Main Cast: Dudley Moore, Julie Andrews, Bo Derek, Robert Webber, Brian Dennehy
Release Year: 1979
Country: US
Run Time: 121 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Blake Edwards' 10 stars Dudley Moore as George, a Mancini-type songwriter. Approaching middle age, George feels as if life is passing him by, especially his sex life. Despite the presence of longtime lady friend Sam (Julie Andrews) in his life, he becomes obsessed from afar with Jenny (Bo Derek), who is engaged to be married. Following her to Mexico without her knowledge, George arranges a meeting with Jenny by saving the life of her fiancé, David (Sam Jones). Once he has made her acquaintance, George suddenly finds himself faced with the realities of embarking on such an affair. Beyond renewing the popularity of Maurice Ravel's "Bolero" and turning Bo Derek into a star, upon its release, 10 was one of the most financially successful Blake Edwards films in years. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
Review
Although best-known today as the film which made Bo Derek a star, this bittersweet sex-comedy rises and falls on the performance of Dudley Moore as a songwriter experiencing a mid-life crisis. Much of the film's humor is of the slapstick variety, as Moore is stung on the nose by a bee during a wedding, repeatedly falls down a hill while trying to answer a phone, and so forth. But the film's real center is Moore's quiet desperation, which is handled with a surprisingly warm and natural touch. The amiable supporting cast includes Julie Andrews, Robert Webber, and Don Calfa, and there's a memorable and funny seduction set to Ravel's Bolero. For all its sex and slapstick, this is a very perceptive film which leaves a wistful trace of sadness behind. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
Dee Wallace - Mary Lewis; Sam Jones - David Hanley; Max Showalter - Reverend; Rad Daly - Josh; Nedra Volz - Mrs. Kissel; James Noble - Dr. Fred Miles; Virginia Kiser - Ethel Miles; John Hawker - Covington; Deborah Rush - Dental Assistant; Don Calfa - Neighbor; Walter George Alton - Larry; Annette Martin - Redhead; John Hancock - Dr. Croce; Lorry Goldman - Bernie Kauffman, TV director; Jeanetta Arnette - Party Guest; Burke Byrnes; Michael Champion - Party Guest; John Chappell - Man on Beach; Gregory Chase - Party Guest; Denise Crosby; Antonia Ellis - Party Guest; Lynn Farrell - Party Guest; Mari Gorman - Waitress; Art Kassul - Large Man; Arthur Rosenberg - Pharmacist; Doug Sheehan; Bill [William] Lucking; Ellen Clark - Party Guest; Adrian Aron - Party Guest; Gail Bowman - Party Guest; Julia Jennings; Victor J. Lopez
Credit
Lynn Stalmaster - Casting, Patricia Edwards - Costume Designer, Mickey McCardle - First Assistant Director, Blake Edwards - Director, Ralph Winters - Editor, Henry Mancini - Composer (Music Score), Carole Bayer Sager - Songwriter, Robert Wells - Songwriter, Ben Nye, Jr. - Makeup, Rodger Maus - Production Designer, Frank Stanley - Cinematographer, Tony Adams - Producer, Blake Edwards - Producer, Jack Stephens - Set Designer, Reg Allen - Set Designer, Jack Stevens - Set Designer, Fred Cramer - Special Effects, Bruce Bisenz - Sound/Sound Designer, Steve Maslow - Sound/Sound Designer, Dick Crockett - Stunts, Blake Edwards - Screenwriter, Maurice Ravel - Featured Music
During a surprise 42nd birthday party for songwriter George Webber (Moore), he finds himself coping badly with incipient middle age. When he catches a glimpse of a mysterious woman (Derek) en route to her wedding, he is instantly obsessed by her beauty, and - despite the presence of his lover Samantha Taylor (Julie Andrews) - follows the woman to the church where he is stung by a bee. George visits the priest, and learns that the woman is Jenny Miles, daughter of a prominent Beverly Hills dentist. Later that night, Sam is unhappy about George's unwillingness to pay attention to her, his use of the term broad, and the fact that he and his neighbor (a wealthy porn producer) watch each other perform carnal acts. George doesn't wish to lose an argument to her, resulting in Sam storming off.
The following day, George and Sam suffer a series of mishaps that prevent them from reconciling, including George spying on his neighbor until hitting himself with his telescope, causing him to miss Sam's phone call. In addition, George schedules a dental appointment with Jenny's father, and while in the dentist's chair, subtly leads the dentist into disclosing that his daughter and her husband went to Mexico for their honeymoon. The examination also reveals a mouthful of cavities, requiring the dentist to spend the entire afternoon inserting fillings in George's teeth. The after effects of the novocaine leave him virtually incapable of speaking and when Sam talks to him on the phone she mistakes him for a madman and calls the police. Once the police leave, he visits his neighbor's house to take part in an orgy and is inadvertently seen by Sam, who happened to be watching him through his telescope. This widens the rift between the couple and George follows the newlyweds to their exclusive hotel in Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico, where the sight of Jenny - suntanned and dressed in a one-piece swimsuit - furthers George's obsession.
In the bar, George encounters an old acquaintance, Mary Lewis, who suffers from a lack of self-confidence because she blames herself for a series of failed relationships. When they attempt a fling that night, she interprets George's inadequacy in bed as confirmation of her insecurities despite her better-than-average looks.
One hot day, George notices that David, Jenny's husband, has fallen asleep on his surfboard. Pretending to inquire about renting a surfboard, George learns that beyond a certain point are powerful currents that can sweep a swimmer or surfer dangerously far from land. George rents a catamaran, saves David, and becomes a hero. Sam tries to make contact, but not knowing who the caller is, George has no interest in talking at that particular time. David is badly sunburned and stays in the hospital, allowing Jenny and George to spend time alone together, culminating in them having sex.
Although George unexpectedly finds all of his fantasies fulfilled, he is terrified when she takes a call from her husband and casually informs him of her adultery. He is even more confused when the husband responds with complete lack of concern (he had called to thank George for saving his life). When Jenny explains their open relationship and mutual honesty, he is appalled; and with the thrill of enjoying forbidden pleasures extinguished, he loses interest in Jenny (and conversely, Jenny loses interest in him) and he heads back to Beverly Hills.
At the end of the film, he reconciles with Sam and they make love with Ravel'sBoléro is playing in the background in full view of the neighbor's telescope shortly after the neighbor has walked away in disgust, complaining that has had enough of providing erotic entertainment to George and getting nothing in return.
Title
Dudley Moore's character mentions that Bo Derek's character is an "11" on a scale from 1 to 10.
