Twice in a Lifetime (1985)

A middle-aged steelworker is content with his job and his family, but feels that something is missing in his life. On his 50th birthday, he stops in at a local bar for a drink to celebrate.... See full summary »

Director:

Bud Yorkin

Writer:

Colin Welland

Stars:

Gene Hackman, Ann-Margret, Ellen Burstyn

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gene Hackman	...	Harry MacKenzie
Ann-Margret	...	Audrey Minelli
Ellen Burstyn	...	Kate MacKenzie
Amy Madigan	...	Sunny
Ally Sheedy	...	Helen
Stephen Lang	...	Keith
Darrell Larson	...	Jerry
Brian Dennehy	...	Nick
Chris Parker	...	Tim
Rachel Street	...	Joanne
Kevin Bleyer	...	Chris
Micole Mercurio	...	Betty
Doris Hugo Drewien	...	Millie
Lee Corrigan	...	Milos
Ralph Steadman	...	Mike

Storyline

A middle-aged steelworker is content with his job and his family, but feels that something is missing in his life. On his 50th birthday, he stops in at a local bar for a drink to celebrate. He finds himself attracted to the very sexy barmaid and, to his surprise, he finds that she is also very attracted to him.

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Plot Keywords:

marriage separation | watching baseball on tv | mother daughter relationship | steel worker | marital infidelity | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original title of the script was "Kisses at 50."

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Goofs

From Trivia, the baseball game that Harry was watching on his 50th birthday was played on June 20, 1984, suggesting that Harry was born June 20, 1934.

However, the next day, Harry shows up for work where there is a prominent sign showing "41" days since last factory loss of work due to injury - "April 23, 1984," making his calculated birthday, yesterday, as June 2. Shifts at the steel plant run around the clock (as seen), and this assumes also similar weekend shifts.

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Quotes

Kate MacKenzie: I always thought that if my husband left me, I would just die. But he did, and I haven't.

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Connections

Features The Price Is Right (1972)

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Soundtracks

Smokin' Violin
Written by Gordon Terry (uncredited) and Royce G. Clark (uncredited)
Performed by Gordon Terry and The Tennessee Guitars
Courtesy of Plantation Records

User Reviews

Well-acted blue collar angst.

Gene Hackman plays a guy in midlife crisis: he's been married to boring Ellen Burstyn for like, forever, and he's just met hottie Ann-Margret in the local bar he frequents. What's a man to do?

This thin Colin Welland script (British screenwriter of the overrated CHARIOTS OF FIRE) is enlivened considerably by Hackman's convincing portrayal of a blue-collar Everyman who's mortgaged his life for work and family to the exclusion of any dreams for himself. The decidedly unmelodramatic arc of his life change and its consequences is relatively rare in American films and is more interesting for it. Look for newcomer Amy Madigan lighting up the screen as Hackman's PO'd but devoted daughter. A wistful Pat Metheny score and Nick McLean's cinematography of unglamorous Seattle locations -- back before it became America's trendiest city -- enhance the authentic feel. Bud Yorkin, Norman Lear's former producing partner, directs to good low-key effect. Worth a look for Hackman/Burstyn/Margret fans.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 November 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kisses at 50

Filming Locations:

Snohomish, Washington, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$8,402,424

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,402,424

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bud Yorkin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1