Continental Divide (1981)

A hard-nosed Chicago journalist has an unlikely love affair with an eagle researcher.

Director:

Michael Apted

Writer:

Lawrence Kasdan

Stars:

John Belushi, Blair Brown, Allen Garfield

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Belushi	...	Ernie Souchak
Blair Brown	...	Nell Porter
Allen Garfield	...	Howard McDermott (as Allen Goorwitz)
Carlin Glynn	...	Sylvia
Tony Ganios	...	Max Bernbaum
Val Avery	...	Yablonowitz
Liam Russell	...	Deke Lewis
Everett Smith	...	Fiddle
Bill Henderson	...	Train Conductor
Bruce Jarchow	...	Hellinger
Eddie Schwartz	...	Jimmy
Harold Holmes	...	Mr. Feeney
Elizabeth Young	...	Mrs. Feeney
Ron Dean	...	Plesko
Frankie Hill	...	Agatha

Storyline

Ernie Souchak (John Belushi), a tough Chicago reporter, gets a little too close to the Mob, and is assaulted by two crooked police officers sent by a crooked councilman, and ends up in the hospital. To take the heat off of him, his editor sends him to Colorado to investigate an eagle researcher ('Blair Brown' ). Sparring partners at first, the pair eventually fall in love, but Souchak must return to Chicago when one of his sources is mysteriously killed.

---

Plot Keywords:

eagle | love | reporter | love affair | newspaper columnist | 

---

Taglines:

When they met they heard bells. And that was just round one.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 September 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amerikai románc

Filming Locations:

Cedar Falls, Washington, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title of the column immediately following "Room Wanted - Quiet Tenant" is "Yablonowitz Finger Holds The Trigger". It is briefly shown while Nell Porter browses Souchak's columns collection.

---

Goofs

When Souchak runs outside of the hotel to get a cab to Union Station, you can clearly see the lighting electrical cables running along the curb.

---

Quotes

Ernie Souchak: I've never seen such big balls - and I'm from Chicago.

---

Crazy Credits

At the end of the credits, after some mountain shots, there's a sequence of a selection of some of the black-and-white photos of Ernie and/or Nell that Souchak had on his desk.

---

Connections

Featured in Too Young to Die: John Belushi - Ein Leben über dem Limit (2012)

---

Soundtracks

"Theme from Continental Divide (Never Say Goodbye)"
Music by Michael Small
Lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager
Performed by Helen Reddy
Available on MCA Records
Record Produced by Joel Diamond

User Reviews

Fantastic Movie

This movie is the REASON I moved to Washington State, even though it was filmed in Montana. When Nell showed Ernie "church" and the panorama of the mountains was shown, I literally had tears running down my cheeks. I was in an Atlanta movie theater. It is then that I made up my mind to come west. I've never looked back. It is all due to this movie. It is, without a doubt, my favorite movie of all time. I just wish Mr. Belushi were still with us. At least Blair is. I'd like to see much more of her in movies. Blair Brown is VERY, VERY underrated. She was wonderful in this film and the film itself should have gotten way more recognition. Just look at the difficulties the cameramen must have encountered for those climbing and coming down the mountain in the snow shots.

One person wrote that a bear entered the cabin. It was NOT a bear, but rather a mountain lion. The only bears in the movie were encountered when Ernie Souchak was climbing up the mountain with the guide, going to Nell's place. See--I do know it by heart.

Hats off to Continental Divide!!!