Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Illeana Douglas | ... | Denise Waverly / Edna Buxton | |
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Sissy Boyd | ... | Dress Saleswoman |
Christina Pickles | ... | Mrs. Buxton | |
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Jill Sobule | ... | Singing Contestant |
Jennifer Leigh Warren | ... | Doris Shelley | |
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Tegan West | ... | M.C. at Talent Show |
Richard Schiff | ... | Audition Record Producer | |
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Natalie Venetia Belcon | ... | Betty |
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Kathy Barbour | ... | Sha Sha |
John Turturro | ... | Joel Millner | |
Diane Robin | ... | Waitress in Diner | |
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Eric Jerome Kirkland | ... | Stylette |
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Irving Washington III | ... | Stylette (as Irving Eugene Washington III) |
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Kurt Jackson | ... | Stylette |
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Michael Angelo Saulsberry | ... | Stylette (as Michael Saulsberry) |
An aspiring singer, Denise Waverly/Edna Buxton, sacrifices her own singing career to write hit songs that launch the careers of other singers. The film follows her life from her first break, through the pain of rejection from the recording industry and a bad marriage, to her final triumph. Written by John Deming <jfdeming@sprynet.com>
I was reminded of how really good this movie is today when I saw it on T.V. (with commercials ugh) I've seen it a few times before and every time I watch it, I bawl like a baby and I'm a guy. A really tough guy. But this movie goes straight to my heart and puts a squeeze on it through the wonderful music, the sweet nostalgia and what a cast!
Illeana Douglas is beautiful and she really plays her character with great talent. She's supported by a strong cast and how can you go wrong with Turturro playing Phil Specter? The first time I saw this there was something familiar about the music; the songs, like "God give me Strength". As much as I like Elvis Costello, that scene of Illeana performing it for Matt (Brian Wilson) Dillon was such a unique delivery of a pure and powerful vocal. I later found that the 'familiarity' is Burt Bacharach and the 'voice' is Kristin Vigard: Wow!
Back in those days there was such an explosion of music and creativity and Burt Bacharach was truly a pop force.
I loved the Brill Building scenes, especially when they were working on the songs. I thought the movie lost something when it moved west to California but was deeply moved by Douglas and Turturro 'having it out' at the empty poolside. The final song with the flashbacks and her crowning achievement of recording that "one great album" had me weeping again. I really like this movie so I ordered the DVD online.