Michael (1996)

Two tabloid reporters checking out a report of the Archangel Michael living with an old woman find that it's true. But that's not the only surprise.

Director:

Nora Ephron

Writers:

Peter Dexter (story) (as Pete Dexter), Jim Quinlan (story)

Stars:

John Travolta, Andie MacDowell, William Hurt

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Travolta	...	Michael
Andie MacDowell	...	Dorothy Winters
William Hurt	...	Frank Quinlan
Bob Hoskins	...	Vartan Malt
Robert Pastorelli	...	Huey Driscoll
Jean Stapleton	...	Pansy Milbank
Teri Garr	...	Judge Esther Newberg
Wallace Langham	...	Bruce Craddock
Joey Lauren Adams	...	Anita
Carla Gugino	...	Bride
Tom Hodges	...	Groom
Catherine Lloyd Burns	...	Evie
Richard Schiff	...	Italian Waiter
Calvin Trillin	...	Sheriff
Donald J. Lee Jr.	...	Court Bailiff

Storyline

Frank Quinlan and Huey Driscoll, two reporters from a Chicago-based tabloid, along with Dorothy Winters, an 'angel expert', are asked to travel to rural Iowa to investigate a claim from an old woman that she shares her house with a real, live archangel named Michael. Upon arrival, they see that her claims are true - but Michael is not what they expected: he smokes, drinks beer, has a very active libido and has a rather colourful vocabulary. In fact, they would never believe it were it not for the two feathery wings protruding from his back. Michael agrees to travel to Chicago with the threesome, but what they don't realise is that the journey they are about to undertake will change their lives forever.

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Plot Keywords:

reporter | archangel michael | angel | road trip | dog | 

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Taglines:

He's an angel... Not a saint.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for a mild barroom brawl, some language and sensuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Frank Oz was attached to direct at one point before Nora Ephron was brought on.

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Goofs

When Michael is in the field after Sparky has been run down by a truck and he is facing Dorothy, Frank and Huey, the sun is on right hand side and is bright. When the shot goes back to the other characters, they are facing Michael and the sun is also on their right hand side and is obviously lower in the sky.

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Quotes

Michael: I'm not that kind of angel.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Michael/Mother/The People vs. Larry Flynt/The Evening Star/The Portrait of a Lady/I'm Not Rappaport (1996)

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Soundtracks

Dream
(1944)
Written by Johnny Mercer
Published by Michael H. Goldsen, Inc./WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Performed by Chet Atkins with George Benson
Produced by Chet Atkins and George Benson
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing
George Benson appears courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.

User Reviews

John Travolta will 'ruffle your feathers'

in this, yet again, Nora Ephron pleaser. How can you not sniggle, laugh, guffaw and even cheer for a love-handled, smoking, suger-eating, beer-drinking, bull-charging, bar-dancing Archangel who sloops cereal and pie with his whole left-hand wrapped around a spoon-handle while outfitted in Vinnie Barbarino's middle-aged body with wings? It's one of the most ludicrous, classic, side-splitting images available on the silver screen. And if you don't 'get' that image, here's a quarter --- go buy yourself a life.

I found the supporting cast, well -- well-cast. Hurt, MacDowell, Pastorelli, Hoskins, Stapleton et al played the characters they were given to a 'T." And despite Travolta stealing the show, those characters are quintessential to the storyline – you'll see. Though this is a simple feel-good story (nothing complicated to follow, just out of the ordinary) with laughs, sniffles and a touch of heart, you can't get out of this without some introspection into your own life. Maybe that's why the IMDb nay-sayers of this film have such a problem with it (you poor, sad people).

Please – do yourself a favor, ignore the 'lifeless' and treat yourself to something GOOD. Lord knows, we can't get enough of that

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Portuguese

Release Date:

25 December 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Michael

Filming Locations:

Gruene Hall - 1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, Comal County, Texas, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,435,711, 29 December 1996

Gross USA:

$95,318,203

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$119,718,203

Company Credits

Production Co:

Turner Pictures (I), Alphaville Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1