A Walk in the Clouds (1995)

A married soldier returning from World War II poses as a pregnant woman's husband to save her from her father's anger and honor.

Director:

Alfonso Arau

Writers:

Robert Mark Kamen (screenplay), Mark Miller (screenplay)

Stars:

Keanu Reeves, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Anthony Quinn

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keanu Reeves	...	Paul Sutton
Aitana Sánchez-Gijón	...	Victoria Aragon (as Aitana Sanchez-Gijon)
Anthony Quinn	...	Don Pedro Aragon
Giancarlo Giannini	...	Alberto Aragon
Angélica Aragón	...	Marie Jose Aragon (as Angelica Aragon)
Evangelina Elizondo	...	Guadelupe Aragon
Freddy Rodríguez	...	Pedro Aragon, Jr. (as Freddy Rodriguez)
Debra Messing	...	Betty Sutton
Febronio Covarrubias	...	Jose Manuel
Roberto Huerta	...	Jose Luis
Juan Jiménez	...	Jose Marie (as Juan Jimenez)
Ismael Gallegos	...	Jose's Musical Son
Alejandra Flores	...	Consuelo
Gema Sandoval	...	Maria
Don Amendolia	...	Father Coturri

Storyline

A young married US military soldier, Paul, returns home after World War II and meets a girl, Victoria, along the way. Victoria is pregnant and terrified of returning home to her Mexican family where her strict over protective father will surely disapprove of her out of wedlock pregnancy. Wanting to help, Paul offers to pose as her husband to calm things over until such time he is free to leave again but as they spend time together, they start falling in love with each other. However, Paul is still married and they have to hold themselves back before fate would intervene and tragedy would ensue and they would finally be together.

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Plot Keywords:

falling in love | 1940s | post world war ii | aftermath of world war ii | war aftermath | 

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Taglines:

A man in search. A woman in need. A story of fate.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for moments of sensuality and war action

Details

Country:

USA Mexico

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 August 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Walk in the Clouds

Filming Locations:

Napa, Napa Valley, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,526,010, 13 August 1995

Gross USA:

$50,008,143

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$50,008,143

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Zucker Brothers Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 2018, Debra Messing alleged sexual harassment from the film's producers and director Alfonso Arau before and during filming. She claims the producers manipulated her in to signing a nudity waiver for her scene with Keanu Reeves, promising Messing that the document was merely to appease the ego of the director, and that her nudity would not be shown in the film, as it was to be rated PG-13. However, on the day of filming, a nudity requirement was made clear to her, with the producers claiming that the PG-13 restriction did not pertain to what could be shown in foreign markets. She further alleged intimidation and humiliation from director Alfonso Arau during the filming of this scene.

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Goofs

At the beginning of the movie, when Paul is walking home, a woman wearing a blue Air Force uniform enters a building. The Air Force wasn't a separate branch of service until 1947.

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Quotes

Paul Sutton: She's like the air to me.

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Connections

Referenced in ER: A Walk in the Woods (2001)

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Soundtracks

Cancion Mixteca
Written by José López Alavés (as Jose Lopez Alavez)
Performed by Ismael Gallegos

User Reviews

A charming romance for a more cynical time

You often hear people lament:"they don't make them like they used to". This film is one of those magical examples where they really do. Alfonso Arau has given us one of the most poignant, old-fashioned romance films in many a year. Set in the Napa Valley shortly after the end of World War II, Keanu Reeves and Aitana Sanchez-Gijon play two people searching for their futures. Reeves as an ex-GI in a pointless job with a wife he hardly knows and Sanchez-Gijon as a pregnant and abandoned woman afraid to face the shame she will bring to her family. They agree to pose as a married couple in order for her to save face and placate the anticipated anger of her stern father. What follows is a lovingly realized story of family, love and understanding played out against the beauty of the northern California wine country. The vineyard owned by Sanchez-Gijon's family is pure fantasy created by some wonderful visual effects but it provides the perfect setting for the film. There are moments in this film of sensual beauty every bit as breathtaking as the vineyard itself. One of the great joys of this film is the performance of Anthony Quinn as Don Pedro, Sanchez-Gijon's grandfather. He steals every scene he's in. His performance is funny and charming and his character always has a knowing twinkle in his eye. A pure delight to watch. For those with unjaded hearts, settle down with the one you love and share a glass of wine as you watch this film and relish it's pure heart and the exquisite joy of it's touching romance.