Moonstruck

Last updated
Moonstruck
Chermoonstruck.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Norman Jewison
Written by John Patrick Shanley
Produced by
  • Norman Jewison
  • Patrick Palmer
Starring
Cinematography David Watkin
Edited by Lou Lombardo
Music by Dick Hyman
Production
companies
Distributed by MGM/UA Communications Co.
Release date
  • December 18, 1987 (1987-12-18)(United States)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$15 million [1]
Box office$122.1 million

Moonstruck is a 1987 American romantic comedy-drama film directed and co-produced by Norman Jewison, written by John Patrick Shanley, and starring Cher, Nicolas Cage, Danny Aiello, Olympia Dukakis, and Vincent Gardenia. The film follows Loretta Castorini, a widowed Italian-American woman who falls in love with her fiancé's hot-tempered, estranged younger brother.

Contents

Moonstruck had a limited theatrical release on December 18, 1987, and was released nationally on January 15, 1988 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film earned critical and commercial success. It received six nominations at the 60th Academy Awards, winning three for Best Actress (Cher), Best Supporting Actress (Dukakis), and Best Original Screenplay (Shanley).

Plot

Thirty-seven year old Loretta Castorini, an Italian-American widow, works as a bookkeeper and lives in Brooklyn Heights with her parents, Cosmo and Rose, and her paternal grandfather. Loretta's boyfriend, Johnny Cammareri, proposes to her before leaving for Sicily to tend to his dying mother. Loretta accepts, but she insists on carefully following tradition as she believes failing to do so originally led to her first husband's sudden death after two years of marriage.

Johnny asks Loretta to invite his estranged younger brother Ronny to the wedding; Ronny and Johnny have not spoken in five years. Loretta returns home and informs her parents of the engagement. Cosmo, who runs a successful plumbing business, dislikes Johnny and is reluctant to pay for Loretta's planned "real" wedding. Hearing that Loretta likes but does not love Johnny, Rose tells her that true love can cause romantic partners to be easily hurt by each other.

Loretta goes to see Ronny at the bakery he owns and learns Ronny has a wooden prosthetic hand caused by absentmindedly putting his hand in a bread slicer while having a conversation with Johnny; Ronny's fiancée subsequently left him. Loretta insists that they talk privately. They go to Ronny's apartment, where Loretta cooks a meal, and both have several alcoholic beverages. Loretta compares Ronny to a wolf that would gnaw off its paw to escape a trap and claims he deliberately injured his hand to escape a bad relationship. Ronny reacts furiously and passionately, kissing Loretta; to her surprise, Loretta kisses him back. Ronny carries Loretta to his bed, where they make love.

That evening, Rose's brother Raymond and his wife Rita join Rose, Cosmo, and Cosmo’s father for dinner and they wonder where Loretta is. Raymond recalls a particularly bright moon that he believes was in the sky when Cosmo was courting Rose, which Loretta and Ronny witness as well. The next morning, Loretta is overcome with guilt, but Ronny promises to never bother her again if she attends a performance of La bohème at the Met with him. Loretta goes to church to confess her infidelity and afterwards calls at Raymond and Rita's store to close out the cash register. Upon leaving, she impulsively goes to a hair salon and buys a glamorous evening gown and shoes at a boutique.

Loretta is deeply moved by La bohème. While leaving the opera, she sees Cosmo, accompanied by his mistress, Mona, and confronts him. As Loretta is with Ronny, Cosmo suggests that Loretta keep their encounter a secret. Loretta attempts to return home, but Ronny desperately persuades her into another tryst. That same night, Rose dines alone at a restaurant and sees a college professor, Perry, being dramatically dumped by a female student.

Taking pity on Perry, Rose invites him to dine with her instead, allowing him to walk her home but refusing to invite him in because she is loyal to her marriage. Later, Johnny unexpectedly returns from Sicily after his mother's "miraculous" recovery and meets with Rose at the Castorini house. They agree that men chase after women for fear of death.

