Green Card (1990)

A man wanting to stay in the US enters into a marriage of convenience, but it turns into more than that.

Director:

Peter Weir

Writer:

Peter Weir

Stars:

Gérard Depardieu, Andie MacDowell, Bebe Neuwirth

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gérard Depardieu	...	Georges
Andie MacDowell	...	Brontë
Bebe Neuwirth	...	Lauren
Gregg Edelman	...	Phil
Robert Prosky	...	Brontë's Lawyer
Jessie Keosian	...	Mrs. Bird
Ethan Phillips	...	Gorsky
Mary Louise Wilson	...	Mrs. Sheehan
Lois Smith	...	Brontë's Parent (Mother)
Conrad McLaren	...	Brontë's Parent (Father)
Ronald Guttman	...	Anton
Danny Dennis	...	Oscar
Stephen Pearlman	...	Mr. Adler
Victoria Boothby	...	Mrs. Adler
Ann Wedgeworth	...	Party Guest

Storyline

George Faure is a Frenchman who has been offered a job in the U.S. But in order to get the job he must obtain a work permit - green card, and the easiest way is to marry an American. Bronte Parrish is a New Yorker who is a keen horticulturist and just found the perfect flat with its own greenhouse. Unfortunately the flat is for married couples only. A marriage of convenience seems the ideal solution to both problems. To convince the immigration officers they are married for love, they must move in with each other. As the mismatched couple attempt to cope with life together, they start to fall in love.

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Plot Keywords:

love | immigration | greenhouse | green card | photo album | 

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Taglines:

An irresistibly charming comedy!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

France Australia USA

Language:

English French Spanish

Release Date:

11 January 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Carte verde

Filming Locations:

American Irish Historical Society, 991 Fifth Avenue, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$29,888,235 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), DD Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 107 min (TCM print) (dvd release)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First in US film for Gérard Depardieu.

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Goofs

Bronte's arm on Georges' arm when they talk for the first time to the government agents.

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Quotes

[trying to shift all the blame for their bogus marriage onto Georges]
Brontë Mitchell Faure: You stroll around my apartment, touching my things. Do you know what trouble you've gotten me into? Do you?

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Connections

Referenced in Anus Magillicutty (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Flute and Harp Concerto in C Major: Andantino"
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Suddeutsches Kammerorchester Stuttgart
Courtesy of Teldec Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Decent though rarely hilarious romcom

A romantic comedy-drama really, with far fewer laughs and much more sentiment than typical for the genre, though seemingly based on the favourite romcom premise that two people thrown into a position of intimacy for an extended period will inevitably fall into a touching and romantic love no matter how incompatible they at first appear. Depardieu comes across very well, though really doesn't need to try very hard to pull off the fairly stereotypical 'big french feller' he plays here, and MacDowell is her usual droney-voiced, moody-faced self, there to look pretty but prim rather than inspire any great feeling. The story ambles along nicely, taking in most of the standard licks of the genre ? impressing the friends, the family, high jinks with the neighbours, bad behaviour and heroism, shouting and laughing together to illustrate how love can emerge from conflict. Not hugely funny or romantic, but very nice to see that a romantic leading man could still smoke, drink and eat lots of butter in health-obsessed Hollywood back in 1990.