American Dreamer (1984)

Frustrated housewife/writer Cathy Palmer ghostwrites a story about Rebecca Ryan, a dashing international spy, and wins a trip to Paris. While there, she is involved in an accident, and ... See full summary »

Director:

Rick Rosenthal

Writers:

Ann Biderman (story), David Greenwalt,

Stars:

JoBeth Williams, Tom Conti, Giancarlo Giannini

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
JoBeth Williams	...	Cathy Palmer / Rebecca Ryan
Tom Conti	...	Alan McMann
Giancarlo Giannini	...	Victor Marchand
Coral Browne	...	Margaret McMann
James Staley	...	Kevin Palmer
Christopher Daniel Barnes	...	Kevin Palmer Jr. (as C.B. Barnes)
Huckleberry Fox	...	Karl Palmer
Jean Rougerie	...	Don Carlos
Pierre Santini	...	Inspector Klaus
Léon Zitrone	...	Ivan Stranauvlitch
Alain Flick	...	Train Passenger #1
Yassan Khan	...	Train Passenger #2
Christian de Tillière	...	Train Passenger #3
André Valardy	...	Dimitri
Robin Coleman	...	Golf Buddy #1

Storyline

Frustrated housewife/writer Cathy Palmer ghostwrites a story about Rebecca Ryan, a dashing international spy, and wins a trip to Paris. While there, she is involved in an accident, and awakens in the hospital believing she IS Rebecca Ryan. Much craziness ensues as she meets the writer of the Rebecca Ryan books, thwarts real international spies, and eventually gets her memory back.

---

Plot Keywords:

contest | housewife | book | memory | prize | 

---

Taglines:

She was an ordinary housewife until her trip to Paris turned into an extraordinary adventure.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Romance | Thriller

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

A nagy álmodozó

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

CBS Theatrical Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Rebecca Ryan's signature is shown on receipts for the various outfits purchased, the spelling changes back and forth from Rebecca Ryan to Rebeca Ryan.

---

Quotes

Inspector Klaus: What are you trying to tell me? Is she Rebecca Ryan or is she not Rebecca Ryan?
Alan McMann: I told you! There is no such person.
Inspector Klaus: But she sat right here!
Alan McMann: No! She thinks she's a character in a book. She thinks I'm a character in a book. She even thinks my mother is a character in a book. The woman is crazy!
Inspector Klaus: She is not the only one.
Alan McMann: Look, you have got to do something because the priest's death was not an accident. That bullet, and this one, were meant for Rebecca.
Inspector Klaus: The women that does not exist...
Alan McMann: No, of ...
[...]

---

Soundtracks

"The Blue Danube Waltz"
by Johann Strauss. Played at the embassy party.

User Reviews

Hilarious, endearing, brave, warm, surprising

I first saw this movie on cable and was completely impressed. How did I miss this movie in the theatre? I LOVE mysteries. And this is one. It is also a comedy, drama and love story with a twist. Or two. The characters are well defined and grow. With the slight exception of Giancarlo Giannini, who is a intentionally one dimensional but beautiful to look at, just the same.

The heroine gets trapped in a mystery lover's dream scenario. She enters a contest to write a chapter for a book about her favorite detective and wins! Then bravely take the trip she wins alone because her husband thinks little of her effort or talent and does his best to stifle her joy. She feels a little guilty but tries to have a good time. She is definitely on the "if this is Tuesday, it must be Belgium" tour. While being rushed through the sites of Paris, she is robbed and hit by a car. Resulting in amnesia. When she wakes up she has become her favorite character. In Paris. On a shopping spree. Involved in an unsuspected plot to save the world.

It is fabulous to watch all the other people who are caught up in her dilemma because she really is lost but convincing they try to help but keep getting pulled in deeper. Then her husband is told she is missing. The plot thickens. There really are double agents, drug dealers, a chase scene (running), underground passages, ghost writers. No one is what or who they seem to be. And just when you think everything has been concluded, she gets kidnapped. That was the best moment. The director could have ended the movie exactly there and I would have felt complete. But wait, there's more. The game was still afoot!!

This movie was great!! It is everything you want from a movie. Starting with entertainment. Not predictable. Some real thinking and smart people doing everything right. But once the ball started rolling, it had to finish. Best of all, every one in the family could watch it. It was smart and clean. At this point I have seen it so many times since the 80's I can sing the theme song.