Kiss Me Goodbye (film)

Last updated
Kiss Me Goodbye
Kiss-me-goodbye-movie-poster-1020231440.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Robert Mulligan
Written byCharlie Peters
Based on Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands
by Bruno Barreto
Eduardo Coutinho
Leopoldo Serran (uncredited)
Produced byRobert Mulligan
Burt Sugarman
Starring
Cinematography Donald Peterman
Edited by Sheldon Kahn
Music by Ralph Burns
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • December 22, 1982 (1982-12-22)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$8 million
Box office$15.8 million (United States/Canada) [1]

Kiss Me Goodbye is a 1982 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Mulligan, and starring Sally Field, James Caan, Jeff Bridges and Claire Trevor (in her final film role).

Contents

It is a remake of Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands (Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos in Portuguese), a 1976 Brazilian film, based on Jorge Amado's book of the same name.

Field was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical for her performance, [2] but Caan later said he disliked the film, as he did several ones in which he appeared either just to keep working or for the money. [3] In a 1991 interview, Caan claimed that making Kiss Me Goodbye was one of the most unpleasant experiences of his life, and that as a consequence, he did not make another film for five years. [4]

Plot

Kay is the widow of a Broadway showman called Jolly, who died falling from a staircase at their home. Kay plans to remarry, to an Egyptologist named Rupert, and suggests that they live in the same house. Jolly returns to her life as a ghost. Seen only by her, Jolly meddles in Kay's affairs and causes her mother and others to question her state of mind. On a romantic weekend in the country together, Kay and Rupert are accompanied by Jolly, who is annoyed by Rupert's pretending to be able to see and hear him. The situation comes to a head back at the house, where a colleague of Rupert's attempts to stage an exorcism. Jolly, finally convinced that Kay will be okay without him, kisses her goodbye for good. The film ends with Kay and Rupert getting married at the wedding rehearsal.

Cast

Theme

The film's theme song, But It's a Nice Dream, was written by Peter Allen and sung by Dusty Springfield.

Reception

Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote that: "Robert Mulligan's Kiss Me Goodbye is like a Nassau cruise ship with eight bars, seven discos, five swimming pools and no compass. It sails out of New York, turns left instead of right at the Ambrose Lightship and heads confidently toward sunny Iceland. ...Mr. Mulligan's direction perfectly matches Charlie Peters's screenplay in that both are humorless. The leads aren't great either. Miss Fields is neither Sonia Braga nor Irene Dunne and Mr. Caan, who appears to be imitating Gene Kelly, can't. Mr. Bridges behaves as if he were a family's faithful old dog, the sort of slobbering animal that will sell his soul for a pat on the head." [5] Filmink called it " an amiable redo of Blithe Spirit/Topper... but sinks under a script which doesn’t give Caan enough to do. It is fun to see Caan as a Bob Fosse style hoofer-director." [6]

The film opened Wednesday, December 22, 1982 on 783 theaters and grossed $1,846,222 in its first 5 days, finishing ninth for the weekend at the U.S. box office. [7] In its second weekend, its weekend gross more than doubled, one of the best second-weekend increases since 1982. It went on to gross $15.8 million in the United States and Canada. [1]

In a 1991 interview, James Caan claimed that making the 1982 film Kiss Me Goodbye was another factor in this self-imposed exile. Caan called it one of the worst experiences of his life and professed that director Robert Mulligan was the most incompetent filmmaker he had ever worked with. "A lot of mediocrity was produced", he said.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Murphys Romance</i> 1985 film by Martin Ritt

Murphy's Romance is a 1985 American romantic-comedy film directed by Martin Ritt. The screenplay by Harriet Frank Jr. and Irving Ravetch was based on the 1980 novella by Max Schott. The film stars Sally Field, James Garner, Brian Kerwin, and Corey Haim, and was produced by Laura Ziskin for Field's production company Fogwood Films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Caan</span> American actor (1940–2022)

James Edmund Caan was an American actor. He came to prominence playing Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972) – a performance which earned him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He reprised his role in The Godfather Part II (1974). He received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978.

