The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)

Rose and Gregory, both Columbia University professors meet when Rose's sister answers Gregory's "personals" ad. Several times burned, the handsome-but-boring Gregory believes that sex has ... See full summary »

Director:

Barbra Streisand

Writers:

André Cayatte (screenplay), Gérard Oury (screenplay),

Stars:

Barbra Streisand, Jeff Bridges, Lauren Bacall

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbra Streisand	...	Rose Morgan
Jeff Bridges	...	Gregory Larkin
Lauren Bacall	...	Hannah Morgan
George Segal	...	Henry Fine
Mimi Rogers	...	Claire
Pierce Brosnan	...	Alex
Brenda Vaccaro	...	Doris
Austin Pendleton	...	Barry
Elle Macpherson	...	Candy
Ali Marsh	...	First Girl Student
Leslie Stefanson	...	Sara Myers
Taina Elg	...	Female Professor
Lucy Avery Brooks	...	Felicia
Amber Smith	...	Felicia - Video
David Kinzie	...	Claire's Masseur

Storyline

Rose and Gregory, both Columbia University professors meet when Rose's sister answers Gregory's "personals" ad. Several times burned, the handsome-but-boring Gregory believes that sex has ruined his life, and has deliberately set out to find and marry a woman with absolutely no sex appeal. Greg thinks he's found what he's looking for in Rose, a plain, plump English Lit professor who can't compete with her gorgeous mother and sister. More out of mutual admiration and respect than love, Greg and Rose marry. Greg assumes that Rose understands that he is not interested in a sexual relationship. He's mistaken, and their marriage is nearly destroyed when Rose tries to consummate their relationship. While Gregory is out of the country on a lecture tour, Rose diets and exercises to transform herself into a sexy siren in a last-ditch attempt to save her marriage.

---

Plot Keywords:

sex | professor | marriage | lecture | literature | 

---

Taglines:

A story about just how wrong two people can be before they can be right.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language, sensuality and some mature thematic material

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

El espejo tiene dos caras

Filming Locations:

505 West End Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$42,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

ITL 1,372,400,000 (Italy) (14 February 1997)

Gross:

ITL 2,628,959,000 (Italy) (7 March 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, Phoenix Pictures, Barwood Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min 122 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby SR Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During production, most of the crew was replaced. That's why the film has two credited directors of photography.

---

Goofs

When Candice leaves Gregory, she slings her bag over her shoulder and her right hand is alternately on/off the strap in subsequent shots.

---

Quotes

Rose Morgan: This thing that we call a wedding ceremony is really the final scene of the fairy tale. They never tell you what happens after. They never tell you that Cinderella drove the Prince crazy with her obsessive need to clean the castle, cause she missed her day job, right?

---

Connections

Referenced in My Own Private Oshawa (2002)

---

Soundtracks

"Ruby"
Written by Mitchell Parish & Heinz Roemheld

User Reviews

A wonderful film!

The Mirror Has Two Faces is one of Barbra's finest works. In this movie you have two people,(Barbra and Jeff Bridges),who are both weary and skeptical about "true" love, but both have different outlooks on it. Barbra is optimistic and hopeful, while Jeff Bridges feels that the only way to make a relationship last is to completely take the sex out of it and have a loving friendship only,(one based strictly on companionship). The movie explores both of the main characters inner fears and inner struggles in a way that, not unless you're not human, you can certainly relate with. For instance: In reality, Barbra's character felt inwardly about herself that she wasn't good enough....wasn't attractive enough. She liked the idea of marrying Jeff Bridges character under the premise of strictly a loving companionship only because her character feels...well, my goodness! Here's a really handsome man that really likes me and likes being with me. He wants to take sex out of the equation, but...that's okay. It's NOT what I really want, but I'll "SETTLE". On the other hand, Jeff Bridges character, Gregory, feels that with all his failed relationships of the past, that if he takes sex out of the picture, that maybe, just maybe, it'll last. He wants a true, loving, one on one relationship with another woman but he really doesn't want to have it be without physical love either. But...out of fear that it wont last, he decides that he's got to take the physical part out of it, even though deep down inside, he doesn't really want that. So...he "SETTLES" as well. In reality, they have both truly fallen in love with each other, but both are trying to abide by what they both agreed to; a loving friendship only, with absolutely no physical love. This creates many, many tense situations between them that end up creating very funny scenes and lines. Theres a scene right after they get married and the two of them are in their home, all done for the day unpacking and getting settled. Jeff Bridge's character says to Barbra's..."So! What do you want to do now?" Barbra, innocently meaning to suggest they both go to sleep, shrugs her shoulders and says..."Go to bed". Jeff's eyes get all nervous looking and he starts having difficulty breathing. Barbra's character replies..."No! I mean, to sleep, that is! One goes to bed...to sleep!" A little later on she is unloading all this frustration and tension to her sister Claire in a phone conversation. She says..."I don't know how to ask for it Claire!" Meaning sex. She continues to say..."Sometimes we're so "polite" to each other I feel like we're two roommates living in a charm school!" Her sister replies..."Just give him a "look" that makes him "know" you want sex!" Barbra's character then replies..."I tried that once. He thought I had something in my eye!" Yes indeed, there are many great moments in this film. In the end, what's great is that both of the characters understand that what they did was "settle", and "settling", especially with something as important as true love is never a good idea. But more importantly, they learn that in the end, anything truly worthwhile, sometimes you have to take risks for. Unless you are really that jaded, you can not leave this movie by it's end without feeling,(even if just a little),good! The supporting cast is great, including Lauren Bacall, Brenda Vacaro and George Segal. A wonderful film. Truly one of Barbra's finest.