Reversal of Fortune

19901990
RR
1h 51min

Wealthy Sunny von Bülow lies brain-dead, husband Claus guilty of attempted murder; but he says he's innocent and hires Alan Dershowitz for his appeal.Wealthy Sunny von Bülow lies brain-dead, husband Claus guilty of attempted murder; but he says he's innocent and hires Alan Dershowitz for his appeal.Wealthy Sunny von Bülow lies brain-dead, husband Claus guilty of attempted murder; but he says he's innocent and hires Alan Dershowitz for his appeal.

7.2/10

15K

Director
- Barbet Schroeder
Writers
- Alan Dershowitz(book)
- Nicholas Kazan(screenplay)
Stars

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

Won 1 Oscar
- 13 wins & 16 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 0:30

Reversal of Fortune

Annabella Sciorra and Gordon Joseph Weiss in Reversal of Fortune (1990)

Constance Shulman in Reversal of Fortune (1990)

Jeremy Irons in Reversal of Fortune (1990)

Glenn Close in Reversal of Fortune (1990)

Alan Dershowitz a brilliant professor of law is hired by wealthy socialite Claus von Bulow to attempt to overturn his two convictions for attempted murder of his extremely wealthy wife. Based on a true story the film concentrates not on the trial like other legal thrillers, but on the preparatory work that Dershowitz and his students put in as they attempt to disprove the prosecution's case and achieve the Reversal of Fortune of the title. —Mark Thompson <mrt@oasis.icl.co.uk>

courtroom drama trial law professor wealth dysfunctional marriage 22 more

Taglines
- The Case of Claus Von Bulow. An American Saga of Money and Mystery.
Genres
Certificate
- R
Parents guide

Trivia
Jeremy Irons met the real Claus von Bülow three years after the release of the film. Irons commented, "he didn't tell me anything I didn't already know." Irons recalled that von Bülow asked him if he was aware that the real Alan Dershowitz was (at the time) representing Leona Helmsley and Mike Tyson. Irons replied that he was aware of that, to which von Bülow quipped: "I don't suppose you've been asked to play either of them, have you?"

Goofs
Claus von Bulow abruptly switches his eating hand in the restaurant.

Quotes
Alan Dershowitz: You are a very strange man.
Claus von Bülow: You have no idea.

Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Postcards from the Edge/Saving Grace/White Hunter, Black Heart/After Dark, My Sweet (1990)

Soundtracks
Tristan und Isolde
Performed by Éva Marton with the London Philharmonic Orchestra (as the London Philharmonic)
Written by Richard Wagner (as Wagner)
Arranged by Arpád Joó (conductor)
Courtesy of Sefel Records
Division of Phoenix Entertainment Inc.

Top review

8/10

Very Good, Well Casted Movie

"Reversal of Fortune" is based on Alan Dershowitz's book on the two trials of Claus von Bülow, accused of attempting to murder his wife, Sunny, by drug overdose. But instead of killing her, she is left in a deep coma from which she will never arise. This movie is cleverly narrated by the comatose Sunny with the story told in flashback. Also, the movie is non-judgmental, it take no sides on who is telling the truth, even on the point of whether a murder was even attempted. Did he do it or was the overdose an accident? As Sonny herself says in the beginning of the movie, "you tell me".

Everything about this movie works; great performances (helped by great casting), directing, and screenwriting. Nothing is amiss. If it is true that Western movie habits are changing away from mindless action movies, then "Reversal of Fortune" should enjoy a renaissance at the local video store. It deserves it.

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