Returning home next morning, Loretta is distressed to learn from Rose that Johnny will be there soon. Ronny arrives, and Rose invites him for breakfast over Loretta's objections. Cosmo and his father emerge from upstairs; Grandpa insists that Cosmo agree to pay for Loretta's wedding. Rose then confronts Cosmo and demands that he end his affair; he is upset but gives in and, at Rose's insistence, also agrees to go to confession. Both reaffirm their love for each other.

Raymond and Rita arrive, concerned that Loretta had not deposited the previous day's takings at the bank, and are relieved to learn that she merely forgot and still has the money. When Johnny finally arrives, he breaks off the engagement, superstitiously believing that their marriage would cause his mother's death. Loretta berates Johnny for breaking his promise and throws the engagement ring at him. Ronny borrows the ring and asks Loretta to marry him, to which she agrees. The family toasts the couple with champagne and Johnny joins in at Grandpa's urging, since he will now be part of the family after all.

Cast

Reception

Box office

On its wide release, the film finished third at the US box office and spent 20 nonconsecutive weeks in the top 10 and finally grossed $80,640,528 in the United States and Canada. [3] Internationally it grossed $41.5 million for a worldwide total of $122.1 million, [4] on a budget of $15 million.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 89% based on reviews from 76 critics, with an average score of 7.8/10. The site's consensus read, "Led by energetic performances from Nicolas Cage and Cher, Moonstruck is an exuberantly funny tribute to love and one of the decade's most appealing comedies." [5] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 83 out of 100 based on reviews from 18 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". [6] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale. [7]

Time wrote, "John Patrick Shanley's witty, shapely script puts an octet of New Yorkers under a lunar-tuney spell one romantic night. Cher shines brightest of all." [8] Roger Ebert, who later added the film among his "Great Movies" list, said: "Reviews of the movie tend to make it sound like a madcap ethnic comedy, and that it is. But there is something more here, a certain bittersweet yearning that comes across as ineffably romantic, and a certain magical quality". [9] Film historian Leonard Maltin gave the picture 4 out of 4 stars. [10]

Gene Siskel, writing for the Chicago Tribune , recommended "Moonstruck, which is being sold as a romance but actually is one of the funniest pictures to come out in quite some time. [...] You will not easily forget this incredibly robust family, created by writer John Patrick Shanley and directed by Norman Jewison, who makes a comeback with this uproarious film." [11]

It appeared on both critics' Top 10 lists for 1987. [12]

Accolades

AwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Academy Awards Best Picture Norman Jewison and Patrick PalmerNominated [13]
Best Director Norman JewisonNominated
Best Actress Cher Won
Best Supporting Actor Vincent Gardenia Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Olympia Dukakis Won
Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen John Patrick Shanley Won
American Comedy Awards Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role)CherNominated
Funniest Supporting Male Performer – Motion Picture or TVVincent GardeniaNominated
Funniest Supporting Female Performer – Motion Picture or TVOlympia DukakisWon
Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film Casting – Comedy Howard Feuer Won [14]
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards Top Box Office Films Dick Hyman Won
Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear Norman JewisonNominated [15]
Best Director Won
British Academy Film Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role CherNominated [16]
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Olympia DukakisNominated
Best Original Screenplay John Patrick ShanleyNominated
Best Film Music Dick HymanNominated
David di Donatello Awards Best Foreign Actress CherWon
Best Foreign ScreenplayJohn Patrick ShanleyNominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Nominated [17]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Nicolas Cage Nominated
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy CherWon
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Olympia DukakisWon
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture John Patrick ShanleyNominated
Japan Academy Film Prize Outstanding Foreign Language Film Nominated
Jupiter Awards Best International ActressCherNominated
Kansas City Film Critics Circle AwardsBest FilmWon [18]
Best ActressCherWon
Best Supporting ActressOlympia DukakisWon
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting Actress Won [19]
Best Screenplay John Patrick ShanleyRunner-up
Nastro d'Argento Best Foreign ActressCherWon
Best Female DubbingLudovica Modugno (for dubbing Cher)Won
National Board of Review Awards Best Supporting Actress Olympia DukakisWon [20]
New York Film Critics Circle Awards Best Supporting Actress Runner-up [21]
Sant Jordi Awards Best Foreign ActressCherNominated
Writers Guild of America Awards Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen John Patrick ShanleyWon [22]

In June 2008, AFI revealed its "Ten top Ten"—the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres—after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community. Moonstruck was acknowledged as the eighth best film in the romantic comedy genre. [23] [24] The film is also number 72 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies," and number 41 on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs.

