Nadine (1987)

In 1950s Texas, a woman trying to recover sexy photos of herself and divorce her husband witnesses a murder and uncovers corrupt land dealings.

Director:

Robert Benton

Writer:

Robert Benton

Stars:

Jeff Bridges, Kim Basinger, Rip Torn

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Bridges	...	Vernon Hightower
Kim Basinger	...	Nadine Hightower
Rip Torn	...	Buford Pope
Gwen Verdon	...	Vera
Glenne Headly	...	Renée Lomax
Jerry Stiller	...	Raymond Escobar
Jay Patterson	...	Dwight Estes
William Youmans	...	Boyd
Gary Grubbs	...	Cecil
Mickey Jones	...	Floyd
Blue Deckert	...	Mountain
Harlan Jordan	...	Sheriff Rusk
Norman Bennett	...	Reverend
James N. Harrell	...	Deacon (as James Harrell)
John William Galt	...	Officer Lloyd (as John Galt)

Storyline

Working in an Austin, Texas, beauty parlour in 1954, Nadine Hightower endeavours to retrieve some 'art studies' she injudiciously had taken. Her visit to the photographer leaves him dead and her in possession of highly valuable plans of a proposed new road. With both the police and the murderous villains after her she enlists the help of her (almost) ex-husband Vernon, the none too successful owner of the Bluebonnet Bar. Fortunately the thugs are as much no-hopers as the Hightowers.

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Plot Keywords:

year 1954 | texas | 1950s | murder | forename as title | 

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Taglines:

They're a Couple on the Run ... From Each Other.

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Genres:

Comedy | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 August 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nadine, un amor a prueba de balas

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$5,669,831

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, ML Delphi Premier Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The animal species of reptiles that the villain Buford Pope (Rip Torn) kept were "rattle-snakes" which were nick-named in the movie as "rattlers".

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Goofs

When Kim Basinger is looking through her closet for lingerie, she pulls down a large grey box labeled "Scarborough's". This is an '80's-era shipping box for the former high-end department store, not a '50's-era box. (Scarborough's is now closed).

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Quotes

Buford Pope: Well, Mr. Hightower, let's us have a little talk here. I know you're in what they call "financial straits." So why don't you let my boys here set fire to that dump of yours? That way, at least you'll collect on the fire insurance. All you have to do is hand over the map.
Vernon Hightower: I appreciate that, but that won't do me no good now. See, I let the insurance lapse about a month ago.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Back to the Beach/Nadine/Dirty Dancing/Rita, Sue and Bob Too! (1987)

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Soundtracks

SEVEN NIGHTS TO ROCK
Written by Henry Glover, Louis Innis, Buck Trail
Performed by Moon Mullican
Courtesy of GML Inc.

User Reviews

Surprisingly fun

I say 'surprisingly' because the rating is so low, I didn't know what to expect.

But it's a delightful little caper movie, driven (as all good movies are) by the performers and a tight script by Robert Benton, not known for his enjoyable caper movies!

Jeff Bridges all but steals the film from a delightful Kim Basinger, and the two of them together set the screen on fire. They are surrounded by some of the best character actors working today, including Rip Torn. As I was watching this I thought how smart Robert Benton is for casting real actors, and having the comedy come out of their behaviour and talent, rather than casting 'wacky comedians' and reducing the story to little bits.

A lot of fun, and worth seeing.