Switch (1991)

A sexist womanizer is killed by one of his former lovers and then reincarnated as a woman.

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writer:

Blake Edwards

Stars:

Ellen Barkin, Jimmy Smits, JoBeth Williams

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ellen Barkin	...	Amanda Brooks
Jimmy Smits	...	Walter Stone
JoBeth Williams	...	Margo Brofman
Lorraine Bracco	...	Sheila Faxton
Tony Roberts	...	Arnold Freidkin
Perry King	...	Steve Brooks
Bruce Payne	...	The Devil (as Bruce Martyn Payne)
Lysette Anthony	...	Liz
Victoria Mahoney	...	Felicia
Basil Hoffman	...	Higgins
Catherine Keener	...	Steve's Secretary
Kevin Kilner	...	Dan Jones
David Wohl	...	Attorney Caldwell
James Harper	...	Lt. Laster
John Lafayette	...	Sgt. Phillips

Storyline

Steve Brooks is a sexist and the prototype macho. Unfortunately one day he is killed by one of his girlfriends. In heaven, though, there is no place for men like him and he is sent back to earth in the body of a woman so that he can see how women are treated by men like the one he once was.

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Plot Keywords:

blonde | cleavage | scantily clad female | removing nylon stocking | blonde woman | 

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Taglines:

Steve and Walter used to have a preference for blondes. Then Steve was murdered... and came back as one. Will being a woman make him a better man?

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 May 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blake Edwards' Switch

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,770,991, 12 May 1991

Gross USA:

$15,545,943

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$15,545,943

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beco Films, Cinema Plus, Home Box Office (HBO)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was indirectly referenced in numerous episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988). In the original television spots for the film, Jimmy Smits name was announced in an unusual way: "Ellen Barkin. Switch. Jimmy Smits. Starts Friday." The writers of MST3K found it amusing that Smits' name was announced after the title and not announced as "also starring Jimmy Smits" or "with Jimmy Smits", only as "Jimmy Smits". In various episodes, a character would say "Jimmy Smits" whenever the word "switch" was uttered or sometimes for seemingly no reason at all.

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Goofs

When "Amanda" first met Mac she baffled the confused doorman in the elevator. The door was somehow closing. However Mac did not touch any button. Amanda's right hand was around the calling buttons but these are unable to close the door.

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Quotes

Amanda Brooks: Wow, what a beautiful baby.
God, God: Yes. You did well.
Amanda Brooks: Wish I could be there and watch her grow up.
God: Oh, you can watch her grow up. But in the meantime you have to decide whether you want to be male...
God: ...or a female angel.
Amanda Brooks: Oh, hey, now, that's a tough one. Okay if I think about it for a while?

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.31 (2011)

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Soundtracks

Dream After Dream
Written by David Dixon & Michael Szumowski
Performed by Indecent Obsession
Produced by Michael Szumowski
Published by MCA Music Publishing (ASCAP) & Melodian Records Pty. Ltd.

User Reviews

classic

Switch is just one of those movies you just have to love.Touching on offensive subject matter and being socially inappropriate by today's censored standards it tells the story of a womanizer named Steve who is murdered by 3 of his ex lovers for being a male chauvinistic pig. He crosses over into a sort of limbo and being thats he's been so bad to the opposite sex is sent back to earth to find one female who truly loves him. He than can move on to heaven but if he can't will go straight to hell. The woman he becomes is played by a young Ellen Barkin in her sexual prime and comic glory.Creative laughs ensue as he deals with homosexuality, struggles of sexism in the workplace and world, repercussions of his past actions from women and advances from all kinds of men including his best friend played charmingly by the than hunky Jimmy Smits. The movie is smart funny and wholly original in its exploration of its premise and even raunchy and envelop pushing by todays standards. Although not a perfect film there are some pacing issues and questionable directorial approaches on how he approaches the material times. Switch is still a great movie as timely as ever showing us just how little we've progressed in the age old war between the sexes not to say their hasn't been a lot of progress but we still have a ways to go.