Always (1989)

The spirit of a recently deceased expert pilot mentors a newer pilot while watching him fall in love with the girlfriend that he left behind.

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Jerry Belson (screenplay), Dalton Trumbo (screenplay "A Guy Named Joe")

Stars:

Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, Brad Johnson

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Pete Sandich
Holly Hunter	...	Dorinda Durston
Brad Johnson	...	Ted Baker
John Goodman	...	Al Yackey
Audrey Hepburn	...	Hap
Roberts Blossom	...	Dave
Keith David	...	Powerhouse
Ed Van Nuys	...	Nails
Marg Helgenberger	...	Rachel
Dale Dye	...	Don
Brian Haley	...	Alex
James Lashly	...	Charlie
Michael Steve Jones	...	Grey
Kim Robillard	...	Air Traffic Controller
Jim Sparkman	...	Dispatcher

Storyline

Pete Sandich and buddy Al Yackey are daredevil aerial forest-fire fighters. Pete finds True Love with Dorinda but won't give up the job. When he takes one risk too many, Dorinda faces deep grief and cannot easily put her life back together.

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Plot Keywords:

pilot | ghost | grief | airplane | afterlife | 

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Taglines:

They couldn't hear him. They couldn't see him. But he was there when they needed him... Even after he was gone.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song that Pete whistles when almost crashing at the start of the movie is the Garryowen, This was the theme of the 7th cavalry and was the music played by the musicians that sometimes accompanied George Custer, whose fate was to die because of his impetuous nature, which is reflected in Pete's behavior.

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Goofs

After Ted Baker flies back to Colorado to get his tack card, he follows right behind the taxi car called "Follow Me" but it was unmanned and out of control and crashed into Derinda's house. Baker stops his Citabria right before the crash, when he instantly hops out of the plane the engine is already off and the propeller is stopped.

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Quotes

Al Yackey: The hell with it. What this place reminds me of is the war in Europe.
Pete Sandich: This is deep.
Al Yackey: Which I was personally never at, but think about it. The beer's warm, the dance hall's a Quonset, there's B-26s outside, hotshot pilots inside, an airstrip in the woods... it's England, man! Everything but Glenn Miller! Except we go to burning places and bomb 'em till they stop burning. You see, Pete, there ain't no war here.
Pete Sandich: What's taking her so long?
Al Yackey: This is why they don't make movies called 'Night Raid to Boise, ...

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Crazy Credits

Instead of saying the song "Crazy Love" was "written and performed by Van Morrison," it mistakenly says "written and directed by Van Morrison."

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Connections

Referenced in Epic Rap Battles of History: Steven Spielberg vs. Alfred Hitchcock (2014)

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Soundtracks

MATZOH BALLS
Written and Performed by Slim Gaillard
Courtesy of Hep Records

User Reviews

The Incomparable Audrey Hepburn

If there is only one reason why someone should rent or buy this film, it is simply to see Audrey Hepburn in her final screen performance. There was no better way to end her magnificent career than making a final, but all too brief appearance as an angel - she was cast beautifully - almost poetic. She was truly remarkable, and sadly, there will never be anyone else like her.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 December 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Always

Filming Locations:

Libby, Montana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$31,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,713,480, 25 December 1989

Gross USA:

$43,858,790

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$74,134,790

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, United Artists, Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1