Sliding Doors (1998)

Director:

Peter Howitt

Writer:

Peter Howitt (writer)

Release Date:

24 April 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

There are two sides to every story. Helen is about to live both of them ...at the same time. Romance was never this much fun.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Train | Cheating | Hospital | Shower | Love

Awards:

6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

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
Theresa Kartell	...	Rachael
Evelyn Duah	...	Receptionist
Linda Broughton	...	Theatre Nurse
Charlotte Fryer	...	Doctor
Pip Miller	...	Consultant
Christopher Villiers	...	Steve
Merryn Jones	...	Mother
Ella Jones	...	Child
Julie McDowell	...	Concerned Diner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Burrows-Sutcliffe	...	Bob (uncredited)
Carlton Jarvis	...	Anaesthetist (uncredited)
Barry Lee-Thomas	...	Local MP (uncredited)
Alex Reid	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Vivienne Soan	...	Nurse (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Howitt

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Peter Howitt		writer

Produced by
Helen Booth	....	line producer
Philippa Braithwaite	....	producer
Guy East	....	executive producer
William Horberg	....	producer
Sydney Pollack	....	producer
Sandy Poustie	....	associate producer
Nigel Sinclair	....	executive producer
David Wisnievitz	....	co-producer

Original Music by
David Hirschfelder

Cinematography by
Remi Adefarasin

Film Editing by
John Smith

Casting by
Michelle Guish

Production Design by
Maria Djurkovic

Art Direction by
Martyn John

Costume Design by
Jill Taylor

Makeup Department
Tina Earnshaw	....	key makeup designer
Rebecca Lafford	....	makeup artist
Lisa McDevitt	....	makeup artist
Graham Pownall	....	hair stylist
Zoe Tahir	....	hair stylist
Simon Thompson	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Stephen Barker	....	post-production supervisor
Andy Richards	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sara Desmond	....	second assistant director
Emma Griffiths	....	third assistant director
Richard Whelan	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Bruce Bigg	....	property master
Peter Bigg	....	dressing props
Mick Boleyn	....	construction manager (as Michael Boleyn)
Liliana Cifonelli	....	art department assistant
Alan Clifford	....	stagehand
Laura Dishington	....	art department runner
Judy Ducker	....	property buyer
Jim Dyson	....	stand-by painter
Lee Hosken	....	stand-by carpenter (as Lee Hoskens)
Douglas Ingram	....	storyboard artist
Tatiana Macdonald	....	stand-by art director (as Tatiana Lund)
Mitch Niclas	....	stand-by props
Simon Robilliard	....	stagehand
Ray Rose	....	props storeman
Ted Stickley	....	dressing props
Warren Stickley	....	stand-by props
Kevin Woodhouse	....	art department trainee (uncredited)

Sound Department
Craig Burns	....	sound trainee
David B. Cohn	....	sound editor (as David B. Cohen)
Tammy Fearing	....	foley editor
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Laura Lovejoy	....	adr editor
Laura Lovejoy	....	dialogue editor
John Midgley	....	sound mixer
Sarah Monat	....	foley artist
Robert Morrisey	....	assistant sound editor
June Prinz	....	boom operator
Carolyn Sauer	....	foley recordist
Christian Scallan	....	sound engineer (as Chris Scallan)
Christian Scallan	....	sound mixer (as Chris Scallan)
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer (as Randy K. Singer)
Thomas W. Small	....	supervising foley editor (as Thomas Small)
Beth Sterner	....	sound editor
John Soukup	....	sound transfer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bob Hollow	....	special effects supervisor

