A Night in Heaven (1983)

A married college professor begins a torrid affair with her failing student, who secretly moonlights as a late-night strip-club dancer.

Director:

John G. Avildsen

Writer:

Joan Tewkesbury

Stars:

Christopher Atkins, Lesley Ann Warren, Robert Logan

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Atkins	...	Rick
Lesley Ann Warren	...	Faye / wife
Robert Logan	...	Whitney / husband
Deborah Rush	...	Patsy
Deney Terrio	...	Tony
Sandra Beall	...	Slick
Alix Elias	...	Shirley
Carrie Snodgress	...	Mrs. Johnson
Amy Lyndon	...	Eve
Fred Buch	...	Jack Hobbs
Karen Margaret Cole	...	Louise
Don Cox	...	Revere
Veronica Gamba	...	Tammy
Joseph Gian	...	Pete
Bill Hindman	...	Russel

Storyline

Faye Hanlon is a prim and practical woman with a NASA engineer husband and a career as a professor at a small Florida college. Among her least favorite students is cocky Rick Monroe who is secretly paying his tuition as male stripper "Ricky the Rocket". When Faye is brought to a sweaty disco full of sweaty housewives, she is shocked to become a front-row witness to - and reluctant participant in - Ricky's explosive performance. Now each kiss has its result of actions, every lie will take its toll. And two desperate lovers will pay the ultimate price for a night in "Heaven".

---

Plot Keywords:

public nudity | male nudity | male frontal nudity | hand up skirt | feminine wiles | 

---

Taglines:

In class, he's just another face in the crowd. In "Heaven", the hottest dance club in town, he's the main attraction.

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song "Heaven" by Bryan Adams appeared on the soundtrack of this film before the release of his album "Reckless" a year later (as the third single from the playlist - Adams insisted that the song was to be included when "Reckless" was released when his producer deemed the song as a power ballad which was not deemed as hard rock - the power ballad later paid off when Adams performed the theme song for the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)). It was recorded on June 6 and 7, 1983 at the Power Station in New York City. In April 1985, the song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

---

Goofs

When Faye and Patsy are talking at the airport, Patsy is holding her magazines with her left arm. When they hug, the magazines jump to her right arm.

---

Quotes

Faye: I just flunked that kid!
Patsy: You just did what to that kid?
Faye: I just flunked that kid in my class!

---

Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Two of a Kind (2014)

---

Soundtracks

Reaction Time
Performed by Jan Hammer and Next
Written by Jan Hammer

User Reviews

Effective study of a troubled marriage

It's really too bad that people think of "A Night In Heaven" as 'the male stripper movie,' because it's really not that at all. Yes the wife has an affair with her student, who happens to be a stripper, but this accounts for maybe 10 minutes of screen time. At it's center is a believable study of a marriage on the rocks, after a husband loses his job, and begins to completely alienate his wife. Lesley Ann Warren is good in her role as Faye, the wife who begins to feel insecure, and undesirable after her husband shuts her out. When she finds herself attracting the attention of one of her young, handsome students (Chris Atkins) she resists as best she can, but soon an affair ensues, that might possibly have some serious consequences.

The interesting thing about the movie is how the husband and wife interact. They have such different views of what is really happening. "A Night In Heaven" doesn't dissolve into a smutty exploitation film, nor does it deteriorate into some 'revenge flick' at the end. The husband is actually perceptive enough to see that his wife's affair was perhaps, his fault. Directed by the man behind the original "Rocky," some qualities of that film are evident here, as well as some themes. It's physical, and passionate, and it has a kind of urban grittiness about it. An odd, obscure film from the 80's, worth seeing for some quality drama and good performances...and yes, some very sexy scenes too..

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Night in Heaven

Filming Locations:

Titusville, Florida, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,835,421, 20 November 1983

Gross USA:

$5,563,663

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,563,663

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1