The Appointments of Dennis Jennings (1988)
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings (1988), directed by Dean Parisot, starring Steven Wright and Rowan Atkinson.
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Synopsis
Dennis Jennings is an introverted daydreamer, sleepwalking through life. He is a professional waiter and has an equally-dull girlfriend, Emma. In an attempt to release his pent-up feelings of isolation, he begins seeing a psychiatrist, only to discover that the doctor is somewhat less than interested in what he has to say. The film won an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film.
- Dean ParisotDirector
- Paula MazurProducer
- Mike ArmstrongWriter
- Steven WrightWriter
About the film
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings is a 1988 American short TV comedy film directed by Dean Parisot and starring Steven Wright and Rowan Atkinson. It was written by Mike Armstrong and Wright.
The film won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film at the 61st Academy Awards in 1989.
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The Appointments of Dennis Jennings is a 1988 American short TV comedy film directed by Dean Parisot and starring Steven Wright and Rowan Atkinson. It was written by Mike Armstrong and Wright.
The film won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film at the 61st Academy Awards in 1989.
Plot
Dennis Jennings is an introvert, showing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, paranoia, and a troubled youth. He works as a waiter and has an indifferent girlfriend, Emma, who only seems to patronize him. The "appointments" are with his psychiatrist, who is annoyed with him and uninterested in what he has to say. After finding his doctor sharing Dennis's intimate secrets with a group of fellow psychiatrists at a bar, and then finding that his girlfriend is cheating on him with the doctor, Dennis decides he has had enough. He hunts the doctor, shoots him, and goes to jail afterwards.
Cast
Reception
The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "The Appointments of Dennis Jennings is the kind of TV comedy that wins precisely because of its ability to make the odd and the unexpected the resignedly accepted, a sort of Alice through the looking-glass perceived through an end heretofore unknown."
After winning the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 61st Academy Awards, Wright joked in his acceptance speech: "This was for the Short Film category, and we're really glad we cut out the other sixty minutes."
References
External links
Official website
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings at IMDb
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings on YouTube
Text from The Appointments of Dennis Jennings on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Appointments_of_Dennis_Jennings
Trivia
- It premiered on September 7, 1988, a Wednesday.
- It won 1 award(s) and received 1 nomination(s) on record at Wikidata — Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film among them.
- This film's quiz has 9 questions — enough to play more than once without repeats.
Production
- CountriesUnited States
- LanguagesEnglish
- StatusReleased
More about this film
Awards
- Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film 1989
Nominations
- Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film 1989
Cast
-
Steven Wright
Dennis Jennings -
Rowan Atkinson
Dr. Schooner -
Laurie Metcalf
Emma - Carrotte Laughing Psychiatrist
-
Christopher Durang
Laughing Psychiatrist -
Martha Gehman
Lisa -
Joe Grifasi
Bartender - Thomas Ikeda Laughing Psychiatrist
-
Dana Ivey
Newscaster -
Peter Maloney
Dr. Wilson -
Bill McCutcheon
Man on TV -
Mick Muldoon
Repairman -
David Hyde Pierce
Businessman -
Mike Starr
Doorman -
John Tillinger
Psychiatrist Drawing -
Damian Young
Businessman -
Rochelle Oliver
Woman on TV
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Tags
Crew
- Dean Parisot Director
- Paula Mazur Producer
- Mike Armstrong Writer
- Steven Wright Writer
Questions about this film
What is The Appointments of Dennis Jennings about?
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings: Dennis Jennings is an introverted daydreamer, sleepwalking through life. He is a professional waiter and has an equally-dull girlfriend, Emma. In an attempt to release his pent-up feelings of isolation, he begins seeing a psychiatrist, only to discover that the doctor is somewhat less than interested in what he has to…
Who directed The Appointments of Dennis Jennings?
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings was directed by Dean Parisot in 1988.
Who stars in The Appointments of Dennis Jennings?
The cast of The Appointments of Dennis Jennings includes Steven Wright, Rowan Atkinson, Laurie Metcalf, Carrotte and Christopher Durang.
How long is The Appointments of Dennis Jennings?
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings runs for 29 minutes, or 0h29.
What awards did The Appointments of Dennis Jennings win?
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings has 1 recorded awards, among them Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
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Page updated on 09/12/2026.
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