Sliding Doors (1998)

Director:

Peter Howitt

Writer:

Peter Howitt (writer)

Release Date:

24 April 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance | Sci-Fi

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 | Shower | Waitress | Hospital

Awards:

7 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	....	stunt performer
Helen Caldwell	....	stunt coordinator
Helen Caldwell	....	stunt performer
Adrian O'Neil	....	stunt performer
Seon Rogers	....	stunt performer

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 (as Ian Franklyn)
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
Jimmy Wilson	....	gaffer (as Jim Wilson)
Adam Dale	....	aerial camera operator (uncredited)
Martyn Welland	....	electrician (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

• Miramax Films (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• 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)
• New Films International
• Paramount Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD) (VHS)
• 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:

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) | 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)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Intermedia Films

Trivia:

Rowers from London Rowing club, Cygnet, were chosen to be John Hannah's crew mates in the film. The casting director initially went to Imperial College, but when it was noted that they were "all over two meters with flat stomachs" it was decided that lesser rowers than the elite set of internationals would be cast. This is deliberate in order to make Hannah look like the tall athletic one in the boat.

Goofs:

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

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 Blind Chance (1987)

Soundtrack:

Have fun, go mad

What a difference a few seconds can make?

The romantic comedy, 'Sliding Doors', is a great look at how quickly a person's life can change in a matter of moments. By taking one path instead of another, forming a tantalizing 'what if?' In fact this movie gives the impression that some things are meant to be known, while some things are not.

London publicists Helen, is effortlessly sliding between parallel storylines that show what happens if she does or does not catch a morning train back to her apartment. Love. Romantic entanglements. Deception. Trust. Friendship. Comedy. All come into focus back and forth, overlap, then surprisingly converge in one of the great romantic comedy films in years.

Sliding doors is one of the best films that Gwyneth Paltrow has done. It has it all, humour, anger, sadness, love, compassion and a lot of lying. This movie is most special for the way the two storylines overlap, making this a very original movie. Paltrow's performance is grand as the 'hurt Helen' or the very 'naïve Helen', depending on which parts of the film you are watching. Some of her lines are priceless. Paltrow has had a very celebrated career in acting and of late singing and deserves all the accolades she gets. It was also refreshing to watch her in the murder thriller 'The perfect murder', along with screen legend Michael Douglas.

Yet there are some other great performances in this film. John Hannah was exceptional as the sensitive and understanding 'James', who is helping the 'hurt Helen' back to being her 'old self'. Then you have the cheating boy 'Jerry' played by John Lynch, who was using the 'naïve Helen' to live out a very adulterous and selfish lifestyle. It was very funny to see the way he handled the situation with Helen actually. Then to top it all off, we get a great performance from Jeanne Tripplehorn, who was Jerry's girlfriend on the side, who gives Jerry a very difficult time in both parts of the story.

This film also has an impressive soundtrack. With acts like Blair, the Brand New Heavies, Dodgy, Jamiroquai and the Space Monkeys. Yet there are two very famous parts to this soundtrack. One is Elton John, who is given a bad mention in the movie, when Jerry is caught in a most precarious of positions while playing the Elton John song, 'Honky Cat'. However the best song on the whole soundtrack comes from the band Aqua, with the tune 'Turn Back Time', which suited the film perfectly. The film clip to this song is also very good.

Sliding doors is one of those feel good movies, which can also make you feel sad as well. It shows how difficult life can be in a relationship and how important relationships can be as well. It also proves that relationships are extremely hard work and you need to find someone who you trust and love and that you get the same feelings back in return. If you want to see the good and bad sides of love take a look at this romantic classic.

CMRS gives 'Sliding Doors': 4.5 (Very Good- Brilliant Film)