Lovers and Other Strangers (1970)

Mike Vecchio and Susan Henderson are preparing for their upcoming wedding. However, they seem to be the only two people at the wedding that are happy. Mike's brother Richie and his wife ... See full summary »

Director:

Cy Howard

Writers:

Joseph Bologna (play), Renée Taylor (play) (as Renee Taylor)

Stars:

Gig Young, Bea Arthur, Bonnie Bedelia

Won 1 Oscar. Another 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Diane Keaton	...	Joan
Joseph Hindy	...	Ritchie
Richard S. Castellano	...	Frank (as Richard Castellano)
Bea Arthur	...	Bea (as Beatrice Arthur)
Cloris Leachman	...	Bernice
Gig Young	...	Hal
Anne Jackson	...	Kathy
Harry Guardino	...	Johnny
Anne Meara	...	Wilma
Bob Dishy	...	Jerry (as Robert Dishy)
Marian Hailey	...	Brenda
Michael Brandon	...	Mike
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Susan
Anthony Holland	...	Donaldson
Bob Kaliban	...	Hotel Clerk

Storyline

Mike Vecchio and Susan Henderson are preparing for their upcoming wedding. However, they seem to be the only two people at the wedding that are happy. Mike's brother Richie and his wife Joan are going through a divorce, which is upsetting his overly devout Catholic mother Beatrice. Also, Susan's father is carrying on an affair and her sex starved older sister Wilma is going through her troubles with her husband Johnny. All this is going on while Mike's best friend Jerry is trying to bed the maid of honor, Susan's cousin Brenda.

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Plot Keywords:

kitchen | wedding | extramarital affair | father in law | wedding reception | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

GP

Did You Know?

Trivia

"For All We Know,' the Oscar-winning song from this film, as record by The Carpenters, reached #3 on Billboard's top 100.

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Goofs

Wilma and Johnny put their son to bed in their hotel room and continue their fight. Evidently, they go back down to the reception, leaving the boy in the room, until we see Wilma bump butts with her mother-in-law on the dance floor, taunting Johnny until he flicks her off and she runs after him. However, in the background, both of their sons are chasing each other around and dancing. Did the dark-haired son awaken suddenly and they took him back downstairs?

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Quotes

Richie Vecchio: Don't you understand, Joan and I are just not happy together.
Frank Vecchio: You hear that, Beatrice? They're not happy together.
Bea: I heard, Frank.
Frank Vecchio: So who's happy?
Bea: Who's happy?
Frank Vecchio: What, do you see me running around dancing in the streets?
Bea: Do you see your father running around dancing in the streets?
Frank Vecchio: What are you, better than me? You think your mother and I are happy?
Richie Vecchio: You mean you and mom aren't happy?
Frank Vecchio: [together with Bea] No!
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Northern Exposure: Lovers and Madmen (1994)

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Soundtracks

Comin' Thru To Me
Music by Fred Karlin
Lyrics by Robb Royer (as Robb Wilson) and Jimmy Griffin (as Arthur James)
Performed by Country Coalition

User Reviews

Holds Up So Well After 35 plus years

Classic comedy with legendary comedians (e.g. Stiller and Meara.) Imagine holding up and being topical for more than 35 years! While the superb writing as mentioned holds up fantastically, the 60's style also adds to the overall pleasure of this movie. Do you get the feeling I like this flick! Do yourself a favor and take the time to watch this when you get the opportunity. Check out the cast and see just how amazing an impact this movie had - Bea Arthur year before being cast as Maude in All in the Family (Conrad Bain in small role, to be linked as Maude's neighbor within a couple of years of the movies release.) And the casting director, was he prophetic or what, see how many appeared for the first time in a movie here, Diane Keaton of course, but how about Sly Stallone as an extra, Jerry Stiller, etc, etc.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 August 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lovers and Other Strangers

Box Office

Gross USA:

$5,484,056

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1