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

Influential film critic Roger Ebert entered the film to his "Great Movies" collection in June 2003. [29]

Soundtrack

SongArtistNotes
That's Amore Dean Martin Harry Warren, Jack Brooks
Canzone Per Loretta/Addio, Mulberry Street Jack Zaza (mandolin) Dick Hyman
Mr. MoonDick Hyman
It Must Be Him Vikki Carr Gilbert Bécaud, Mack David, Maurice Vidalin
Old Man MazurkaDominic Cortese (accordion)Dick Hyman
Lament for Johnny's MamaDick Hyman
Che gelida manina Ed Bickert (guitar) Giacomo Puccini
Donde lieta uscì Renata Tebaldi Giacomo Puccini
Canzone Per LorettaDick Hyman
O soave fanciulla Carlo Bergonzi, Renata TebaldiGiacomo Puccini
Musetta's Waltz Moe Koffman (alto saxophone)Giacomo Puccini
Musetta's EntranceNora Shulman (flute)Giacomo Puccini
La bohème (instrumental excerpts)Giacomo Puccini
(In Loretta's Bedroom) Gettin' ReadyMoe Koffman (alto saxophone)Dick Hyman
Brooklyn Heights StrollDick Hyman
Beautiful SignorinaDick Hyman
Moonglow Eddie DeLange, Will Hudson, Irving Mills
Canzone Per LorettaDominic Cortese (accordion)Dick Hyman
Gioventù mia, tu non sei morta (La bohème, act 2)Carlo Bergonzi, Cesare Siepi, Ettore Bastianini, Fernando Corena, Gianna D'Angelo, Renata Tebaldi, Renato CesariGiacomo Puccini

Soundtrack references: [30] [31]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Graduate</i> 1967 romantic comedy drama film by Mike Nichols

The Graduate is a 1967 American independent romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Charles Webb, who wrote it shortly after graduating from Williams College. The film tells the story of 21-year-old Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate with no well-defined aim in life who is seduced by an older married woman, Mrs. Robinson, but then falls for her daughter, Elaine.

<i>The Apartment</i> 1960 film by Billy Wilder

The Apartment is a 1960 American romantic comedy-drama film directed and produced by Billy Wilder from a screenplay he co-wrote with I. A. L. Diamond. It stars Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston, Jack Kruschen, David Lewis, Willard Waterman, David White, Hope Holiday and Edie Adams.

<i>Manhattan</i> (1979 film) 1979 film by Woody Allen

Manhattan is a 1979 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Woody Allen and produced by Charles H. Joffe from a screenplay written by Allen and Marshall Brickman. Allen co-stars as a twice-divorced 42-year-old comedy writer who dates a 17-year-old girl but falls in love with his best friend's mistress. Meryl Streep and Anne Byrne also star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cher</span> American singer and actress (born 1946)

Cher is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female autonomy in a male-dominated industry. She is known for her distinctive contralto singing voice, for having worked in numerous areas of entertainment and for adopting a variety of styles/appearances. Cher rose to fame in 1965 as one half of the folk rock husband-wife duo Sonny & Cher before releasing her first solo top-ten singles "Bang Bang " and "You Better Sit Down Kids". Throughout the 1970s, she scored the US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves", "Half-Breed", and "Dark Lady", becoming the female solo artist with the most number-one singles in US history at the time.

<i>Clueless</i> 1995 film by Amy Heckerling

Clueless is a 1995 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written and directed by Amy Heckerling. It stars Alicia Silverstone with supporting roles by Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy and Paul Rudd. It was produced by Scott Rudin and Robert Lawrence. The film is a loose adaptation of Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma. The plot centers on a beautiful, popular, and rich high school student who befriends a new student and decides to give her a makeover while playing a matchmaker for her teachers and examining her own existence.