<i>Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands</i> (novel) Novel by the Brazilian writer Jorge Amado

Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands is a novel by Brazilian writer Jorge Amado, published in 1966; it was translated into English by Harriet de Onís in 1969. The novel was adapted for the first time into the 1976 film Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands.

<i>Rush Hour 2</i> 2001 film by Brett Ratner

Rush Hour 2 is a 2001 American buddy action comedy film directed by Brett Ratner and written by Jeff Nathanson, based on the characters created by Ross LaManna. A sequel to Rush Hour, it is the second installment in the Rush Hour franchise and stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker reprising their roles from the first film. The story follows Chief Inspector Lee (Chan) and LAPD Detective James Carter (Tucker), who go to Hong Kong on vacation only to be thwarted by a murder case involving two U.S. customs agents after a bombing at the American embassy. Lee suspects that the crime is linked to the Triad crime lord Ricky Tan (Lone).

<i>Manderlay</i> 2005 film

Manderlay is a 2005 avant-garde drama film written and directed by Lars von Trier, the second and final part of von Trier's projected USA – Land of Opportunities trilogy. It stars Bryce Dallas Howard, who replaces Nicole Kidman in the role of Grace Mulligan. The film co-stars Willem Dafoe, replacing James Caan. Lauren Bacall, Željko Ivanek, Jeremy Davies, and Chloë Sevigny return portraying different characters from those in Dogville. Only John Hurt, Udo Kier, and Jean-Marc Barr reprise their roles. The film was internationally co-produced with seven different European countries.

<i>Funny Lady</i> 1975 musical film directed by Herbert Ross

Funny Lady is a 1975 American biographical musical comedy-drama film and the sequel to the 1968 film Funny Girl. The film stars Barbra Streisand, James Caan, Omar Sharif, Roddy McDowall and Ben Vereen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Mulligan</span> American director, producer (1925–2008)

Robert Patrick Mulligan was an American director and producer. He is best known for his sensitive dramas, including To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), Summer of '42 (1971), The Other (1972), Same Time, Next Year (1978), and The Man in the Moon (1991). He was also known in the 1960s for his extensive collaborations with producer Alan J. Pakula.

<i>Drive Me Crazy</i> 1999 film by John Schultz

Drive Me Crazy is a 1999 American teen romantic comedy film based on the novel How I Created My Perfect Prom Date by Todd Strasser. Originally entitled Next to You, the film's title was changed to Drive Me Crazy after one of the songs from its soundtrack, "(You Drive Me) Crazy" by Britney Spears. The film grossed $22,593,409 worldwide, against an $8 million budget, making it a moderate box office success. The soundtrack featured The Donnas, who also appeared in the film.

<i>Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands</i> 1976 film directed by Bruno Barreto

Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands is a 1976 Brazilian comedy film directed by Bruno Barreto. Based on the 1966 novel of the same name by Jorge Amado, it takes place in 1940s Bahia and has Sônia Braga, José Wilker and Mauro Mendonça in the leading roles. The screenplay was adapted by Barreto, Eduardo Coutinho and Leopoldo Serran.

<i>A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon</i> 1988 film by William Richert

A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, also known as Aren't You Even Gonna Kiss Me Goodbye?, is a 1988 American coming of age drama film written and directed by William Richert and starring River Phoenix, Ann Magnuson, Meredith Salenger, Matthew Perry, Ione Skye, and Louanne. It is based upon Richert's 1966 novel Aren't You Even Gonna Kiss Me Goodbye?. The story centers on a high school graduate who must decide if he wants to go to business school at the request of his father, or go his own way and find a full-time job, while also deciding on who he wants to be in life and if he should leave his house.

<i>The Bridges of Madison County</i> (film) 1995 American romantic drama film directed by Clint Eastwood

The Bridges of Madison County is a 1995 American romantic drama based on the 1992 bestselling novel of the same name by Robert James Waller. It was produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, who also starred in the film alongside Meryl Streep. The screenplay was adapted by Richard LaGravenese. Kathleen Kennedy was co-producer. It was produced by Amblin Entertainment and Malpaso Productions, and distributed by Warner Bros. Entertainment.

