Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Director:

Nora Ephron

Writers (WGA):

Jeff Arch (story)
Nora Ephron (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 June 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Drama

Tagline:

What if someone you never met, someone you never saw, someone you never knew was the only someone for you?

Plot:

A recently-widowed man's son calls a radio talk show in an attempt to find his father a partner.

Plot Keywords:

Radio | Love | Valentine's Day | Christmas Eve | Widower

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 10 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Feb. 11	3:30 PM	E
Fri. Feb. 12	9:30 AM	E

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Tom Hanks	...	Sam Baldwin
Ross Malinger	...	Jonah Baldwin
Rita Wilson	...	Suzy
Victor Garber	...	Greg
Tom Riis Farrell	...	Rob
Carey Lowell	...	Maggie Baldwin
Meg Ryan	...	Annie Reed
Bill Pullman	...	Walter
Le Clanché du Rand	...	Barbara Reed
Kevin O'Morrison	...	Cliff Reed
David Hyde Pierce	...	Dennis Reed
Valerie Wright	...	Betsy Reed
Frances Conroy	...	Irene Reed
Tom Tammi	...	Harold Reed
Calvin Trillin	...	Uncle Milton

MPAA:

Rated PG for some language.

Runtime:

105 min | Turkey:93 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG (certificate #32238) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:AL | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

1904 4th Avenue, Seattle, Washington, USA

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

Garry Marshall was originally slated to direct the film. He is the brother of actor/director Penny Marshall, who directed Tom Hanks in Big (1988) and A League of Their Own (1992). She is the ex-wife of Rob Reiner, who plays Jay in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: Annie's hand that picks up the popcorn while watching the video.

Quotes:

Annie: This was mailed before I went to Seattle. Before the ho.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Das Wunder von Loch Ness (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Over The Rainbow

A few flaws, but strong overall

Tom Hanks is his usual steady, likable self in "Sleepless in Seattle," a steady, likable movie that also benefits from one of Meg Ryan's more restrained (i.e. less obviously, annoyingly cute) performances.

It's their talent that helped me overlook some of the film's more noticeable flaws, particularly its treatment of the eventually-to-be-rejected Other Man and Other Woman. Both Hanks' and Ryan's "unsuitable" partners appear to be perfectly nice people, yet the movie casually dismisses them over one little flaw apiece--the woman laughs like a hyena and the man has terrible allergies. Both characters behave very well, considering the way they're treated by others. Hanks' girlfriend in particular desires a medal for putting up with his brat of a son, who is rude to her at every opportunity.

I also had difficulty warming to Hanks' son, although he is certainly preferable to the young girl who keeps expressing everything in initials.

On the bright side, there are many engaging supporting characters, including Rob Reiner as a fellow architect. Also of note are the rich homeowner, the dotty babysitter and Rosie O'Donnell as Ryan's editor and friend. Thankfully, few to none of their scenes involve the annoying children.

Many of the jokes are funny, the best coming when Hanks and a friend ridicule the weepy reaction of many women to "chick flicks" by sobbing as they recount the plot of "The Dirty Dozen."