IMDb > The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
The Fabulous Baker Boys
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The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) More at IMDbPro »

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The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)
The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) -- Open-ended Extra (Clip) from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   8,687 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 13% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Steve Kloves
Writer (WGA):
Steve Kloves (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Fabulous Baker Boys on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 October 1989 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Music | Romance more
Tagline:
For 31 years it's been just the Fabulous Baker Boys... but times change.
Plot:
Frank and Jack Baker are professional musicians who play small clubs. They play smaltzy music and have never needed a day job... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(16 articles)
DVD Playhouse--November 2009
 (From The Hollywood Interview. 8 November 2009, 10:26 PM, PST)

Before There Were Websites... (Pt 2)
 (From FilmExperience. 10 September 2009, 7:10 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Enjoyable story, thinly plotted but very well made. more (62 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jeff Bridges ... Jack Baker

Michelle Pfeiffer ... Susie Diamond

Beau Bridges ... Frank Baker
Ellie Raab ... Nina

Xander Berkeley ... Lloyd
Dakin Matthews ... Charlie

Ken Lerner ... Ray

Albert Hall ... Henry
Terri Treas ... Girl in Bed

Gregory Itzin ... Vince Nancy
Bradford English ... Earl
David Coburn ... Kid at Vet

Todd Jeffries ... Theo

Gregory James ... Hotel Masseur (as Jeffrey J. Nowinski)

Nancy Fish ... Laughing Bar Patron
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
114 min | Australia:110 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Debra Winger was offered the female lead, but turned it down. more
Goofs:
Miscellaneous: When the little girl comes in through the window and tells Susie she "came down to walk Eddie", she goes out the door without the dog leash. The leash is clearly visible hanging on a peg right next to the door. more
Quotes:
Jack Baker: There's always another girl.
[several scenes later]
Susie Diamond: So, did you find another girl?
Jack Baker: I didn't look.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Dallas: The Fabulous Ewing Boys (#14.7)" (1990) more
Soundtrack:
Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
28 out of 33 people found the following comment useful.
Enjoyable story, thinly plotted but very well made., 25 December 2003
7/10
Author: Jonathon Dabell (barnaby.rudge@hotmail.co.uk) from Wakefield, England

Jeff and Beau Bridges - brothers in real life - are here united to play brothers on the screen. It's not the first time real-life brothers have played fictitious brothers in a movie (in fact, in The Long Riders several famous siblings paired up to similar effect). However, The Fabulous Baker Boys really benefits from the pairing. The sibling rivalry that runs through this film feels very credible and very convincing, possibly because Jeff and Beau aren't really acting but are simply using their real-life love/hate brotherly attitudes to fuel their performances in front of the cameras.

It's a fairly thin story, but well told. Jack Baker (Jeff B.) and Frank Baker (Beau B.) have spent years working together as stage pianists in various bars, hotels and night-clubs around Seattle. Their long-running act begins to run out of steam and they find themselves playing to empty rooms.... even their more established employers begin to express doubts about their ability to pull in the big crowds. They decide to hire a female vocalist to spice up the appeal of their show and, after over thirty awful applicants, they finally unearth a winner in the shape of Suzy Diamond (Michelle Pfeiffer). Initially, Suzy provides them with a turn in their fortunes, but the future of the trio becomes cloudy when she and Jack develop sexual yearnings for each other. The problems don't stop there, with Frank and Jack slowly becoming more and more distant with each other as their views on how best to market their musical talents are revealed to be very different.

The Fabulous Baker Boys is extremely well-acted throughout, with Pfeiffer in particular giving an outstanding performance (she even sang most of her own songs). The main themes of sibling rivalry and unfulfilled talent are generally engrossing, and help to paper over the thinness of the story. Jeff acts rather moodily for much of the time and is very believable as a man working in the lower ranks of his trade when he could've reached the top. Beau is also in fine form as a performer who does what he does simply because it puts money in the family kitty. It's a hard film to describe, because it's not really about very much, but if you can adjust to the relaxed pace and just enjoy the leisurely development of the three main characters then you will come away from the film feeling thoroughly satisfied.

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Message Boards

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NEW dvd for 2009? SusieDiamond
Do you think that Jack and Susie get back together? hlmitchell31
musical score on Baker Boys russ-coulter
Living an Authentic Life gdreams2000
another season fsck
michelle pfeiffer sings 'feelings' perilous_a_homous
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