<i>In the Land of Women</i> 2007 American film

In the Land of Women is a 2007 American romantic comedy-drama film directed and written by Jon Kasdan. The film premiered in the United States on April 20, 2007.

<i>Misery</i> (film) 1990 film by Rob Reiner

Misery is a 1990 American psychological thriller film directed by Rob Reiner, based on Stephen King's 1987 novel of the same name, starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall, Richard Farnsworth, and Frances Sternhagen. The plot centers around an author who is held captive by an obsessive fan who forces him to rewrite the finale to his novel series.

<i>Unaccompanied Minors</i> 2006 comedy film by Paul Feig

Unaccompanied Minors is a 2006 Christmas comedy film directed by Paul Feig and starring Lewis Black, Wilmer Valderrama, Tyler James Williams, Dyllan Christopher, Brett Kelly, Gia Mantegna, and Quinn Shephard.

<i>Annabelle</i> (film) 2014 American supernatural horror film

Annabelle is a 2014 American supernatural horror film directed by John R. Leonetti, written by Gary Dauberman and produced by Peter Safran and James Wan. It is a prequel to the 2013 film The Conjuring and the second installment in The Conjuring Universe franchise. The film was inspired by a story of a doll named Annabelle told by Ed and Lorraine Warren. The film stars Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, and Alfre Woodard.

<i>Chapter Two</i> (film) 1979 film by Robert Moore

Chapter Two is a 1979 American Metrocolor romantic comedy-drama film directed by Robert Moore, produced by Ray Stark, and based on Neil Simon's 1977 Broadway play of the same name. It has a 124-minute running time. It stars James Caan and Marsha Mason, in an Academy Award-nominated performance.

<i>The Boy</i> (2016 film) 2016 film by William Brent Bell

The Boy is a 2016 horror film directed by William Brent Bell and written by Stacey Menear. The film stars Lauren Cohan and Rupert Evans. It is an international co-production between China and the United States. Filming began on March 10, 2015, in Victoria, British Columbia. STXfilms released The Boy in the United States on January 22. The film grossed $64 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. A sequel, Brahms: The Boy II, was released on February 21, 2020.

<i>Captive State</i> 2019 American film by Rupert Wyatt

Captive State is a 2019 American science fiction thriller film directed by Rupert Wyatt and co-written by Wyatt and Erica Beeney. The film stars John Goodman, Ashton Sanders, Jonathan Majors, Colson Baker, and Vera Farmiga, and follows a young man who participates in a conspiracy to rebel against an alien race that had invaded Earth and forced strict martial law on all humans almost a decade prior.

<i>Queen Bees</i> (film) 2021 film by Michael Lembeck

Queen Bees is a 2021 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Lembeck. It features an ensemble cast, including Ellen Burstyn, James Caan, Ann-Margret, Christopher Lloyd, Jane Curtin, Loretta Devine, and Elizabeth Mitchell. It was released on June 11, 2021, by Gravitas Ventures, and received mixed reviews from critics. Screenwriter Donald Martin was nominated for a 2022 Humanitas Prize for his screenplay.

References

  1. 1 2 Kiss Me Goodbye at Box Office Mojo
  2. Golden Globes Official Site
  3. Encyclopedia of World Biography - James Caan
  4. Goldstein, Patrick (31 May 1987). "KID CAAN : A Hollywood Star Gets Off the Ropes, Back Into the Ring". latimes.com. Ross Levinsohn. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  5. "Movie Reviews". The New York Times. 2023-02-21. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  6. Vagg, Stephen (September 27, 2022). "The Stardom of James Caan". Filmink.
  7. Ginsberg, Steven (December 28, 1982). "Columbia Pictures Is Prime Recipient Of Holiday Good News At Nation's B.O.". Daily Variety . p. 1.