A Simple Twist of Fate (1994)

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 | Secret | Miser | Baby | Adopted Daughter

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:

Based on the 1870 novel "Silas Marner" by George Eliot.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: The shadow of a boom mic is visible above Mathilda's mom, when Mathilda begins to cry.

Quotes:

Bailiff: All Rise!
Judge Marcus: To hell with that, let's go!

Movie Connections:

Version of Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe (1985) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Red Is the Rose

A Wonderful Touching Movie

This movie is one of the best that Steve Martin has done. The only people who wouldn't like this movie would have to be fans of Martin from The Jerk and The Man With Two Brains, neither of which movie I enjoy in the slightest. Thank the heavens that Mr. Martin broke out of his stereotype, and showed us he can REALLY act. Coming a long way from his thankfully bygone days as the Jerk, Martin shows us his tender side, in a touching portrayal of a bitter hermit saved by the love of an orphan child. While it was not the laugh a minute comedy I was mislead to expect by the promotions for this movie, I still enjoyed every moment of it. Warm, sad, happy, and wistfully funny, it's a movie that can be watched many times and not lose its magic. And the Austin sisters who portray Mathilda at 5 and 11 are absolutely wonderful, and are a perfect fit with Martin.