Gleason

A bittersweet showbiz biopic that mixes backstage humor with a quiet, lingering sadness about fame and family.

Directed by

Howard Deutch

Genres

Drama, Tv movie

Starring

Brad Garrett, Saul Rubinek, Gretchen Egolf

Tagline

How Sweet It Was!

Overview

The story begins at the height of Gleason's career. He has it all: women, wealth, and extraordinary power. But he is haunted by memories of his childhood. Gleason spends his formative years entering amateur contests, performing in sleazy night spots. Along the way, he steals gags from the best comics in town and finds love with Genevieve, a dancer whom he marries. But Gleason isn't the ideal husband or even a responsible father as he abandons his family to answer the call of Hollywood. Brash, arrogant, and egotistical, he alienates his directors and the man who discovers him. When he ends up back in New York, Gleason gets one of those rare second chances in the new medium of television, creating some of its most unforgettable characters. But even as Gleason becomes the talk of the tube, his life - ruled by demons of rage, booze, and insecurity - unravels.

How it feels

Melancholic, earnest, dark and warm. Measured and easy to follow.

About

Ambition, family, identity, addiction

Content

Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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