Starting Over (1979)

A divorced man falls in love, but somehow he can't get over his ex-wife. This affects his love life in comic ways. Based on Dan Wakefield's novel.

Director:

Alan J. Pakula

Writers:

Dan Wakefield (based on the novel by), James L. Brooks (screenplay)

Stars:

Burt Reynolds, Jill Clayburgh, Candice Bergen

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Reynolds	...	Phil Potter
Jill Clayburgh	...	Marilyn Holmberg
Candice Bergen	...	Jessica Potter
Charles Durning	...	Michael (Mickey) Potter
Frances Sternhagen	...	Marva Potter
Austin Pendleton	...	Paul
Mary Kay Place	...	Marie
MacIntyre Dixon	...	Dan Ryan
Jay O. Sanders	...	Larry (as Jay Sanders)
Charles Kimbrough	...	Salesman
Richard Whiting	...	Everett
Alfie Wise	...	Workshop Member
Wallace Shawn	...	Workshop Member
Sturgis Warner	...	John Morganson
Mary Catherine Wright	...	Student 1 (as Mary C. Wright)

Storyline

Burt Reynolds is an attractive middle-aged man who suffers a crisis of confidence when ditched by his ambitious singer wife (Candice Bergen), until he begins to forge a new new relationship with an equally insecure teacher (Jill Clayburgh). But when the wife attempts a reconciliation - seduction followed by a truly excruciating song she has composed for him - he realizes where his loyalty lies.

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Plot Keywords:

love | boston massachusetts | bad singing | starting over | friendship | 

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Taglines:

Phil Potter would like to straighten out his life...One way, or the other.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 October 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Auf ein Neues

Filming Locations:

Boston Garden - 150 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Century Associates

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The shower of Valium pills was based on an actual incident that happened to Burt Reynolds.

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Goofs

In the second Divorced Men's Club meeting, the characters are all wearing exactly the same clothes they wore in the first.

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Quotes

Michael Potter: Michael Potter, to crowd observing Phil's anxiety attack, "Anybody have a Valium?" Everyone in crowd reaches into purses and pockets.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (1982)

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Soundtracks

Better Than Ever
(1979)
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager
Sung by Candice Bergen

User Reviews

Now this is what a "romantic comedy" should be like

Man, what a difference 20 years or so makes! I'm not sure when I saw this movie, but since it came out in 1979, and I saw it on TV (probably cable at my brother's house)-it was surely in the early 80s. I couldn't remember the movie very well (though I do distinctly remember Burt Reynolds taking the polaroids of Jill Clayburgh in the shower, and her laughing at the tall basketball player) but I knew that I thought it was funny. In fact it was funny enough to go on my short list of movies to watch again soon (you know that one that you never seem to get to). Well imagine my surprise when I saw this video in the bargain-bin of the video store here on the U.S. Army base in Yongsan Korea for two bucks!

Well I liked the movie back then, but I watched it with totally different eyes as a 37 year-old man. It was still funny, but in a much more relative way. Back then I thought Reynold's antics were charming, now I see them as irrepressible. I'm sure I thought Clayburgh's character was a little strange back then, now I see her as vulnerable and true.

This is a very good movie with numerous scenes that are funny and touching. In an industry flooded with banal romantic-comedies this should set the mark.