A Simple Twist of Fate (1994)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Gillies MacKinnon

Writers (WGA):

George Eliot (novel)
Steve Martin (written by)

Release Date:

2 September 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

A twist of fate brought them something wonderful... Each other!

Plot:

His life was emotionally closed off from the world, until an orphaned baby showed up at his house.

Plot Keywords:

Gold | Adopted Daughter | Secret | Miser | Baby

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Steve Martin	...	Michael McCann
Gabriel Byrne	...	John Newland
Laura Linney	...	Nancy Lambert Newland
Catherine O'Hara	...	April Simon
Alana Austin	...	Mathilda McCann - Age 10
Alyssa Austin	...	Mathilda McCann - Age 5
Alaina Mobley	...	Mathilda McCann - Age 3
Callie Mobley	...	Mathilda McCann - Age 3
Victoria Evans	...	Mathilda McCann - Age 1
Elizabeth Evans	...	Mathilda McCann - Age 1
Stephen Baldwin	...	Tanny Newland
Byron Jennings	...	Keating
Michael Des Barres	...	Bryce (as Michael des Barres)
Tim Ware	...	Rob
David Dwyer	...	Joe the Bartender

Also Known As:

Twist of Fate (Australia) (TV title)

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:S | Australia:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

A potentially real (not 555 prefix) phone number with area code 910 was given in the movie. Not long after the movie was made, this area code was established for then central, now southeastern North Carolina.

Goofs:

Continuity: When John Newland (Byrne) is outside in the stables talking to his wife Nancy, he is not wearing any neckwear. Yet in the next scene when they are inside, just before he confesses his secret to her wife, he sports a gray silk ascot tie.

Quotes:

Michael McCann: I was thinking I'd call her Mathilda
Mrs. Simon: I will give you the deed to my house not to call her that.

Movie Connections:

Version of Are Children to Blame? (1920)

Based on the George Eliot Novel, Silas Marner but better

I recently read the novel 'Silas Marner' whilst on holiday having heard that A Simple Twist... was a reworking of the book. I have to say that the book was good but in this instance the film was better.

Steve Martin has that hang dog look anyway and his visual expressionism is superb. The warmth and feeling that come across in the film is truly moving whilst Byrne playing the cold hearted millionaire stops it from becoming mushy. I would certainly recommend viewing of this film.