Sliding Doors (1998)

A London woman's love life and career both hinge, unknown to her, on whether or not she catches a train. We see it both ways, in parallel.

Director:

Peter Howitt

Writer:

Peter Howitt

Stars:

Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah, John Lynch

7 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Helen
John Hannah	...	James
John Lynch	...	Gerry
Jeanne Tripplehorn	...	Lydia
Zara Turner	...	Anna
Douglas McFerran	...	Russell
Paul Brightwell	...	Clive
Nina Young	...	Claudia
Virginia McKenna	...	James's Mother
Kevin McNally	...	Paul
Terry English	...	Kind Cabbie
Paul Stacey	...	Man on Tube
Peter Howitt	...	Cheeky Bloke
Joanna Roth	...	Suspicious Girl
Neil Stuke	...	Defensive Bloke

Storyline

Young Helen is fired from her job at a PR company, and when the sliding doors of the tube car close on her, we start to see what would have happened if she'd made the train, and if she hadn't.

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Plot Keywords:

train | cheating | shower | waitress | hospital | 

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Taglines:

Helen is about to find that romance was never this much fun.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dos vidas en un instante

Filming Locations:

Waterloo & City Line, London Underground, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,134,641 (UK) (1 May 1998)

Gross:

$11,883,495 (USA) (28 August 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Intermedia Films, Mirage Enterprises, Miramax Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When James and Helen first meet on the tube, James talks about The Beatles. A little later in the film, as Helen and Anna get into the taxi they instruct the driver to take them to 9 Menlove Ave. Menlove Ave (251) was the childhood home of The Beatles's John Lennon in Liverpool. Lennon also felt a great affinity with the number "9".

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Goofs

When John and Helen stand talking on a street corner, her blond hair is sometimes falling into her left eye, and sometimes combed up.

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Quotes

Lydia: I just thought of a great ending for your book... THE END.

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Connections

Features Monty Python's Flying Circus: The Spanish Inquisition (1970)

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Soundtracks

"Got A Thing About You"
Written by Andrew Barreau
Performed by Those Magnificent Men

User Reviews

Unique and Natural

This film is a lightweight comedy/drama with a unique story. Although Gwyneth Paltrow plays the same character in both aspects of the story, both Helens seem completely different. The flow of the story seems quite natural and the cast does a wonderful job going through the twists and turns of their characters lives. It's a chick flick with none of the sap.