Beaches [Blu-ray]

Overview

Based on a novel by Iris Rainer Dart, Beaches traces the 30-year oil-and-water friendship between free-spirited Bronx Jew CC Bloom (Bette Midler) and uptight San Francisco WASP Hillary Essex (Barbara Hershey). The two meet as children in Atlantic City (played by Mayim Bialik and Marcie Leeds) and are reunited in the 1960s, when CC is a struggling singer and Hillary is trying to break free from her staid upbringing by becoming an activist. The two ladies room together, then fall out when both are attracted to off-Broadway producer John Pierce (John Heard). CC wins John, but she quickly outgrows him as she matriculates into a bawdy performer. The recently patched-up friendship between CC and Hillary is torn asunder again when Hillary and her new husband express distaste for CC's performing style. Comes the 1970s, and CC and Hillary are reunited after shedding their respective spouses. Broke again, they once more become Manhattan roommates. Their bond strengthens, but there is tragedy in store for the duo.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/06/2012
UPC:	0786936824544
Original Release:	1988
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Touchstone / Disney
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	2:03:00
Sales rank:	10,674

Special Features

Beaches bloopers; 1989 Grammy Award-Winning song of the year and record of the year "Wind Beneath My Wings" music video performed by Bette Midler; "AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs With Bette Midler" C9

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Bette Midler	CC Bloom
Barbara Hershey	Hillary Whitney Essex
John Heard	John Pierce
Spalding Gray	Dr. Richard Milstein
Lainie Kazan	Leona Bloom
James Read	Michael Essex
Grace Johnston	Victoria Essex
Mayim Bialik	C.C., Age 11
Marcie Leeds	Hillary, Age 11,Sammy Pinkers
Carol Williard	Tante Vesta
Allan Kent	Mr. Melman
Lynda Goodfriend	Mrs. Myandowski
Frank Campanella	Frank the Doorman
Diane Frazen	Marjorie
Michael Elias	Seedy Bar Patron
Patrick Richwood	T. Kuhn
Tracy Reiner	Department Store Clerk
Zachary Weintraub	ACLU Worker
Nicky Blair	Tavern on the Green Maitre d'
Lori Marshall	Tavern on the Green Patron,Delivery Room Nurse #1,I.C.U. Nurse #2,Car Rental Agent
Jenifer Lewis	Diva
Charlotte Crossley	Diva
Julie Bond	Diva
Andrea Paris	Diva,Delivery Room Nurse #2
Laura Fremont	Peasant
Charles McGowan	Peasant
Caitlin McLean	Peasant
Steven Majewicz	Phillipe De Brassiere
Joe Grifasi	Otto Titsling
Susan Forristal	Actor
Michael French	Head Waiter
Robert Ball	Harry
Mona Lyden	Actor 1
Bill Applebaum	Actor 2
Eddie Mekka	Actor 3
Karin Calabro	Actor 4
Keith McDaniel	Actor 5
Judith Baldwin	Screaming Woman
Doris Hess	Maura
Jane Dulo	Hillary's Neighbor
Lisa Savage	Michael's Mistress
Frank Buxton	Doctor
Steve Restivo	Pink Palm Bartender
Mariann Aalda	Ticket Seller
Bo Sabato	Hollywood Bowl Stage Manager
Anne Betancourt	Miss Valdez
Harvey Keenan	Man in Bagels
Arnold McCuller	Hollywood Bowl Backup Singer
Carla Earle	Hollywood Bowl Backup Singer
Ken Gibbel	Cowboy Actor
Ken Miller	Peasant
Lucinda Crosby	TV Interviewer
Harvey Miller	Movie Director
Sam Denoff	Actor
Georges Delerue	Composer

Technical Credits

Mary Agnes Donoghue

Garry Marshall	Director
Mary Agnes Donoghue	Screenwriter
Bette Midler	Producer
Teri Schwartz	Executive Producer,Producer
Margaret Jennings South	Producer,Producer
Bonnie Bruckheimer	Producer
Alan E. Lorimer	Special Effects
Bill Erickson	Stunts
Lon Bender	Sound Effects
Don Digirolamo	Sound Effects
Lynda Gordon	Casting
Judy Taylor	Casting
Jim Webb	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

The type of film for which the term "chick flick" was coined, Beaches dishes out all manner of weepy scenarios, including the erosion by jealousy of the central long-distance friendship and the inevitable onset of debilitating disease. Perhaps because it's such a prototype of its genre, Beaches caught on and became a guilty part of many video collections. Almost all of Beaches is maudlin -- after all, this is the film that gave the world Bette Midler's "The Wind Beneath My Wings" -- but within that, there's decent consideration given to the different paths women take and how those choices satisfy and fail to satisfy different yearnings. Beaches marked a turn for Midler away from high-concept physical comedies to a more thoughtful, message-centered type of movie; it was also the first produced by her new production company. As convincingly as Midler plays a semi-autobiographical, flamboyant Jewish entertainer, Barbara Hershey is equally capable at conveying conflicted WASP elitism. The two actresses keep the audience interested, and the solid direction of Garry Marshall (two years before Pretty Woman) delivers home a populist "sisters through the years" tearjerker, paving the way for films like Steel Magnolias (1989) and Fried Green Tomatoes (1991).

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