Compromising Positions (1985)

An ex-newspaper woman who is now a suburban housewife can't resist getting involved in an investigation of the murder of a philandering dentist who had been having affairs with several of her neighbors.

Director:

Frank Perry

Writers:

Susan Isaacs (screenplay), Susan Isaacs (novel)

Stars:

Susan Sarandon, Raul Julia, Edward Herrmann

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Susan Sarandon	...	Judith Singer
Raul Julia	...	David Suarez
Edward Herrmann	...	Bob Singer
Judith Ivey	...	Nancy Miller
Mary Beth Hurt	...	Peg Tuccio
Joe Mantegna	...	Bruce Fleckstein
Anne De Salvo	...	Phyllis Fleckstein
Josh Mostel	...	Dicky Dunck
Deborah Rush	...	Brenda Dunck
Joan Allen	...	Mary Alice Mahoney
Kaiulani Lee	...	Scotty Hughes
Tanya Berezin	...	Newsday editor
William Youmans	...	Motel clerk
Amanda Lyons	...	Kate Singer
Chris Cunningham	...	Joey Singer

Storyline

Judith Singer is a housewife, out of the journalism business for many years. When a dentist she has been seeing (who has a strong bedside manner even while female patients are still in the chair) is found murdered, she finds that a neighbor is a suspect. She begins to investigate. This places her in danger from the murderer, from the women who have had affairs with the dentist, and from the police who begin to wonder why she is always at the scenes where clues are discovered. Her husband becomes angry at what is happening, placing strains on her family as she finds herself more and more attracted to the police detective investigating the murder.

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Plot Keywords:

dentist | murder | investigation | detective | woman in towel | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 August 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

En tand for meget

Filming Locations:

East Hampton, Long Island, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blackhawk Productions, C.P. Productions, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Susan Sarandon has stated that money was a big factor regarding her decision to make this film. Not terribly enamored by her character, she agreed to do the film because she was pregnant with her first child at the time and it would allow her to take time off after giving birth.

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Goofs

When Judith visits David Suarez at the police station, a boom mike is seen retracting above his head as he sits with his feet on his desk.

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Quotes

Bob Singer: I promise, on Sunday, 24 hours a day: total Fleckstein.

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Connections

References Psycho (1960)

User Reviews

One of the best

This is one of the biggest surprises to come out of the 80's. I could watch it over and over....Susan Sarandon is great (a strong and dynamic woman trapped in a dull marriage to a total jerk) - Edward Herrman plays the perfect total jerk. Judith Singer's relationship with the lieutenant played by the wonderful late Raul Julia is beautifully played out. The funniest of all is Judith Ivey with her unbelievable delivery (especially the line about the cole slaw). The tongue in cheek parody of an annoyingly incestuous suburban community is handled with subtle humor and total class. I really recommend this movie!

BTW, Compromising Positions is based on the novel by Susan Isaacs; if you love the movie you will adore the book as well.