The 1979 film version, adapted by Medoff and directed by Milton Katselas, starred Marjoe Gortner, Candy Clark, Stephanie Faracy, Lee Grant, Hal Linden, Peter Firth, Pat Hingle, Audra Lindley, and Anne Ramsey.
Frankfather received six DramaLogue awards for acting and producing and, as artistic director of Theatre 40, produced works by playwrights such as Medoff and Sam Shepard.