Why Jack Lemmon’s Favorite Role, Tribute (1980), Is Missing from Streaming

Jack Lemmon’s Love for Tribute (1980)

Jack Lemmon’s career was filled with unforgettable performances — from The Apartment to Missing — but he often singled out Tribute (1980) as his personal favorite.

Adapted from Bernard Slade’s Broadway play, Tribute tells the story of Scottie Templeton, a sharp-witted press agent masking his fears behind charm and humor as he struggles to reconnect with his estranged son. Lemmon originated the role on Broadway in 1978, then carried it to the screen in Bob Clark’s film version two years later.

Why did Lemmon love it so much? In interviews, he explained that Scottie “plays his emotions like a poker player,” making sudden shifts between light banter and deep vulnerability. It was a role that demanded precision, timing, and emotional honesty — everything Lemmon thrived on. His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe nod, and the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival.

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Why Tribute (1980) Is Hard to Stream Today

Despite Jack Lemmon’s accolades, Tribute has become something of a lost film in the streaming age. The movie is unavailable on major platforms like Amazon, Apple TV, or Vudu. Instead, fans must hunt down rare VHS tapes, boutique DVDs, or turn to grainy, low-resolution uploads on YouTube and the Internet Archive.

For a film that captured one of Lemmon’s proudest roles, the lack of availability is a frustrating mystery.

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Speculations on Rights Issues and Availability

There’s no definitive statement from the rights holders explaining why Tribute isn’t available for streaming. But film historians and collectors point to several likely causes:

1. Complicated rights ownership. Distributed by Twentieth Century Fox but produced in part with Canadian companies, Tribute sits in a gray zone after decades of mergers and acquisitions. Sorting out who controls the digital rights may not be straightforward — and studios rarely prioritize smaller dramas from the 1980s.

2. Music rights. The movie features a Barry Manilow song, and music clearances for streaming often differ from theatrical or VHS releases. Renegotiating those rights may be costly relative to expected revenue.

3. Lack of restoration. The only widely circulating copies are low-quality transfers, suggesting a proper remaster hasn’t been done. Restoring an older film takes time and money — usually reserved for titles with guaranteed audiences.

4. Market demand. Streaming platforms often focus on blockbusters, cult favorites, or films tied to major franchises. While Tribute is beloved by cinephiles and Lemmon admirers, it doesn’t carry the same immediate draw for general audiences.

These factors combined may explain why the film has quietly slipped into obscurity, despite its critical pedigree.

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The Legacy of Jack Lemmon’s Favorite Role

There’s a bittersweet irony in Tribute’s status. The film preserves one of Jack Lemmon’s most treasured performances — a role he called the highlight of his career — yet modern audiences can’t easily experience it in high quality.

For now, fans must settle for unofficial YouTube uploads or hunt down rare physical copies. But the story of Tribute also reflects a larger trend: how many acclaimed films of the 1970s and 1980s remain stuck in distribution limbo, victims of tangled rights, outdated contracts, and corporate oversight.

As more boutique distributors invest in forgotten titles, there’s always hope that Tribute will get a proper Blu-ray release or digital restoration. Until then, it remains a hidden gem, remembered not just as a touching father-son drama but as the film Jack Lemmon held closest to his heart.

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Tribute 1980, Jack Lemmon, Bernard Slade, Oscar nominated films, rare movies not streaming, 1980s movies, Movies of the 80s