<i>Prizzis Honor</i> 1985 film by John Huston

Prizzi's Honor is a 1985 American black comedy crime film directed by John Huston, starring Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner as two highly skilled mob assassins who, after falling in love, are hired to kill each other. The screenplay co-written by Richard Condon is based on his 1982 novel of the same name. The film's supporting cast includes Anjelica Huston, Robert Loggia, John Randolph, CCH Pounder, Lawrence Tierney, and William Hickey. Stanley Tucci appears in a minor role in his film debut. It was the last of John Huston's films to be released during his lifetime.

<i>Broadcast News</i> (film) 1987 film by James L. Brooks

Broadcast News is a 1987 American romantic comedy-drama film written, produced and directed by James L. Brooks. The film concerns a virtuoso television news producer who has daily emotional breakdowns, a brilliant yet prickly reporter, and the latter's charismatic but far less seasoned rival. It also stars Robert Prosky, Lois Chiles, Joan Cusack, and Jack Nicholson.

<i>Joe Versus the Volcano</i> 1990 American romantic comedy film

Joe Versus the Volcano is a 1990 American romantic comedy film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley and starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall of Amblin Entertainment, Joe Versus the Volcano follows the titular Joe Banks (Hanks), who, after being told he is dying of a rare disease, accepts a financial offer to travel to a South Pacific island and throw himself into a volcano on behalf of the superstitious natives. Along the way, he meets and falls in love with Patricia (Ryan), the woman tasked with taking him there.

<i>Theres Something About Mary</i> 1998 film by Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly

There's Something About Mary is a 1998 American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly, who co-wrote it with Ed Decter and John J. Strauss. The film features Cameron Diaz as the title character, while Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon, Lee Evans, and Chris Elliott all play men who are in love with Mary, and vying for her affection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Aiello</span> American actor (1933–2019)

Daniel Louis Aiello Jr. was an American actor. He appeared in numerous motion pictures, including The Godfather Part II (1974), The Front (1976), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), Hide in Plain Sight (1984), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Moonstruck (1987), Harlem Nights (1989), Do the Right Thing (1989), Jacob's Ladder (1990), Hudson Hawk (1991), Ruby (1992), Léon: The Professional (1994), 2 Days in the Valley (1996), Dinner Rush (2000), and Lucky Number Slevin (2006). He played Don Domenico Clericuzio in the miniseries The Last Don (1997).

<i>Take the Money and Run</i> (film) 1969 film by Woody Allen

Take the Money and Run is a 1969 American mockumentary crime comedy film directed by Woody Allen. Allen co-wrote the screenplay with Mickey Rose and stars alongside Janet Margolin. The film chronicles the life of Virgil Starkwell, an inept bank robber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympia Dukakis</span> American actress (1931–2021)

Olympia Dukakis was an American actress. She performed in more than 130 stage productions, more than 60 films and in 50 television series. Best known as a screen actress, she started her career in theater. Not long after her arrival in New York City, she won an Obie Award for Best Actress in 1963 for her off-Broadway performance in Bertolt Brecht's Man Equals Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Patrick Shanley</span> American writer

John Patrick Shanley is an American playwright, screenwriter, and director. He won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the film Moonstruck. His play, Doubt: A Parable, won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2005 Tony Award for Best Play; he wrote and directed the film adaptation and earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

<i>The Opposite of Sex</i> 1998 American film

The Opposite Of Sex is a 1998 American independent romantic dark comedy written and directed by Don Roos, and starring Christina Ricci, Martin Donovan and Lisa Kudrow. A directorial debut for Roos, it marked the final film produced by Rysher Entertainment. Shortly before the film’s world premiere at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival, it was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. The tagline: "You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be offended."

<i>The Purple Rose of Cairo</i> 1985 film by Woody Allen

The Purple Rose of Cairo is a 1985 American fantasy-romantic film written and directed by Woody Allen, and starring Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, and Danny Aiello. Inspired by the films Sherlock Jr. (1924) and Hellzapoppin' (1941) and Pirandello's play Six Characters in Search of an Author (1921), it is the tale of a film character named Tom Baxter who leaves a fictional film of the same name and enters the real world.

