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

A seduction scene between Ellen Barkin and Lorraine Bracco was excised after poor reactions in test screenings.

---

Goofs

"Amanda's" hair is back to its same length (and style) when Walter visits "her" in the psychiatric hospital as it was before "she" had the barber cut it. While "she" does say "she" has been there for five months, and apparently five or six months have transpired from the time of the trial, there is no way the hair would have grown from above the ears to down below the shoulders in six months - hair grows about 1/2 inch per month, so it would be about 3 inches longer than before. The hair should have only been slightly longer to show that amount of time has passed.

---

Quotes

Fur Protestor: Do you know how many poor animals they had to kill to make that coat?
Margo Brofman: Know how many rich animals I had to fuck to get this coat?

---

Connections

Remade as Mr Ya Miss (2005)

---

Soundtracks

Slam Dunk
Written by Kevin DuBrow & Harry Paress
Performed by Pretty Boy Floyd
Produced by Max Norman
Published by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./Playful Music/Fat
Tunes/Kevin DuBrow Music (BMI)
Pretty Boy Floyd appears courtesy of MCA Records

User Reviews

A perfect (funny) film about switching sex.

I've read many previews of this film, and of course you can dive deep down and demand it to focus on all the different problems, but then You have picked the wrong film. There's is VERY few movies in this genre, and this one gives you MANY LAUGHS ! Sure they are a bit simple, but the movie give You a good time and plants some seeds about the gender problems. Whether you are sober or a bit "pixilated", it will raise your mood :) It's strength lies in its easy to recognize human behavior and to see this in the opposite sex, is great ! The basic message is that everyone needs to be seen and be loved, and how we go about this, often in a very "stereotype" way. Also how we can change and become more altruistic/unselfish. The movie starts out with brazen humor and ends up with me in tears as I recognize feelings that i have in me, but are too "good" in covering up. Bottom line = Both men and women should enjoy this equally well.

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