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 | detective | investigation | pornography | 

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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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Quotes

Nancy Miller: I mostly want lots of good, straight sex.
Judith Singer: What about affection, caring, love?
Nancy Miller: I get love from Larry. I do love Larry. And he loves me.
Judith Singer: So why the other men?
Nancy Miller: Because they give me what Larry can't. Passion. Excitement. Novelty.
Judith Singer: Can't you get that from Larry?
Nancy Miller: Can you get that from Bob?

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Connections

Features Jane Eyre (1943)

User Reviews

Fun rainy day movie, with a hilarious Judith Ivey

This is a movie that you will have fun watching, and you might find yourself watching it again and again. It is certainly throwaway, and will never show up on anyone's top ten list, but it works nonetheless. Like The Late Show with Lily Tomlin and Art Carney, it involves a woman investigating a mystery, a seasoned detective and humor evolving from the lead character being involved in something so over her head. Judith Ivey has some great moments as an artist/housewife who loves her husband but seeks out meaningless sexual trysts. Her pure hedonistic attitude toward her lifestyle, and unshakable lack of guilt make for some hilarious moments. Susan Sarandon plays a naive housewife who used to be a reporter. She longs for the excitement, but is hampered by a domineering husband who wishes for nothing else from her than a hot meal and clean underwear. It's no wonder she's ripe for an affair with the lead detective on the case, Raul Julia. He finds himself falling for her despite the fact that she's driving him crazy by horning in on the case.

I love this movie for the same reason that I love Six Days and Seven Nights with Anne Heche and Harrison Ford, it's funny and has a nice romantic plot that keeps me coming back again and again to experience it. This is Sunday afternoon fodder, lazy day entertainment that won't ruffle your feathers with too serious subject matter and objectionable content. It's just a fun movie.

I really enjoyed seeing Raul Julia pining over Sarandon. Too many times he was the heavy in a film, or being subjected to the machinations of one. Here he is just a man who happens to be a detective, and the only thing heavy about him is the change in his pocket. Sarandon plays her part well, acting oblivious to her growing interest in Julia, a point that Judith Ivey makes clear in blunt and humorous terms.

It's a little silly, and you can see things coming a mile away at times, but all in all you'll be glad you rented it. My wife liked it a lot as well, and it's always nice to find a movie that women like that doesn't smell like potpourri before you even get it in the DVD player. If you like movies like Fletch, The Late Show and Six Days, Seven Nights, you'll enjoy this.