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 | manhattan new york city | 

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Taglines:

The Friendship You'll Always Remember... In The Film You'll Never Forget

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

PG-13

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, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$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

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the posters for Sizzler '76, it says "A Garry Marshall Production."

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Goofs

Late in the movie, we see C.C. standing against the beach house. There's shot of her walking to center of deck, followed by another of her still against the beach house.

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Quotes

Victoria Cecilia Essex: [singing] Pouncer Pouncer the wonder cat. I'm so glad you're not a rat, or a bat, or too fat.
[Pouncer meows]

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Alternate Versions

The version shown on the Superstation includes the following changes:

• A different version of the conversation between CC and Leona on the beach in Miami, which omits most of the swears and changes a few of the lines.
• A different version of CC's fight with the director of her first movie
• The part in the bar where CC asks Harry for 50 dollars is omitted, going right from her song "I've Got My Health" to her ordering a drink from the bartender.

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Connections

Referenced in Suits: Zane vs. Zane (2013)

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Soundtracks

Wind Beneath My Wings
Music and Lyrics by Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar
Arranged by Marc Shaiman, Arif Mardin, Robbie Buchanan, and Robbie Kondor
Produced by Arif Mardin
Performed by Bette Midler

User Reviews

Entertaining and sentimental all at the same time

Among the movies that get to us emotionally, "Beaches" is on the top of my list. Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey convey the story and portray their roles to perfection. Midler also shines with her musical talent much of the time, especially with the theme song "Wind Beneath My Wings." All things considered, the movie is great.

Midler is Ceceila Carol "C.C." Bloom, a New York aspiring entertainer with attitude and a drive to be successful in show business no matter what it takes (which she does). Hershey is Hillary Whitney, a rich kid from San Francisco with little experience beyond her posh and privileged upbringing. She and C.C. meet by chance on a beach in Atlantic City when they are 11 years old. They instantly become friends, and keep in touch with each other over 25 to 30 years through thick and thin (i.e. distance, career challenges, marriage and divorce, fights, jealousy, competition for the same man, etc). Fate and choice bring them together when they need each other most. Ultimately, their bond will be tested in a way they never imagined. How they deal with this challenge is what will determine their destiny as friends.

Midler and Hershey round out the film with believable character development. They have their moments (C.C. can get on your nerves with her ego, and Hillary has her ways), but they prove that friendship weathers the most difficult of circumstances. The small supporting cast is nice as well, including Lainie Kazan as Leona Bloom (C.C.'s mother), John Heard as John Pierce, C.C.'s theater director husband, James Reed as Michael Essex, Hillary's husband, Spalding Gray as Dr. Richard Milstein who Midler takes interest in while living with Hillary in San Francisco, Mayim Bialik and Marcie Leeds as young C.C. and Hillary, and Grace Johnston as Victoria, Hillary's daughter in the latter half of the film. The "Wind Beneath My Wings" montage toward the end will make more than a few emotional. I highly recommend "Beaches" because it will make you truly appreciate and strive for the meaning of friendship and those most important to you!