Murphy's Romance (1985)

Emma is a divorced woman with a teen aged boy who moves into a small town and tries to make a go of a horse ranch. Murphy is the town druggist who steers business her way. Things are going ... See full summary »

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Max Schott (story), Harriet Frank Jr.,

Stars:

Sally Field, James Garner, Brian Kerwin

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sally Field	...	Emma Moriarty
James Garner	...	Murphy Jones
Brian Kerwin	...	Bobby Jack Moriarty
Corey Haim	...	Jake Moriarty
Dennis Burkley	...	Freeman Coverly
Georgann Johnson	...	Margaret
Dortha Duckworth	...	Bessie
Michael Prokopuk	...	Albert
Billy Ray Sharkey	...	Larry Le Beau
Michael Crabtree	...	Jim Forrest
Anna Levine	...	Wanda
Charles Lane	...	Amos Abbott
Bruce French	...	Rex Boyd
John C. Becher	...	Jesse Parker
Henry Slate	...	Fred Hite

Storyline

Emma is a divorced woman with a teen aged boy who moves into a small town and tries to make a go of a horse ranch. Murphy is the town druggist who steers business her way. Things are going along predictably until her ex husband shows up, needing a place to stay. The three of them form an intricate circle, Emma's son liking Murphy, but desperately wanting his father back.

---

Plot Keywords:

horse | horse ranch | small town | widower | single parent | 

---

Taglines:

Just when you think you've found the right guy, someone even worse comes along.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 January 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

El romance de Murphy

Filming Locations:

Florence, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$30,762,621 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Delphi IV Productions, Fogwood Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gene Blakely's final film.

---

Goofs

Murphy uses the same fountain dispenser for Coke (when Emma wanted a lemon coke), water (when Emma wanted Excedrin and water) and club soda (when Emma wanted a chocolate soda) and always pulls the handle toward himself.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Murphy: [to Emma, who's about to put a flyer on his windshield] Lady, you're covering up my causes.

---

Connections

Referenced in Video Violence... When Renting Is Not Enough. (1987)

---

Soundtracks

"HUNGRY HOWLING AT THE MOON"
Music and Lyrics by Carole King
Performed by Carole King
Lead vocal by Joanne Christy Pierce
Produced by Lou Adler

User Reviews

A Chick Flick?

Sure, this is a romantic comedy, but I wouldn't call it a chick flick. It's a great story, and all the principals work effortlessly towards making the film just downright entertaining.

Garner is at his best as an understatedly charming small-town pharmacist who becomes entangled in the life of a fiercely independent single mother with a deadbeat ex-husband. Field hits all the right notes with her character, but I can't tell if she's stepping back, or she just doesn't know how to play against Garner's lackadaisical style. Brian Kerwin gives his best screen performance as her ex, and sure, he plays a deadbeat, but he just oozes sex appeal.