Outrageous Fortune (1987)

Lauren and Sandy are total opposites who end up in the same acting class and who don't know they are sharing a lover. When he disappears under mysterious circumstances they refuse to ... See full summary »

Director:

Arthur Hiller

Writer:

Leslie Dixon

Stars:

Shelley Long, Bette Midler, Peter Coyote

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shelley Long	...	Lauren
Bette Midler	...	Sandy
Peter Coyote	...	Michael
Robert Prosky	...	Stanislav Korzenowski
John Schuck	...	Atkins
George Carlin	...	Frank
Anthony Heald	...	Weldon
Ji-Tu Cumbuka	...	Cab Driver
Florence Stanley	...	Ticket Agent
Jerry Zaks	...	Tobacco Clerk
John DiSanti	...	Police Lieutenant (as John Di Santi)
Diana Bellamy	...	Madam
Gary Morgan	...	Panansky
Christopher McDonald	...	George (as Chris McDonald)
J.W. Smith	...	Dealer #1

Storyline

Lauren and Sandy are total opposites who end up in the same acting class and who don't know they are sharing a lover. When he disappears under mysterious circumstances they refuse to believe that he is dead and are the only ones who are searching for him across several states. Ending up in the western US., they discover he had other interests as they find their lives in danger.

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Plot Keywords:

acting | theatre audience | ransom | news report | bordello | 

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Taglines:

The CIA is trailing them. The KGB is tracking them. The phone company is tracing them. The police are chasing them. The cowboys are herding them. And the Indians are hunting them. Are they going to fall for all of that?

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

30 January 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dos rivales tras un canalla

Filming Locations:

Abiquiu, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$52,864,741 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners II, Interscope Communications

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is taken from the Shakespearean play "Hamlet", Act 3, Scene 1, line 58, which is the famous "To be or not to be" speech. In the movie, Long's character confesses to a classmate at the beginning of the movie that she someday hopes to play Hamlet.

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Goofs

In the scene where Lauren and Sandy are on the conveyor belt in the bowels of the Albuquerque airport, Lauren throws a suitcase at the CIA agent right before he hits his head on the light fixture. As she picks up the bag, it's a duffel bag. Quickly it changes to a suitcase. By the time it hits his head, it's morphed into yet a third piece of luggage.

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Quotes

Lauren: Where are we? We've been going for miles and I haven't seen a single white person on the street.
Sandy: There's one.
[Lauren looks out of taxi cab window]
Sandy: Oops. They got 'em.
Lauren: That's not funny.

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Crazy Credits

As the credits roll over the freezeframe of the curtain call, Long and Midler can be heard bickering about Long's performance in the play.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Hamlet (1999)

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Soundtracks

"Get Out of Denver"
Written and Performed by Bob Seger
Courtesy of Capitol Records

User Reviews

Great Star Duo!

Bette Midler and Shelley Long... make one of the best female pairs ever! They are an absolute scream! It would be wonderful if we were to see them in another film together. This movie is one of the best under-rated comedies I have ever seen!

Funny action/mystery plot is very winning that packs both power and energy. A must see for anyone that loves a good comedy... however... is on the adult side of things....

U will laugh your ass off!