Themes: Small-Town Life, Age Disparity Romance, Starting Over
Main Cast: Sally Field, James Garner, Brian Kerwin, Corey Haim, Dennis Burkley, Georgann Johnson
Release Year: 1985
Country: US
Run Time: 107 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Newly divorced Emma Moriarty (Sally Field) moves herself and her young son to a small Arizona town, hoping to establish a horse farm. Town pharmacist Murphy Jones (James Garner), the town's most eligible bachelor, develops a platonic friendship with Emma, but he decides to keep his distance when her ex-husband Bobby Jack (Brian Kerwin), who claims he's changed his irresponsible ways, moves back in with her. At a party at Emma's ranch, Murphy and Bobby Jack get into a verbal row, but nothing is settled until Wanda (Anna Levine) shows up with two babies in tow, claiming that Bobby Jack is the father. Once rid of her ex, Emma commisserates with her friend Murphy at his drug store--and is quite surprised to discover that she's fallen in love with the older man, and he with her. Murphy's Romance is a very gentle romantic comedy; even Murphy's cast-away lady friend (Georgann Johnson) behaves like a civilized human being instead of a woman scorned. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
This pleasing romantic comedy was surprisingly light fare from director Martin Ritt. Though it contains little evidence of the social commentary of such Ritt productions as The Great White Hope or The Front, Murphy is set in the director's favorite milieu: rural America. The film's unhurried pace and genuine performances successfully capture the feel of bucolic, small-town life. James Garner earned his first Oscar nomination for a typically good-humored turn as the title character. Sally Field, who won her first Academy Award in Ritt's Norma Rae, is similarly charming. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide
John C. Becher - Jesse Pinker; Gene Blakely - Lucius Holt; Michael Crabtree - Jim Forrest; Dortha Duckworth - Bessie; Bruce French - Rex Boyd; Ted Gehring - Auctioneer; Carole King - Tillie; Anna Levine - Wanda; Peggy McCay - Mrs. Willis; Ron Nix - Auction Bidder; Michael Prokopuk - Albert; Ray Sharkey - Larry Le Beau; Henry Slate - Fred Hite; Charles Lane - Amos Abbott; Irving Ravetch - Customer; Ilene Starger; Sherry Lynn Amorosi - Doris; Johnny Ray Anthony - Auction Bidder; Hugh Burritt - Kid in Car Crash; Mike Casper - Hay Trucker; Eugene Cochran - Jonas; C. Ray Cook - Voice at Bingo Game; Michael Firel - Clerk; Marian Gibson - Mrs. Abbott; John Higgenbotham - Boy at Barbecue; Michael Hungerford - Auction Bidder; Drasha Meyer - Ice Cream Lady; Paul E. Pinnt - Auction Bidder; Tom Rankin - Ben; Joshua Ravetch - Henry Bass; Art Royer - Clerk; Patricia Ann Willoughby - Lil; Dianne Crittenden
Credit
Jim Van Wyck - Associate Producer, George Justin - Associate Producer, Ken Rinker - Choreography, Joe Tompkins - Costume Designer, Martin Ritt - Director, Lee C. Harman - Makeup, Joel Schiller - Production Designer, William A. Fraker - Cinematographer, Martin Ritt - Producer, Laura Ziskin - Producer, Rick T. Gentz - Set Designer, Dennis Dion - Special Effects, Steve Kelso - Stunts, George Justin - Unit Production Manager, Harriet Frank, Jr. - Screenwriter, Irving Ravetch - Screenwriter, Carole King - Musical Performer, Max Schott - Book Author