<i>Singin in the Rain</i> 1952 American musical-romantic comedy film

Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, starring Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds and featuring Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell and Cyd Charisse. It offers a lighthearted depiction of Hollywood in the late 1920s, with the three stars portraying performers caught up in the transition from silent films to "talkies".

<i>Soapdish</i> 1991 film by Michael Hoffman

Soapdish is a 1991 American comedy film directed by Michael Hoffman, from a screenplay by Robert Harling and Andrew Bergman. The film was produced by Aaron Spelling and Alan Greisman, and executive produced by Herbert Ross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cher filmography</span>

Throughout her acting career, Cher has mainly starred in comedy, drama, and romance films. She has appeared in eighteen films, including two as a cameo. She has also appeared in one starring theater role, one video game role, numerous television commercials and directed a piece of the motion picture If These Walls Could Talk in 1996 and some of her music videos of the Geffen-era in late 1980s and in early 1990s. Cher has starred in various international television commercials, as well as high-profile print advertising for Lori Davis (1992). Before she started her film career, she had a couple of hits in the 1960s, as a solo artist, and with her ex-husband Sonny Bono as the couple Sonny & Cher.

<i>A Pyromaniacs Love Story</i> 1995 American film

A Pyromaniac's Love Story is a 1995 American romantic comedy film directed by Joshua Brand and starring William Baldwin, John Leguizamo, Sadie Frost, and Erika Eleniak. The original screenplay is by Morgan Ward. It was filmed in Toronto, Ontario.

<i>Wild Mountain Thyme</i> (film) 2020 film by John Patrick Shanley

Wild Mountain Thyme is a 2020 romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, based on his play Outside Mullingar. The film stars Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm, Dearbhla Molloy and Christopher Walken.

References

  1. Box Office Information for Moonstruck. Archived 2017-07-08 at the Wayback Machine TheWrap . Retrieved April 4, 2013
  2. 1 2 There is an error in the credits: that name has "gg", but in the film scene the name appears in the shop window, written as Cappomagi, with only one "g".
  3. "Moonstruck". Box Office Mojo . Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  4. "UIP's $25M-Plus Club". Variety . September 11, 1995. p. 92.
  5. "Moonstruck (1987)". Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  6. "Moonstruck". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 2020-10-04. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  7. "CinemaScore". cinemascore.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-16. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  8. "Critics' Choice". Time. April 4, 1988. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  9. Ebert, Roger (January 15, 1988). "Review of Moonstruck". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on 1999-03-02.
  10. Maltin's TV, Movie, & Video Guide
  11. Gene Siskel (1988-01-15). "Flick Of Week: Comedy Is King In 'Moonstruck'". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  12. "Ebert & Roeper and the movies - Best & Worst". 5 June 2001. Archived from the original on 5 June 2001. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  13. "The 60th Academy Awards (1988) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  14. "Nominees/Winners". Casting Society of America . Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  15. "Berlinale: 1988 Prize Winners". berlinale.de. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
  16. "BAFTA Awards: Film in 1989". BAFTA . 1989. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  17. "Moonstruck – Golden Globes". HFPA . Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  18. "KCFCC Award Winners – 1980-89". kcfcc.org. 14 December 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  19. "The 13th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards". Los Angeles Film Critics Association . Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  20. "1987 Award Winners". National Board of Review . Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  21. "1987 New York Film Critics Circle Awards". New York Film Critics Circle . Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  22. "Awards Winners". wga.org. Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  23. American Film Institute (2008-06-17). "AFI Crowns Top 10 Films in 10 Classic Genres". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on 2008-08-18. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  24. American Film Institute (2008-06-17). "AFI Crowns Top 10 Films in 10 Classic Genres". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  25. "AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs" (PDF). American Film Institute. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-03-16. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
  26. "AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions" (PDF). American Film Institute. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
  27. "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes" (PDF). American Film Institute. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-03-13. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
  28. "AFI's 10 Top 10: Top 10 Romantic Comedy". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on 2016-06-15. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
  29. Ebert, Roger (June 22, 2003). "Moonstruck". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on April 1, 2009. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
  30. "Moonstruck (1987)". IMDb.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  31. "Moonstruck - Original Soundtrack - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic . Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017.