Stunts
Roy Alon	....	stunts
Helen Caldwell	....	stunt coordinator
Helen Caldwell	....	stunts
Adrian O'Neil	....	stunts
Seon Rogers	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
John Arnold	....	key grip
Alex Bailey	....	still photographer
James Bloom	....	clapper loader
Julian Bucknall	....	focus puller
Matthew Dowler	....	electrician
Ian Franklin	....	electrician
Jeremy Gee	....	camera operator
Camille Griffin	....	second clapper loader
Barrie More	....	best boy
Jay Jay Odedra	....	second focus puller
Mark Richards	....	stand-by rigger
William Richards	....	stand-by rigger (as Bill Richards)
Mitch Spooner	....	best boy
Alf Tramontin	....	Steadicam operator
Jim Wilson	....	gaffer
Adam Dale	....	aerial camera operator (uncredited)
Martyn Welland	....	electrician (uncredited)
Jimmy Wilson	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Julia Gale	....	casting assistant
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert Green	....	costume trainee
Jane Hamnett	....	costume design assistant
Charlotte Sewell	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Adam Barton	....	second assistant film editor
Paul Knight	....	first assistant editor
Joanna Nodwell	....	first assistant film editor
Vaughn Mullady	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Anita Camarata	....	music supervisor
Ricky Edwards	....	orchestrator
John Finklea	....	music editor
Sienna Finklea	....	assistant music editor
Kaylin Frank	....	music coordinator
David Hirschfelder	....	orchestrator
Sam Schwartz	....	music notator
Con Frantzeskos	....	music administrator (uncredited)
Paul Gillon	....	music consultant (uncredited)
Tony Lewis	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
David Barry	....	unit driver
Ray Chambers	....	driver: minibus
Terry English	....	unit driver
Gerry Floyd	....	unit driver
Jim Magill	....	driver: Ms. Paltrow
Jay Nicol	....	driver: minibus
Bill Nixon	....	stand-by transport

Other crew
Jordan Archer	....	unit nurse
John Beharrell	....	production accountant
Penelope Beharrell	....	assistant production accountant
Barbara Berkery	....	dialogue coach
Stuart Carter Lambert	....	assistant: Philippa Braithwaite
Stephanie Comer	....	assistant: William Horberg
Ros Davidson	....	production coordinator
Paul Davis	....	Intermedia Films
Tony Denham	....	security officer
Ceri Evans	....	script supervisor (as Ceri Evans Cooper)
Laura Evans	....	assistant production coordinator
Will Evans	....	representative: Intermedia Films
Max Glickman	....	production runner
Kathy Goodman	....	Intermedia Films
Ruth Halliday	....	legal clearances
Tim Haslam	....	Intermedia Films
Douglas McFerran	....	script consultant
Wink Mordaunt	....	assistant location manager
Chas Newens	....	river coordinator
Anya Noakes	....	unit publicist
Alex Oakley	....	floor runner
Donna Ostroff	....	assistant: Sydney Pollack
Claire Parish	....	production secretary
Sophie Shand	....	assistant: Gwyneth Paltrow (as Sophie Loudoun Shand)
Suzie Shearer	....	production secretary
Matt Steinmann	....	location manager
Carlton Jarvis	....	medical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Intermedia Films
• Mirage Enterprises
• Miramax Films
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• AMLF
• Alliance Atlantis Communications
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (Switzerland)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video
• Comedy Central (2007) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Jugendfilm-Verleih (Germany)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Kuzui Enterprises
• Líder Films (Argentina)
• Medusa Distribuzione (Italy)
• Miramax Films (USA)
• New Films International
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (video)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (UK)
• Warner Bros. Finland (Finland)

Special Effects

• Cinesite

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• Shepperton Studios  movie studio
• 2020 Casting  extras casting
• ARRI Media  camera rental
• Adelpha Studios (Melbourne)  original music recording
• Calvin Klein  Gwyneth Paltrow's wardrobe
• Cine Image Film Opticals  titles and opticals
• Compuhire  computer and video playback
• Film Harmonix  orchestra-australia
• Flying Pictures  aerial filming services provided by
• International Guarantors I.P.  completion guarantee
• Jersey Records  soundtrack
• London & New York Wig Company  wigs
• MCA Records  soundtrack
• McDonald and Rutter  publicity
• Michael Samuelson Lighting  lighting equipment
• Movie Lot, The  security
• Mr. Youngs  projection
• Near North Entertainment  insurance
• Newmarket Capital Group  production financing
• Paramount Pictures  digital sound editing
• Paramount Pictures  foley facilities
• SJ Berwin  legal services
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Set Meals  catering
• Todd-AO Hollywood  re-recording
• Tru-Cut  negative cutting

