Splash (1984)

A man is reunited with a mermaid who saves him from drowning as a boy and falls in love not knowing who/what she is.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Brian Grazer (story), Bruce Jay Friedman (screen story),

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, Eugene Levy

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Allen Bauer
Daryl Hannah	...	Madison
Eugene Levy	...	Walter Kornbluth
John Candy	...	Freddie Bauer
Dody Goodman	...	Mrs. Stimler
Shecky Greene	...	Mr. Buyrite
Richard B. Shull	...	Dr. Ross
Bobby Di Cicco	...	Jerry
Howard Morris	...	Dr. Zidell
Tony DiBenedetto	...	Tim, The Doorman (as Tony Di Benedetto)
Patrick Cronin	...	Michaelson
Charles Walker	...	Michaelson's Partner
David Knell	...	Claude
Jeff Doucette	...	Junior
Royce D. Applegate	...	Buckwalter

Storyline

Allen Bauer is rescued from drowning as a young boy off Cape Cod by a young mermaid. Years later he returns to the same location, and once again manages to fall into the sea, and is rescued once more by the mermaid (Allen isn't sure what he's seen and what he's imagined). The mermaid decides to search for Allen in New York, sprouting legs when her tail dries. On finding Allen, they fall in love, but she has a secret, which will no longer be a secret if she gets her legs wet..

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Plot Keywords:

mermaid | love | wallet | sunken ship | surveillance | 

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Taglines:

Allen Bauer Thought He'd Never Find The Right Woman... He Was Only Half Wrong!

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Swedish

Release Date:

9 March 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Splash - Jungfrau am Haken

Filming Locations:

Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$69,800,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the time of filming, Daryl Hannah was extremely shy about her body. According to director Ron Howard, she wore both band-aids and makeup over her nipples to conceal them.

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Goofs

During the final car chase, Allen's BMW weaves around a taxi cab that has stopped in the intersection coming from the side. At the left of the screen you can see that the car also just misses a camera. This is the camera that captures the military truck going around the same cab in the next shot.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mary Bauer: Freddie!
Young Freddie: I dropped something.
Mary Bauer: Ralph, talk to him. Listen to your father. Come on, from over there we can see Cape Cod.
Ralph Bauer: We were just on Cape Cod. We could have stayed there, I would have saved twelve dollars.
Mary Bauer: Allen, sweetheart, don't you want to see Cape Cod? All right, darling, you know where we are if you change your mind.

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Crazy Credits

Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah swimming and coming to an underwater city.

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Connections

Features Capitol (1982)

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Soundtracks

"Love Came For Me"
Performed by Rita Coolidge

User Reviews

A "Splash" Of A Romantic Comedy!

Here's a true piece of Hollywood Candy, a sweet as they come! An 8-year old boy falls off of a tour boat at Cape Cod and is saved from drowning by what appears to be a little girl mermaid. The boy never forgets about what happened that day, although everyone insists he was hallucinating.

Years later, now a man (and played by Tom Hanks), another trip to Cape Cod brings dejavu: Hanks falls off of a tour boat and is rescued by an all grown mermaid (played by Daryl Hannah). Could it be the same mermaid that saved him when he was a boy? -- The mermaid has normal legs when kept dry, but once splashed with water, the legs turn into fish fins. Hannah is able to conceal her true identity, until a "bad guy" exposes her. There are complications, but eventually everything comes up roses.

One great scene is where the grown up mermaid spends 6 hours in the electronics department of a store, and learns the English language fluently by watching TV non-stop. Cute! -- This film is very entertaining and helps us feel compassion for anyone who is somehow different from what society considers the norm. The somewhat predictable ending is beautiful! Highly recommended, especially to the hopelessly romantic cinema enthusiasts out there!