Fatal Attraction (1987)

Director:

Adrian Lyne

Writers (WGA):

James Dearden (screenplay)
James Dearden (short film by)

Release Date:

18 September 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

On the other side of drinks, dinner and a one night stand, lies a terrifying love story.

Plot:

A married man's one night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family.

Plot Keywords:

Affair | New York | Stabbed To Death | Woman Killing | Killing A Pet

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Michael Douglas	...	Dan Gallagher
Glenn Close	...	Alex Forrest
Anne Archer	...	Beth Gallagher
Ellen Hamilton Latzen	...	Ellen Gallagher
Stuart Pankin	...	Jimmy
Ellen Foley	...	Hildy
Fred Gwynne	...	Arthur
Meg Mundy	...	Joan Rogerson
Tom Brennan	...	Howard Rogerson
Lois Smith	...	Martha
Mike Nussbaum	...	Bob Drimmer
J.J. Johnston	...	O'Rourke
Michael Arkin	...	Lieutenant
Sam Coppola	...	Fuselli (as Sam J. Coppola)
Eunice Prewitt	...	Receptionist

Also Known As:

Affairs of the Heart (USA) (original script title)
Diversion (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | Dolby Digital (5.1 surround)

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Singapore:M18 | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Italy:VM14 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Malaysia:(Banned)

Filming Locations:

400 East 14th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Glenn Close still has the knife she used in the movie hanging in her kitchen.

Goofs:

Continuity: Before the final scene, there is an outside shot of the Gallager home. It is supposed to be late Fall (Christmas decorations seen while Beth is driving, Ellen practicing for her Thanksgiving play) yet the trees outside the home are all in full bloom.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Beth Gallagher: [to Ellen] You better get going, kiddo. You're gonna be late.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Megan Mullally/Clay Aiken (#29.11)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

WHEN I FALL IN LOVE

good acting, ok movie

When watching this movie, my biggest problem was that I couldn't really sympathize with either one of the main characters, Michael Douglas' Dan, or Glenn Close's Alex. Douglas played a married man who had a weekend-long affair with a business associate, played by Glenn Close. Dan didn't know he was getting involved with a psychopath, but he shouldn't have cheated on his wife in the first place. It's never really clear why he cheats on his wife, other than a selfish attack of lust. Alex was trying to make a point that he couldn't just use her and then go back to his family, but she knew he was married, so she should have known what she was getting into. She seemed so mature and sophisticated in the beginning, and then we never find out why she is so crazy. I lost any bit of sympathy I might have felt for her during the rabbit scene. It's one thing to harass a grown man whom you feel has wronged you, but it's entirely different to take it out on his innocent 6-year old child. The final showdown with Dan's wife in the bathroom is very predictable, right down to the screaming teakettle in the kitchen that masks the screams from upstairs. I do think the ending was a little more than Douglas' character deserved. He didn't really seem sorry for what he did; it took terrible things happening to his family to make him confess to his wife. His family was so lovable and nice, and they definitely didn't deserve to be so poorly treated. Dan was very lucky to have home and family restored to him at the end; he didn't really deserve it. All in all though, this film wasn't a bad thriller. I must admit I was a little tense trying to guess what Alex would do next. I wasn't entirely sure what she was capable of, so it added to the suspense of the film. Close's acting was good; she was a very believable psycho. There was a lot of talent in this film, and everyone turned in good performances. Although it was relatively predictable, if you allow yourself to get swept up by it, it is made exciting by Close's performance. Not a bad film, but not the best thriller ever made.