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:
Bea Arthur	...	Bea Vecchio (as Beatrice Arthur)
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Susan Henderson
Michael Brandon	...	Mike Vecchio
Richard S. Castellano	...	Frank Vecchio (as Richard Castellano)
Bob Dishy	...	Jerry (as Robert Dishy)
Harry Guardino	...	Johnny
Marian Hailey	...	Brenda
Joseph Hindy	...	Ritchie Vecchio
Anne Jackson	...	Kathy
Diane Keaton	...	Joan Vecchio
Cloris Leachman	...	Bernice Henderson
Anne Meara	...	Wilma
Gig Young	...	Hal Henderson
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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 August 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amantes y otros extraños

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Diane Keaton.

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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

Frank Vecchio: So, what's the story Ritchie?
Richie Vecchio: We're just not compatible.
Frank Vecchio: You hear that Beatrice, they're not compatible.
Bea: I heard, but I'm not listening, Frank.
Frank Vecchio: They're married for six years, all of a sudden they're looking to be compatible.
Bea: It's a phase they're going through.
Frank Vecchio: You stupid kids today, they don't know what to do with themselves, they get a divorce, for kicks.
Bea: That's what it is, Frank, kicks.

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Connections

References The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)

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Soundtracks

For All We Know
Music by Fred Karlin
Lyrics by Robb Royer (as Robb Wilson) and Jimmy Griffin (as Arthur James)
Performed by Larry Meredith
Courtesy of A&M Records

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.