I accidentally caught the first five minutes of this movie, while trying to tape something else. In horror I almost blinded myself. Movies like this make you ask "Why..." also, what happened to Kathleen Turner's career?
Why?
This was perhaps the most underrated film of the 80s!
I think your only problem was that you only saw 5 minutes of it...
Care to watch the whole thing before you trash it?
It is my opinion it is one of the most funny, entertaining, watchable films of hollywood's second golden age....
Many regards,
I love this movie. The dialogue and all the actors are hilarious. I've never seen The Front Page or His Girl Friday and I don't care. I may watch them eventually, but I prefer to weigh this movie on its own merits and I think it's great. It's one of my very favorites. I can't believe there's no DVD; I treasure my videotape copy like gold.
Anybody who thinks Ned Beatty isn't as good as he should be in this movie hasn't watched the scene in which he tries to restrain himself while cursing out female reporters. It's simply hysterical.
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You, aimsusie, are a person after my own heart. I love this movie. I remember ditching school to go see it when it was in theaters, and never regretting it. From the opening montage of Christy doing crazy stories, to the scenes inside the newsroom and the press building, to Sully's laugh at the end (Burt's trademark), this movie is a real treat. The fact that this movie has no U.S. DVD release is, as Tracy Flick would say, "an unconscienceable travesty."
I am, however, one of these "I love all movies" types, and I tend to find merit in films where others don't (except in the case of really really bad movies like "Troll 2" and "Manos: The Hands of Fate."). But, seriously, I truly don't understand why anybody would think this is a bad movie.
EDIT: I recently bought this movie on DVD from Amazon. I think it's one of those "DVD on demand" things, but the quality is excellent. It's even in widescreen.
The Falcon flies
I remember seeing this film in the theater when it was first released and the theater was practically empty, but I really liked this movie. As to what happened to Kathleen Turner's career, who can say for sure, but I would like to mention that I saw her do a guest spot on LAW & ORDER a few months ago and she had put on a LOT of weight since the last time I had seen her in anything, so maybe that has something to do with it, I don't know, but she looked really good when she was on Broadway a few years ago in a revival of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. She has since returned to Broadway in a stage version of THE GRADUATE and as Martha in a revival of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?.
shareHey, this movie is not that bad!!! it's actually kinda fun, but i understand that you really can't compare it to HIS GIRL FRIDAY and the 'first' remake of that film THE FRONT PAGE.
The only thing bad about this film is the music..
and kathleen turner's hair!
I agree! It is one of my guilty pleasures. I love Burt Reynolds in this film - his manic energy and chemistry with the role is a lot of fun to watch. The problem when making remakes of famously excellent films like "Front Page" is that if you aren't as good you get slammed a little. But this film on its own merits is a lot of fun. Not going to be remembered as a classic, perhaps, but fun nonetheless.
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I remember seeing this film in the theater when it was first released and the theater was practically empty
That is funny you should say that, I saw it when I was 17 with a few buddies, it was a matinee showing at a theatre in Halifax that only had one screen so we had no choice. I remember we went in not having a clue what to expect and had a great time watching it. Maybe I'll pick it up if I see it somewhere. The only part I can remember was Chris Reeve's hilarious scene in the glass elevator.
"I'll bet you never smelled a real school bus before"
I have all other copies of this film in their various forms as well a hardbound first edition of the book. I do wish they would release it on DVD.
shareYou were lucky to have seen this in the theater. I don't remember this ever playing near me. In fact, I was wondering if this was a cable movie. It's decent entertainment, not a great film but an enjoyable one.
shareIt's a horrible movie (yes, I have suffered through the entire thing). Turner comes on too strong; it's so predictable. Reynolds on the other hand phones in his performance, as he does all performances.
And that set! It looks like the movie was shot at Chucky Cheese.
By far the worst thing about it is the total lack of what is most necessary for a HGF remake to work -- chemistry between the leads is the core of the story, and there is NONE there between Turner and Reynolds. Hardly surprising, because, as it turns out, they loathed each other.
Kathleen ended up with a terriable disease called RA. It crippled her. She started drinking because of the constant pain she was in. The meds they put her own, caused her altered looks and weight gain. Because of the disease, she will never be the same. Her acting on the other hand, has not changed a bit. Kathleen is one of the best actresses out there in my opinion. I loved the movie Switching Channels, I thought it was funny. I find it funny what people consider good when it comes to movies. Today's comedys, suck!! There is no acting to them. It's always the same thing, either it's about college and girls, or it is about some spoof from an older movie. I think the 80's had some of the best movies.
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Because it didn't get a standard DVD release is why..
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I remember when it was released, the film was panned by critics.
It was released on the heels of Broadcast News, so the timing was bad for a another behind the scenes newsroom movie especially one based on a 1930's remake.
Turner's costumes and hair were frumpy as a way to camouflage that she was pregnant.
Micheal Caine was originally cast to play Reynolds part and Turner was verbal in her disapproval of the casting change.
Regardless of their on screen chemistry,(or lack there of), the fact that Reynolds was trashing Turner in the press during the initial weeks of the film release, did nothing to boost audience interest.
I remember seeing this in the late '80s in the cinema. Now it's kind of a lost treasure.
I was a big fan of Kathleen Turner (still am) and this one of her last big leading roles (little did we know that). Christopher Reeve was so handsome in this and I did enjoy Burt Reynolds (he had comedic chops and they would work well on his Evening Shade series a few years later).
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