Murphy's Romance (1985)

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Max Schott (story)
Harriet Frank Jr. (writer) ...

Release Date:

31 January 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Just when you think you've found the right guy, someone even worse comes along.

Plot:

Emma is a divorced woman with a teen aged boy who moves into a small town and tries to make a go of a horse ranch...

Plot Keywords:

Horse Ranch | Small Town | Ex Husband | Horse | Love

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Sally Field	...	Emma Moriarty
James Garner	...	Murphy Jones
Brian Kerwin	...	Bobby Jack Moriarty
Corey Haim	...	Jake Moriarty
Dennis Burkley	...	Freeman Coverly
Georgann Johnson	...	Margaret
Dortha Duckworth	...	Bessie
Michael Prokopuk	...	Albert
Billy Ray Sharkey	...	Larry Le Beau
Michael Crabtree	...	Jim Forrest
Anna Levine	...	Wanda
Charles Lane	...	Amos Abbott
Bruce French	...	Rex Boyd
John C. Becher	...	Jesse Parker
Henry Slate	...	Fred Hite

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Argentina:13 | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Florence, Arizona, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

When James Garner's character finally admits that he is sixty years old, the real James Garner was only fifty-seven.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Any experienced Bingo player knows that it would NOT have taken that many numbers for Emma to get a Bingo in the N's. Sally Field's character won the biggest jackpot of the night - normally, a special game (for example, forming the letter T) would have been played in order for her to win so much money.

Quotes:

Murphy: I'm sixty.

Movie Connections:

Features Friday the 13th Part III (1982)

Soundtrack:

RUNNING LONELY

Wonderful May December comedy romance

This is a fabulously entertaining movie. Note that practically everyone reviewing it quite accurately describes it as 'feel good'. And it's not just a chick flick! My husband loved it and I'm hoping to get hold of it for my 18 year old son to watch.

It's not your typical comedy romance, with two attractive young stars dating in a traditional manner or having sex shortly after the opening credits. The romantic leads are both wonderful in this unusual tale, with Sally Field engaging as the young divorcée, Emma Moriarty. The amazingly charismatic James Garner plays the older widower, Murphy Jones, an affable, laid back pharmacist 30 years or so her senior. Emma has just moved to Murphy's small town to set up a horse ranch nearby with her teenage son, Jake. Murphy gives Jake a part time job at his drug store to help out the young widow, tries to send business her way, and even recommends some eligible town gents for her to date (though he clearly has his eye on Emma himself).

Barely has an attraction begun between Emma and Murphy when there's 'trouble in paradise'. Emma's sexy but ne'er-do-well ex-husband, Bobby Jack, shows up, convinces Emma to let him stay with her & their son for awhile, and tries to rekindle the fire, so to speak. Of course Jake wants his dad back, so pressure is put to bear on Emma. Meanwhile, right in front of the ex, Murphy is carrying on a rather unusual courtship of Emma! He ends up staying for supper with the 'happy little family of three' nigh on just about every night, even joins them for a hand or two of cards. Bobby Jack is naturally not pleased with this turn of events, and the competition between the two of them for Emma's affections makes for some pretty witty dialogue and amusing scenes, especially at a local square dance.

Also, the contrast between the two men in terms of their inner character gives Emma cause for reflection...the charming but cheating, good for nothing Bobby Jack versus the easy going but hard working, caring, and principled Murphy. You're going to absolutely love Murphy's Romance! You just can't help it.