Sweet Liberty (1986)

Director:

Alan Alda

Writer:

Alan Alda (written by)

Release Date:

14 May 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Michael Burgess wrote a book about the American Revolution. Now, Hollywood's come to his town to make a movie of it -- Plunging him into a summer of madness.

Plot:

Michael has written a schollarly book on the revolutionary war. He has sold the film rights. The arrival...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Film Making | Directed By Star | Script Writer | American Revolution

Cast

Alan Alda	...	Michael Burgess
Michael Caine	...	Elliott James
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Faith Healy
Bob Hoskins	...	Stanley Gould
Lise Hilboldt	...	Gretchen Carlsen
Lillian Gish	...	Cecelia Burgess
Saul Rubinek	...	Bo Hodges
Lois Chiles	...	Leslie
Linda Thorson	...	Grace James
Diane Agostini	...	Nurse
Antony Alda	...	Film Crew Member
Alvin Alexis	...	Male Student
Christopher Bregman	...	Running Boy
Leo Burmester	...	Hank
Cynthia Burr	...	Assistant Cameraperson

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 (video rating) | UK:PG (cut) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Adventureland Amusement Park, Farmingdale, Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The scene where Alan and Michael are driving a convertible and stop just in time before they are hit by a train, was filmed in reverse. The train was run backwards along with the car during filming.

Quotes:

[Stanley is trying to check into his hotel]
Stanley Gould: I have to get right to my suite. I'm the writer.
Stuntman: So? I'm the stunt coordinator.
Stanley Gould: So you can fall down later - I have writing that can't wait.

Soundtrack:

SOMETHING SPECIAL (IS GONNA HAPPEN TONIGHT)

Standard Stuff at Best

5 out of 10

A historian (Alda) writes a book that gets bought into a movie. Yet to his dismay the screenplay has become completely 'Hollywoodnized' and looks nothing like the original story. The film then follows the making of this movie and Alda's attempts at getting the script corrected.

This is a very typical even mechanical comedy. The situations, characters, and jokes are quite general in nature. There is not any one particular moment that stands out as hilarious. There is no directorial flair or visual style. Yet when compared to Alda's other efforts this one fares better. The dialogue is a little more lively and the story has a little more energy and conflict. Of course as basic satire it is still too light with everything going down way too nice and easily.

There are also too many subplots that take away too much from the main story. One involves his relationship with a fellow history professor. Their constant arguing about whether or not to get married becomes very tiring. There is also a storyline involving his relationship with his mother, which is played by the legendary Lillian Gish. Of course it is always fun to see Gish in a later day role and this is indeed one of her most amusing. However the segment itself is quite contrived.

Alda always likes to cast fellow performers who around his same age, which would explain the miscasting of Caine. Caine is always reliable, but having him play a Colin Farrell like leading man seems best suited for a younger actor. A twenty something instead of a fifty something. Having the part played by a younger more virile actor would have made the animosity between this character and the Alda character more distinct. It would also have made it more intriguing.

Pfeiffer is cast as a beautiful actress hired to play the leading lady. Her character is interesting because it shows how she can get very into the leading lady character and yet on her off time is a completely different person. This allows for some light insight into the acting business and process. The film also touches on the topic of on the set politics although it could have gone a lot farther with this.

Having the Alda character end up sleeping with Pfeiffer seems to be quite a stretch. Things become even more incredulous when Alda's girlfriend, in a fit of revenge, forms a relationship with Caine. The Caine character is a self absorbed star with lots of beautiful women chasing after him. The chances of him getting excited or even noticing a rather bland looking women like Alda's girlfriend seems highly unlikely.

The Hoskins character is by far the most engaging. He plays the scriptwriter and tries to educate Alda on the ins and outs of the film business. Rubinek, as the films director, runs a close second. He perfectly creates the frantic traits of someone who must act more like a politician than a director.

Overall this is a film that could have gone a lot farther with the material. It rates slightly better than some of Alda's other efforts, but it is still just a pleasant time waster that is easily forgettable.