Dream Lover (1993)

A successful businessman tries to uncover what is wrong with his wife.

Director:

Nicholas Kazan

Writer:

Nicholas Kazan

Stars:

James Spader, Mädchen Amick, Fredric Lehne

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Spader	...	Ray
Mädchen Amick	...	Lena
Fredric Lehne	...	Larry
Bess Armstrong	...	Elaine
Larry Miller	...	Norman
Kathleen York	...	Martha
Kate Williamson	...	Mrs. Sneeder
Tom Lillard	...	Hank Sneeder
William Shockley	...	Buddy
Carl Sundstrom	...	Officer
Irwin Keyes	...	Officer
Joel McKinnon Miller	...	Minister
Joseph Scoren	...	Martha's Lawyer (as Joseph Scorsiani)
Archie Lang	...	Judge #1
Clyde Kusatsu	...	Judge Kurita

Storyline

Ray is young, charming, successful and the owner of a prosperous architect company. However, he has recently gone through a very painful divorce. His friends try to cheer him up by showing him the positive sides of being single but for Ray marriage and stability is just too important. But when he meets Lena his gloom is quickly forgotten. She is beautiful, sensual, mysterious and he is drawn to her like a moth to a candle. They marry quickly, have their first child and Ray lives in a total bliss. But then strange incidents occur which shed some light on Lena's background. Ray slowly realizes that he hardly knows anything about her at all. Who has he really married?

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Plot Keywords:

marriage | divorce | bare butt | sex on table | pubic hair | 

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Taglines:

If you think you know your lover. Think again. Especially if she's your wife.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality and language

Did You Know?

Goofs

Lena's psychiatrist goes to her home and then commits Lena's husband for a 5150, which is a 72 hour involuntary psychiatric hold. It is fanciful that the psychiatrist would make a house call, then commit a spouse of his patient (who is not his patient). Domestic abuse is not likely to cause a 6 month involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. It's also very odd that Ray's attorney would not present testimony of Ray's psychiatrist, unless this was edited from the film. It is very strange that a hearing be about allegations about infidelity, not about a psychiatric hold.

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Quotes

Mrs. Sneeder: That goes without saying.
Hank Sneeder: Well, then say it.

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Alternate Versions

Unrated U.S. video release includes 4 minutes of additional footage with sex scenes between James Spader and Mädchen Amick.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Cobb/Tom & Viv/Trapped in Paradise/Ladybird, Ladybird/Nostradamus (1994)

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Soundtracks

MAMA, MAMA
Written by Vincent Taylor
Performed by Jah Messengers
Courtesy of Heartbeat Records

User Reviews

Suspense, Plots and Twists

I first saw Dream Lover on television, the movie did not catch my full attention. It seems that sometimes when a movie is viewed on television with all the interruptions of commercials, something seems to be taken away with from the total enjoyment of the movie. This is what was missing when I first viewed Dream Lover on television. Once I saw Dream Lover on the Cable Network, I viewed the movie with my full attention and no interruptions. I then realized that Dream Lover was a picture filled with twists and manipulation and suspense that was worth watching over and over again. James Spader (Ray) came off as a sincere husband who was totally manipulated by a woman Madchen Amick (Lena) whom he loved and trusted in spite of many suttle lies that he became aware of throughout their marriage. Unfortunately he had to pay a heavy price for love. This is a movie worth watching, it makes one wonder if they really can know a person.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

Japanese English German

Release Date:

6 May 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dream Lover

Filming Locations:

New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$44,701, 8 May 1994

Gross USA:

$256,264

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$256,264

Company Credits

Production Co:

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Propaganda Films, Nicita/Lloyd Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 108 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1