A Change of Seasons (film)

A Change of Seasons is a 1980 American comedy-drama film directed by Richard Lang. It stars Anthony Hopkins, Shirley MacLaine and Bo Derek. The film was a critical and commercial failure, grossing $7.2 million against its $6 million budget and receiving three nominations at the 1st Golden Raspberry Awards including Worst Actor (Hopkins), Worst Screenplay.

A Change of Seasons
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRichard Lang
Produced byMartin Ransohoff
Written byErich Segal
Martin Ranshoff
Ronni Kern
Fred Segal
StarringShirley MacLaine
Anthony Hopkins
Bo Derek
Michael Brandon
Mary Beth Hurt
K Callan
Music byHenry Mancini
CinematographyPhilip H. Lathrop
Edited byDon Zimmerman
Production
company
Film Finance Group
Polyc International BV
20th Century Fox
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • December 1, 1980 (1980-12-01)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6 million[1]
Box office$7.2 million (North America)[2]

Plot

When fortysomething Karyn Evans discovers her arrogantly self-centered professor husband Adam is having an affair with student Lindsey Rutledge, she retaliates by having a dalliance of her own with young, philosophical campus carpenter Pete Lachappelle. Adam is infuriated when he learns about his wife's new relationship, and she in turn defends her right to enjoy the same carnal pleasures he does. The four decide to share a Vermont ski house, where their efforts to behave like liberal adults are tested by middle-age angst, hurt feelings, and teenager Kasey Evans (played by Mary Beth Hurt who was 34 at the time), who unexpectedly arrives to confront her parents with their outrageous behavior.

Production notes

The film was shot on location in Glenwood Springs, Colorado and Williamstown, Massachusetts. Hopkins and MacLaine famously did not get along during the filming and Hopkins said "she was the most obnoxious actress I have ever worked with."[3][4][5][6]

The theme song "Where Do You Catch The Bus For Tomorrow?" was written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Henry Mancini and performed by Kenny Rankin.

Originally, Noel Black was hired to direct after producer Martin Ransohoff saw his film, A Man, a Woman, and a Bank (1979).[7] Black left the film during shooting due to creative differences. He was replaced by Richard Lang.[8] Black shot the first half of the film only.[9][10]

Consenting Adults was the film's working title.[7]

Principal cast

Critical reception

In his review in The New York Times, Vincent Canby said the film "exhibits no sense of humor and no appreciation for the ridiculous … the screenplay [is] often dreadful … the only appealing performance is Miss MacLaine's, and she's too good to be true. A Change of Seasons does prove one thing, though. A farce about characters who've been freed of their conventional obligations quickly becomes aimless."[11]

Variety observed, "It would take the genius of an Ernst Lubitsch to do justice to the incredibly tangled relationships in A Change of Seasons, and director Richard Lang is no Lubitsch. The switching of couples seems arbitrary and mechanical, and more sour than amusing."[12]

TV Guide rates it one out of a possible four stars, adding the film "is as predictable as a long Arctic winter, and just about as interesting … Marybeth Hurt … steals what there is of the picture to steal."[13]

Time Out London calls it "kitsch without conviction, schlock without end … glib trappings … and witless dialogue sink everything except for the perky intelligence of MacLaine, who clearly deserves better than this."[14]

Awards and nominations

References
  1. Aubrey Solomon, Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History, Scarecrow Press, 1989 p259
  2. Solomon p 234. Please note figures are rentals not gross.
  3. Walsh, John (1 September 2012). "Shirley MacLaine: Tough at the top". The Independent. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  4. Bletchly, Rachael (19 September 2012). "Facelifts, fame and UFOs: Downton Abbey's Shirley MacLaine on her wacky beliefs". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  5. Hoffman, Barbara (1 November 2014). "At 80, Shirley MacLaine still talking — and not looking — back". New York Post. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  6. Hawkes, Rebecca (13 February 2015). "10 on-screen couples who hated each other in real life". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  7. Thomas, Bob (14 September 1979). "Noel Black is hot again as director". The Free Lance–Star. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  8. Lee, Grant (Feb 8, 1980). "BO DEREK MEETS A MEDIA EVENT". Los Angeles Times. p. i14.
  9. Hudson, David (25 July 2014). "Noel Black, 1937–2014". Fandor. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  10. Soares, Andre. "Cult Movie Classic PRETTY POISON Director Noel Black Dead". Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  11. "Movie Reviews". NY Times. 1 March 2019.
  12. "Variety review".
  13. "A Change Of Seasons". TV Guide.
  14. Time Out London review Archived June 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.