Starting Over (1979)

Director:

Alan J. Pakula

Writers:

James L. Brooks (writer)
Dan Wakefield (novel)

Release Date:

15 February 1980 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Phil Potter would like to straighten out his life...One way, or the other.

Plot:

A divorced man falls in love, but somehow he can't get over his ex-wife. This effects his love life in comic ways. Based on Dan Wakefield's novel.

Plot Keywords:

Divorcé | Thanksgiving | Human Relationship | Support Group | Christmas

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 nominations

Cast

Burt Reynolds	...	Phil Potter
Jill Clayburgh	...	Marilyn Holmberg
Candice Bergen	...	Jessica Potter
Charles Durning	...	Michael (Mickey) Potter
Frances Sternhagen	...	Marva Potter
Austin Pendleton	...	Paul
Mary Kay Place	...	Marie
MacIntyre Dixon	...	Dan Ryan
Jay O. Sanders	...	Larry (as Jay Sanders)
Charles Kimbrough	...	Salesman
Richard Whiting	...	Everett
Alfie Wise	...	Workshop Member
Wallace Shawn	...	Workshop Member
Sturgis Warner	...	John Morganson
Mary Catherine Wright	...	Student 1 (as Mary C. Wright)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:16 | USA:R | UK:AA (original rating) | UK:15 (re-rating) (1987)

Filming Locations:

Boston Garden - 150 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Century Associates

Trivia:

The shower of Valium pills was based on an actual incident that happened to Burt Reynolds.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: Moving mic shadow is visible on wall in scene where Phil meets Marie's children.

Quotes:

Marilyn Holmberg: What do you want?
Phil Potter: I want us to live together. I want us to get married. I want us to have children together. I want us to put our teeth in the same cup. I want us buried together in a family plot with one headstone. What do you want?
Marilyn Holmberg: I want a separate cup for my teeth.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Barting Over (#14.11)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Starting Over

Nice realistic comedy

This is a nice movie, that depicts a man's difficult time coping with a divorce from a woman he still cares about and falling in love with another woman at the same time. Most critics have said this is Burt Reynolds finest performance. It has some very touching moments that we could all relate to, and there are some very funny moments as well.

Jill Clayburgh is perfect as a normal, not so young, woman that you could run across anywhere. If this movie was made today, they would have cast a gorgeous 18 year old, with big lips that couldn't act.

Candice Bergen, who is gorgeous, steals the show, with a hilarious scene involving her singing. The movie has aged some, and as a previous writer said, "would never be made today." But for me, that statement is complimentary to this movie.