letting go of the past and those left behind.
  • dreamfaeries
    November 7, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Beautiful.
  • jam233
    September 11, 2009
    jam233
    The films main flaw is shallow and unlikable characters. The screenplay is poor, with the actors rambling on and on aimlessly with apparently little or no direction. Peter Gallagher is bad in a lead role. Pointless and not worth watching.
  • dfreebyrd59
    March 30, 2009
    dfreebyrd59
    Go play with the live girl. Sometimes it's hard to let go of a loved one when they die. He talks to her likes she is still here. A ghost. The daughter is close to her dad but family thinks he is losing it.
  • ILoveRickyUnderwood
    October 28, 2007
    ILoveRickyUnderwood
    This is a very good movei and it will have to be one of my favorite moveis that i have seen in my life.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
December 31, 2006
Emanuel Levy, Variety

A bargian basement Ghost, a hybrid of the earnest nature of an inspirational play and the sleek calculation of a Lifetime TV movie. Full Review

January 1, 2000
USA Today

The film is cursed with clumsy staginess, exposing its roots as a play.

Douglas Pratt
June 15, 2007
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser

Based upon a stageplay, the plot is very straightforward and predictable, and has no strong emotional payoffs, but the drama is stuffed with the feelings and confusions of grief and some viewers may f...

Michael Dequina
September 11, 2005
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

Tries too hard to make the audience cry; practically each 'emotional' moment is highlighted by the soft musical sounds of a harp and wind section. Full Review

Dan Lybarger
February 23, 2003
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online

Michelle Pfeiffer is appropriately cast as a ghost, but this meditation on death and remembrance is curiously spiritless.

Lisa Schwarzbaum
September 7, 2011
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Mick LaSalle
June 18, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

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April 12, 2002
Globe and Mail

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Rita Kempley
January 22, 2002
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

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To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday Trivia

  • How long after Gillian's death was David still seeing her in To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday ?  Answer »
  • What is Davids sisters name in To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday ?  Answer »
  • Who got bit feeding a seagull in To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday ?  Answer »
  • What was Davids and Gillian's daughters name in To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday ?  Answer »
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