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality and language (original rating) (1997)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba) | Iceland:L | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Singapore:PG (cut) | USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Hungary:14 | Italy:T | Mexico:B | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (original rating) (1997)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Intermedia Films

Trivia:

When Sydney Pollack called from Hollywood to offer financing, director Peter Howitt was on a drinking spree in a London pub, and had to be sobered up before he could speak to Pollack.

Goofs:

Continuity: Near the beginning of the movie, as James is leaving the building from which Helen emerges just behind him, he is wearing a long coat. When we see him next, in the tube station, his coat is missing.

Quotes:

James:What are you doing two weeks on Saturday?
Helen:Probably killing myself.
James:Excellent. What time does that finish? Do you like boats?

Movie Connections:

References "Monty Python's Flying Circus: The Spanish Inquisition (#2.2)" (1970)

Soundtrack:

Use the Force

Something different but sadly, nothing great - 68%

It seems difficult, for me anyway, to imagine Gwyneth Paltrow as anything other than the wife of Coldplay front-man Chris Martin. She seems as famous for giving her children strange names as she is for her acting career, which seems to have stalled in recent years. But go back to 1998 and she seemed to be everywhere, normally playing an English character. This, arguably, is her finest hour as this is a romantic movie with a rare intelligence and a daring approach to telling its story.

Paltrow plays Helen, a twenty-something PR executive living with her writer-boyfriend Gerry (John Lynch) in London. One day, she goes into work to find out that she's been fired. Distressed, she goes to catch a Tube train back home and it's at this point that the film takes an unusual twist. First, we see Helen board the train and then a second Helen misses it. The film then continues telling Helen's story from both angles which run simultaneously, showing how much can change after such a simple difference.

"Sliding Doors" is to be commended for daring to do something different, basically providing two films for the price of one. Unfortunately, neither film is a runaway success. It's only when they intersect and cross each other's paths that you appreciate the film for what it is. Paltrow works hard in the dual lead roles but the only real difference between the two Helens are their haircuts. Keeping pace with both stories at the same time is tricky, at first, but all the more rewarding when you get your head around it. Her co-stars, Lynch and John Hannah, are less impressive. Lynch is suitably slimy as Helen's boyfriend while Hannah comes across exactly like a Scottish Hugh Grant, stammering in all the right places and getting suitably tongue-tied at the right moments. The other problem I have with "Sliding Doors" is that it isn't a side-splitting romantic comedy. It has its moments, though I can't think any at the moment. It's more of a serious study into relationships than a hilarious dual-layered comedy - it's not exactly "There's Something About Mary", still my favourite rom-com.

There aren't many films like "Sliding Doors" out there. Rom-coms aren't known for being intelligent and different but this film deserves attention for trying to break free from the usual conventions. Unfortunately, it's not a great film - it feels far longer than its 100 minute duration and it isn't as entertaining as it should be. I also felt it had a strong anti-men feel to it as the few male characters in the film are either spineless worms, lying cheaters or leering lager louts. Even the bitchy ex (Jeanne Tripplehorn), despite being a thoroughly nasty piece of work, gets a smoother ride than the men. It's definitely a chick-flick (like most of my Better Half's DVD collection) but I would still just about recommend "Sliding Doors", purely because it's a refreshing change from the norm. I just think that it could have been so much better - there is so much potential here, writer/director Peter Howitt doesn't quite know what to do with it. Persevere and maybe watch it twice, in case you don't get it the first time.