BACKSTORY

When Lee was asked to describe Jack Lemmon, her co-star in the 1962 film, Days of Wine and Roses, she gave the reporter a radiant smile and said that her dear friend was "a delightful, fabulous man – so bright and funny!" While working with Lemmon, Lee found their acting styles to be very simpatico, and the friendship that began with that film lasted a lifetime. So it was no wonder that, though the part was very small, Lee jumped at the chance to work with Lemmon a second time in the film version of Bernard Slade's play, Tribute.

"It was the first time we had worked together since The Days of Wine and Roses, and it was like the 15 years that passed between never took place. We just picked up where we left off."

Lemmon had originated the role of Scottie Templeton, the always-clowning press agent, on Broadway in 1978 with great success, winning the Broadway Drama Guild Award and a Tony nomination. When the film version of the play was released in 1980, Lemmon received his seventh Oscar nomination. However, it was Lee that most of the critics praised. Her low-key performance as Templeton's long-suffering ex-wife tempered Lemmon's over-the-top performance.

Most film reviewers made mention of the poignant film reunion of Lemmon and Lee, but Time said it best with this observation:

"Lemmon and Remick have a scene together – just a few moments really – when they sit together, and remember, and embrace. For once the actors are not performing, but behaving; not seizing the viewers' attention, simply absorbing it. For an instance, Tribute becomes what it should have been: not a talk show, but a good movie."

Though most of Lee's "scenes ended up on the cutting room floor," she was nominated for the Canadian Prix Genie Award as Best Performance by a Foreign Actress for her meaningful performance in Tribute.