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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

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?

---

Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Emma Walton, who plays the fur protester is Blake Edwards' stepdaughter. She is the daughter of Julie Andrews, the director's wife, from her first marriage to Oscar winning costume designer Tony Walton.

---

Goofs

When Amanda punches Walter, the sound comes before the hit.

---

Quotes

Margo Brofman: Who are you?
Amanda Brooks: What did you do with the gun?
Margo Brofman: Who the hell are you?
Amanda Brooks: Oh, take a good look, Margo. You know, they say the eyes are the window to the soul, huh? Look into my eyes, Margo. Whose soul do you see? It's me, Margo. Steve.
Margo Brofman: You're crazy.
Amanda Brooks: You know, I picked you because you're a lot smarter than those other two bimbos. Also you believe that fag psychic of yours; told you you were Helen of Troy in another incarnation. The way I figure it, Margo, you'd have no trouble believing that I am the late, ...
[...]

---

Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Depictions of God in Film (2014)

---

Soundtracks

It's All There
Music by Henry Mancini
Lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
Performed by Jody Watley
Produced by Henry Mancini
Published by L/T Music Inc. (ASCAP)
Jody Watley appears courtesy of MCA Records

User Reviews

Great acting by Ellen Barkin

Advertising exec. Steve Brooks, a sexist male chauvinist pig, is invited to a party by a lady friend who suggestively tells him the only other guests will be two other women who he is fond of. The party gets sexy when the four get into a hot tub, but together they bind and murder him. God and the Devil aren't sure where his soul belongs, so they tell him that he will be allowed to return to life for a limited time in order for him to find one woman who likes him. If he doesn't find at least one, he will go to Hell. In order that he can't just use his ability to charm women to find one that doesn't know him, they bring him back as a woman. She retains his memory and chooses to call herself Amanda Brooks.

Ellen Barkin has a remarkable performance as a womanizer in a woman's body. There is a vast difference in personalities between Barkin's Amanda/Steve and Julie Andrews' Victor/Victoria.

Lorraine Bracco also is great in her quiet understated role as major cosmetics client Sheila Faxton.

In addition to watching some great performances, the movie has some pretty funny bits, although some got repetitive. In particular, I thought the the bit about Amanda stumbling when wearing high heels was repeated too often. Regarding the stiletto heels, why would Amanda continue to choose the highest of stiletto heels? Also, while obviously gorgeous, I don't think then 37-year old Ellen Barkin looked as strikingly sexy as Amanda as the male characters (and Amanda herself) thought she did. She didn't seem as hot as the younger actresses who planned Steve's murder.

The resolution at the ending also was somewhat disappointing to me.

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