Scenes from a Mall (1991)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Paul Mazursky

Writers (WGA):

Roger L. Simon (written by) &
Paul Mazursky (written by)

Release Date:

22 February 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

On their 16th wedding anniversary, Deborah and Nick decided to work out all their differences ...in public.

Plot:

On their 16. anniversary, during a shopping stroll, the lawyer Nick Fifer confesses his wife Deborah some affairs...

Plot Keywords:

Shopping | Kicked In The Crotch | Mariachi Band | Dance Scene | Wedding Anniversary

Cast

Bette Midler	...	Deborah Fifer
Woody Allen	...	Nick Fifer
Bill Irwin	...	Mime
Daren Firestone	...	Sam
Rebecca Nickels	...	Jennifer
Paul Mazursky	...	Doctor Hans Clava
Gregory Moore	...	Barber Shop Quartet
Michael Brown	...	Barber Shop Quartet
Jonathan Guss	...	Barber Shop Quartet
David Frye	...	Barber Shop Quartet
Joseph Warren	...	Joe Cool & the Coolers (Rap Group)
Brian Warren	...	Joe Cool & the Coolers (Rap Group)
Darrell Mason	...	Joe Cool & the Coolers (Rap Group)
Marc Shaiman	...	Pianist
Augustin Bustamante	...	El Mariachi Bustamente

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/16 (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia)

Filming Locations:

Beverly Center - 8500 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Silver Screen Partners IV

Trivia:

Most of the film's mall scenes where filmed on a sound stage in Queens, New York. It was a two-level set nearly a quarter mile long with over 150 fully stocked stores. Scenes with elevators and escalators where filmed at a real mall in Stamford, Connecticut. Some exterior shots where filmed at the actual Beverly Center Mall in Los Angeles.

Quotes:

Deborah Fifer: I betrayed you? You betrayed me! What about your seven month adventure with a girl named Ed?

Movie Connections:

References The Godfather: Part III (1990)

Soundtrack:

ARABIAN BELLY DANCE

Quirky little film with great chemistry

I enjoyed this a lot, but more in the way you enjoy a play than a film. I can see how this would annoy some people, but I quite like it when film mimics theatre- for instance, by restricting virtually all the dialogue to two characters, and virtually all the action to one, claustrophobic, location. The plot is slow and unlikely, but the writing is good, and the acting superb. Particularly fine is Midler's murderous side-long glance at the word 'zombies'. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen Allen have better chemistry with his leading lady. So, not a film for laughing out loud at, but engrossing, well done, and fun to watch. Best thing about it: A mime gets punched. Worst thing: Woody Allen in a white jacket and- God help us- a pony-tail.