Beaches (1988)

A privileged rich debutante and a cynical struggling entertainer share a turbulent, but strong childhood friendship over the years.

Director:

Garry Marshall

Writers:

Iris Rainer (novel) (as Iris Rainer Dart), Mary Agnes Donoghue (screenplay)

Stars:

Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey, John Heard

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bette Midler	...	CC Bloom
Barbara Hershey	...	Hillary Whitney Essex
John Heard	...	John Pierce
Spalding Gray	...	Dr. Richard Milstein
Lainie Kazan	...	Leona Bloom
James Read	...	Michael Essex
Grace Johnston	...	Victoria Essex
Mayim Bialik	...	CC (age 11)
Marcie Leeds	...	Hillary - Age 11
Carol Williard	...	Aunt Vesta
Allan Kent	...	Mr. Melman
Phil Leeds	...	Sammy Pinkers
Lynda Goodfriend	...	Mrs. Myandowski
Nikki Plant	...	Iris Myandowski
Michael French	...	Head Waiter

Storyline

When the New York child performer CC Bloom and San Francisco rich kid Hillary meet in a holiday resort in Atlantic City, it marks the start of a lifetime friendship between them. The two keep in touch through letters for a number of years until Hillary, now a successful lawyer moves to New York to stay with struggling singer CC. The movie shows the various stages of their friendship and their romances including their love for the same man.

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Plot Keywords:

singer | friendship | friendship between women | female protagonist | pantyhose | 

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Taglines:

Some Friendships Last Forever

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the scene where CC (Bette Midler) comes back to her apartment building she has an exchange with the doorman about winning a Tony award. Now, 29 years later, Ms. Midler actually does win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for "Hello Dolly".

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Goofs

When Hillary drops in on CC at the Pink Palm, CC slowly saunters over to Hillary and crosses her left leg in front of her right. When the camera angle changes, suddenly it's her right leg in front.

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Quotes

CC Bloom: OK, stay in. But will you at least get out of those pajamas? You've been in them for over a week!
Hillary: So what? Who the hell are you, the clothes police?

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Alternate Versions

The musical number "Otto Titsling" is omitted from most TV prints of the film.

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Connections

Featured in 20 to 1: Big Screen Buddies (2009)

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Soundtracks

I've Still Got My Health
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Arranged by Marc Shaiman, Arif Mardin, Robbie Buchanan, and Robbie Kondor
Produced by Arif Mardin
Performed by Bette Midler

User Reviews

Strange adaptation of a very good book

Iris Ranier Dart's novel was obviously written with Bette Midler in mind (there's even a mention of a movie called "Jilted" which is the Midler character, Cee Cee Bloom's version of Midler's own fiasco, "Jinxed.") So, she's wonderful in the role, and Mayim Bialik is perfect as the 11 year old Cee Cee. But Barbara Hershey (as "Hillary", a character called Bertie in the book) is cold instead of cool. Besides the odd name changes (Bertie/Hillary's daughter's name is changed from Nina to Victoria) the movie left out a key scene (it takes place in Hawaii) which explains one of the turns that their friendship takes. The movie replaces this scene with more of Hershey being cold and Midler being angry.

Midler gives some terrific musical numbers, but they don't work within the structure of the movie (its understandable that they couldn't realistically flashback to her being a 19 year old in summer stock, but "The Factory" and "Otto Titzling," respectively fascinating and funny, belong in another film.)

I understand when books are changed a bit in order to fit into a two-hour-movie. I DON'T understand changing plots --why buy the rights if you're not going to keep the story? Write your own!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Remember Me

Filming Locations:

Tavern on the Green - Central Park at W. 67th Street, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$198,361, 26 December 1988

Gross USA:

$57,041,866

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$57,041,866

Company Credits

Production Co:

All Girl Productions, Silver Screen Partners IV, Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1