Moonstruck (1987)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writer:

John Patrick Shanley (written by)

Release Date:

18 December 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Drama

Tagline:

Life. Family. Love.

Plot:

A widowed Brooklyn book-keeper is torn between her fiancé and his brother.

Plot Keywords:

Brother | Love | Marriage | Opera | Proposal

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Cher	...	Loretta Castorini
Nicolas Cage	...	Ronny Cammareri
Vincent Gardenia	...	Cosmo Castorini
Olympia Dukakis	...	Rose Castorini
Danny Aiello	...	Mr. Johnny Cammareri
Julie Bovasso	...	Rita Cappomaggi
John Mahoney	...	Perry
Louis Guss	...	Raymond Cappomaggi
Feodor Chaliapin Jr.	...	Old Man (as Feodor Chaliapin)
Anita Gillette	...	Mona
Leonardo Cimino	...	Felix
Paula Trueman	...	Lucy
Nada Despotovich	...	Chrissy
Joe Grifasi	...	Shy Waiter
Gina DeAngeles	...	Old Crone

Also Known As:

The Bride and the Wolf (USA) (original script title)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:PG | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (TV rating) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG (#28740) | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

19 Cranberry Street, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The movie was named as one of "The 20 Most Overrated Movies Of All Time" by Premiere.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Loretta and Jonny leave the Grand Ticino restaurant, seen as being on Hicks St, which is in downtown Brooklyn. Loretta drives Jonny to the airport for his flight to Sicily, traveling via a tunnel. Since it's an international flight, he'd be going to JFK, but there's no need to travel via a tunnel from Brooklyn to JFK.

Quotes:

[Johnny, at his mother's deathbed, telephones his fiancee Loretta]
Loretta Castorini: Did you tell her we're getting married?
Johnny: I'm waiting... I'm waiting for a moment when she is peaceful.
Loretta Castorini: Well, don't wait until she's dead.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "I Love the 80's 3-D" (2005)

Soundtrack:

It Must Be Him

Superb Craftsmanship in Our Finest Romantic Comedy!

This film stands head and shoulders above the vast majority of cinematic romantic comedies. It is virtually flawless! The writing, acting, production design, humor and pathos are all wonderful! Even the music -- from Dean Martin to La Boheme -- is captivating and delightful!

Every character is peculiarly delightful and memorable, from the leads played by Cher and Nicolas Cage, to the many supporting roles -- Olympia Dukakis , Vincent Gardenia, John Mahoney, Danny Aiello -- even grandpa with his dog pack! Each of these performers, plus Norman Jewison as Director, performs above their normal quality in this ensemble work. For several of the actors, this was an early major exposure in film, so the casting is also exceptional -- and we have many current acting powerhouses whose careers were altered by their effectiveness in this film.

I've seen this film several times all the way through -- which can sometimes deflate the impact of a film substantially. More tellingly, I realized some years ago that whenever I channel-surfed my way into a scene from this film -- any scene -- the scene was compelling and beautifully crafted. There are so many stunning and memorable scenes the original meeting between the Cher and Nicolas Cage characters, where Cage tells his tale of woe; Vincent Gardenia discovered with his paramour at the opera, amidst the splendor generated by his gold-mine plumbing business; Olympia Dukakis scolding John Mahoney for philandering with his student in the classic line about liaisons with co-workers: "Don't sh-t where you eat!"; Danny Aiello at his dying mother's bedside; Nicolas Cage "taking" Cher as the rapture of an aria soars in the background!

There are of course many great romantic comedies, among them Sabrina (both versions, but especially the Audrey Hepburn/Humphrey Bogart/William Holden original); When Harry Met Sally; The Apartment.

None quite equals Moonstruck!