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By Design

Play trailer By Design R 1981 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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57% Tomatometer 7 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Two lesbian fashion designers (Patty Duke Astin, Sara Botsford) in Canada ask their photographer (Saul Rubinek) to father them a child.

Critics Reviews

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David Robinson The Times (UK) 05/12/2023
It is a simple, kindly film, which manages to combine robust and sexy comedy with a generous and intelligent approach to the basic human problems it assaults. Go to Full Review Nigel Andrews Financial Times 05/12/2023
There is the faint rustling of comic potential in this situation. But it is firmly sat on in the early middle stages by Canadian director Claude Jutra, who directs with strange timing and awkward pauses. Go to Full Review Derek Malcolm Guardian 05/12/2023
[An] occasionally amusing but clumsy farrago. Jutra seldom gets the tone right at all. Go to Full Review Cindy Patton Gay Community News (Boston) 08/25/2022
By Design is at its best as a screwball comedy with a twist. Go to Full Review Cindy Rizzo Gay Community News (Boston) 08/25/2022
By Design's saving grace is that it is a comedy, filled with good slapstick sight gags. Go to Full Review Susan Shapiro Sojourner 08/20/2019
If you have designs on seeing it, do yourself a favor and stay home. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
By Design

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Cast & Crew

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Claude Jutra

Director

Patty Duke

Helen

Sara Botsford

Angie

Saul Rubinek

Terry

Sonia Zimmer

Suzie

Mina E. Mina

R.B. Corcoran

Movie Info

Synopsis Two lesbian fashion designers (Patty Duke Astin, Sara Botsford) in Canada ask their photographer (Saul Rubinek) to father them a child.
Director
Claude Jutra
Producer
Werner Aellen, Beryl Fox
Screenwriter
Joe Wiesenfeld, Claude Jutra, David Eames
Production Co
Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC), Seven Arts
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 30m