First, You Cry

{{Infobox television

| image =

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| caption =

| genre = {{hlist|Biography|Drama}}

| based_on = {{Based on|First, You Cry|Betty Rollin}}

| writer = Carmen Culver

| screenplay =

| story =

| director = George Schaefer

| starring = Mary Tyler Moore
Anthony Perkins
Jennifer Warren
Richard Dysart
Don Johnson

| music = Peter Matz

| country = United States

| language = English

| executive_producer =

| producer = Philip Barry Jr.

| location = New York City
CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California

| cinematography = Edward R. Brown

| editor = James Galloway

| camera =

| runtime = 100 minutes

| company = Company Four
MTM Enterprises

| network = CBS

| released = {{Start date|1978|11|8}}

| related =

}}

First, You Cry is a 1978 American made-for-television biographical drama film starring Mary Tyler Moore, Anthony Perkins, Jennifer Warren, Richard Dysart and Don Johnson, directed by George Schaefer. It is based on the 1976 autobiography First, You Cry written by NBC News correspondent Betty Rollin in which she recalls her battle with breast cancer. The film was broadcast on CBS on November 8, 1978.{{cite web|title= Harper Collins|url= http://www.harpercollins.com/browseinside/index.aspx?isbn13=9780060956301|access-date= June 15, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121021031906/http://www.harpercollins.com/browseinside/index.aspx?isbn13=9780060956301|archive-date= October 21, 2012|url-status= dead}}

Synopsis

TV news correspondent Betty Rollin (Moore) is giving a television report on the dangers of breast cancer, hoping that it will make women more aware of preventative measures. At home, Betty's husband Arthur Heroz(Perkins), a successful author, comments on how a lump in Betty's left breast has grown appreciably harder since she had it examined some time ago. Betty promises to make a follow-up exam. The subsequent checkup, however, leads to a diagnosis of cancer. Following a period of fear and denial, Betty agrees to a biopsy, which, due to the cancer's spread, leads to an immediate mastectomy. Upon leaving the hospital, Betty tries to deal with her varied emotions, along with those of her self-involved spouse, former lover, mother and friends. When she can't perform simple tasks like putting on a robe, Betty falls into depression. She sees herself as "damaged goods", leading to dramatic intimacy issues with Arthur.

Betty returns to work, but feels only awkwardness with colleagues. Things worsen when Betty finally looks at her scar, and assumes that all men will now be repulsed by her body. When husband Arthur becomes increasingly distant, she reunites with former beau David (Crenna). She goes to live with him in Philadelphia, quitting her job and leaving her friends behind. After a period of bliss, however, Betty still finds herself unhappy. She then decides to write a book about her travails, leading to an overhaul of her life, both professionally and personally.

Cast

Mary Tyler Moore as Betty Rollin
Anthony Perkins as Arthur Heroz
Jennifer Warren as Erica Wells
Richard Dysart as Dr. Brennerman
Don Johnson as Daniel Easton
Florence Eldridge as Mrs. Rollin
Patricia Barry as Anne
Antoinette Bower as Marsha
Richard Crenna as David Towers
Vivi Janiss as Martha

Production

First, You Cry was shot from February 14 to March 16, 1978: exterior scenes were filmed on location in New York City and interior scenes were filmed at CBS Studio Center in Studio City, California.

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Nominee(s) ! Result ! Ref.
rowspan="7"\| {{center\|1979}} \| American Cinema Editors Awards \| Best Edited Television Special \| James Galloway \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\| {{cite web\|url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000017/1979/1/?ref_=ev_eh \|title=Nominees/Winners \|publisher=IMDb \|accessdate=April 3, 2019}}
Directors Guild of America Awards \| Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Specials/Movies for TV/Actuality \| George Schaefer \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\| {{cite web \|url=https://www.dga.org/Awards/History/1970s/1978.aspx?value=1978 \|title=31st DGA Awards \|website=Directors Guild of America Awards \|access-date=May 29, 2023}}
Golden Globe Awards \| colspan="2"\| Best Television Movie \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\| {{cite web\|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/first-you-cry \|title=First, You Cry – Golden Globes \|website=Golden Globe Awards \|access-date=May 29, 2023 \|ref={{harvid\|HFPA\|1979}}}}
rowspan="4"\| Primetime Emmy Awards \| Outstanding Drama or Comedy Special \| Philip Barry, Jr. \| {{nom}} \| rowspan="4" align="center"\| {{cite web \|url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/first-you-cry \|title=First, You Cry \|website=Emmys.com \|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences \|access-date=May 29, 2023}}
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special \| Mary Tyler Moore \| {{nom}}
Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or Special \| James Galloway \| {{nom}}
Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series or a Special \| Peter Matz \| {{nom}}

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Nominee(s)

! Result

! Ref.

rowspan="7"| {{center|1979}}

| American Cinema Editors Awards

| Best Edited Television Special

| James Galloway

| {{nom}}

| align="center"| {{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000017/1979/1/?ref_=ev_eh |title=Nominees/Winners |publisher=IMDb |accessdate=April 3, 2019}}

Directors Guild of America Awards

| Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Specials/Movies for TV/Actuality

| George Schaefer

| {{nom}}

| align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.dga.org/Awards/History/1970s/1978.aspx?value=1978 |title=31st DGA Awards |website=Directors Guild of America Awards |access-date=May 29, 2023}}

Golden Globe Awards

| colspan="2"| Best Television Movie

| {{nom}}

| align="center"| {{cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/first-you-cry |title=First, You Cry – Golden Globes |website=Golden Globe Awards |access-date=May 29, 2023 |ref={{harvid|HFPA|1979}}}}

rowspan="4"| Primetime Emmy Awards

| Outstanding Drama or Comedy Special

| Philip Barry, Jr.

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="4" align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/first-you-cry |title=First, You Cry |website=Emmys.com |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=May 29, 2023}}

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special

| Mary Tyler Moore

| {{nom}}

Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or Special

| James Galloway

| {{nom}}

Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series or a Special

| Peter Matz

| {{nom}}

In popular culture

The film was parodied on the November 17, 1979 episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Bea Arthur, in a sketch titled "First He Cries". In the sketch, a husband (played by Bill Murray) is distraught over his wife's (played by Gilda Radner) mastectomy. The sketch was controversial and received over 200 calls and 300 letters of complaint. Betty Rollin herself wrote a letter in support of the sketch.