So Fine (1981)

While trying to get his father out of a financial jam, a man comes up with an idea that turns into an unexpected overnight financial fashion success - the bottomless pants.

Director:

Andrew Bergman

Writer:

Andrew Bergman

Stars:

Ryan O'Neal, Jack Warden, Mariangela Melato

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan O'Neal	...	Bobby Fine
Jack Warden	...	Jack
Mariangela Melato	...	Lira
Richard Kiel	...	Eddie
Fred Gwynne	...	Chairman Lincoln
Mike Kellin	...	Sam Schlotzman
David Rounds	...	Prof. McCarthy
Joel Stedman	...	Prof. Yarnell
Angela Pietropinto	...	Sylvia
Michael Lombard	...	Jay Augustine
Jessica James	...	Vicki
Charles Bruce Millholland	...	Sir Alec (as Bruce Millholland)
Merwin Goldsmith	...	Dave
Irving Metzman	...	Accountant
Lois De Banzie	...	Waitress in House of Pancakes

Storyline

Jack Fine, owner/manager of Fine Fashions of Brooklyn, it which solely produces women's dresses, has been having a difficult time the past year due to the company not keeping up with the changing fashions. Associated, Jack is in debt to the tune of $1.5 million to loan shark and gangster, Mr. Eddie, a hulking and flamboyant man who has a penchant for picking up and destroying things which are bothering him, Jack who now falls into that category. Instead of proverbially or literally breaking Jack's legs or worse, Mr. Eddie decides to take over Fine Fashions until the debt is paid, with Jack's son, Bobby Fine, an English Literature professor at upstate Chippenango State College, to manage the operations. Not only does this new career, which Bobby has no option but to accept, threaten the possibility of Bobby obtaining this year's tenure track position in the department, but Bobby at the helm of the fashion house threatens to ruin it completely as Bobby has no idea about fashion ...

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Plot Keywords:

hot | satire | teensploitation | jack daniels whiskey | sex comedy | 

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Taglines:

A revealing comedy about reaching the top by way of the bottom.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The ''So Fine'' jeans television commercial, entitled ''Butt Out'', was choreographed by Grover Dale. The advert was a full song and dance sequence and the segment was played in full in its entirety during the movie,

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Quotes

Jack: Hi, I'm Jack Fine and this is my suicidal son, Bobby.

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Alternate Versions

Network TV version features five minutes of outtake footage originally discarded from the theatrical release.

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Connections

References The Other Side of Midnight (1977)

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Soundtracks

So Fine Commercial Jingle
by David Spangler, Grover Dale

User Reviews

A modern screwball comedy

What makes this movie a comedy classic are the sub-plots involving Ryan O'Neal as a straight laced academic who gets involved with a sexy woman who is the girl friend of Big Eddie (the biggest bad guy you will ever met). While I wouldn't want to compare Ryan O'Neal with Cary Grant there is a feel of some of the Grant roles where he plays the shy awkward guy rather than his normal sophisticated role. This movie has the feel of an old time screwball comedy but with some scenes that only could be shown in a more modern movie. I will never forget the passionate couch scene where the girl breaks out in opera.

Well worth the viewing if you can find it.

Unfortunately it is not available on DVD yet... that needs to change!

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Archive

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

25 September 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

So Fine

Filming Locations:

Times Square, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 95 min (extended)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1