Main Cast: Shelley Long, Bette Midler, Peter Coyote, Robert Prosky, John Schuck
Release Year: 1987
Country: US
Run Time: 105 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Two women with serious differences are forced to look out for each other in this anarchic comedy. Sandy (Bette Midler) and Lauren (Shelley Long) are a pair of struggling actresses who don't get along especially well -- and are even less fond of each other when they discover that they're both dating the same man, Michael (Peter Coyote). However, when Michael suddenly goes missing, they discover that he's actually an espionage agent working with a foreign government, and as they set out to find him, they learn that he has implicated them in his schemes. Now Sandy and Lauren are stuck with each other as they look for Michael while trying to outrun the law. Outrageous Fortune also stars George Carlin as Frank, a burned-out '60s holdover who the women meet along the way. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Outrageous Fortune proved to be another moderate hit for Bette Midler after her hilarious turns in Ruthless People and Down and Out in Beverly Hills, as well as one of the only hits on the checkered resumé of Shelley Long. "Outrageous" is a pretty good word to describe it: About as zany as farces get, Arthur Hiller's film moves along with a bold head of steam for much of the narrative, before losing some of its grounding in a misguided finale that finds the two actresses jumping between cliffs. The leads work quite well together, with Long's snooty Diane Chambers persona playing memorably off of Midler's brassiness. George Carlin is funny, too, one of the few bright spots of the over-the-top final act in the Southwestern desert. Leslie Dixon's auspicious screenwriting debut earned a succession of subsequent work in similarly madcap comedies, including Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). While mismatched buddy movies like this are nothing new, it's a nice change to see the leads essayed by women, especially capable comic actresses like Midler and Long. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
George Carlin - Frank; Anthony Heald - Weldon; Ji-Tu Cumbuka - Cab Driver; Diana Bellamy - Madam; Sally Brown - Actress; Alexis Cruz; John de Santi - Police Lieutenant; Debra A. Deliso - Ballet Double for Lauren; Sandra Eng - Newswoman; Tony Epper - Russell; Neil Hunt - Fencing Teacher; Tom Lillard - Vasily; Bill Marcus - Dispatcher; Christopher McDonald - George (as Chris McDonald); James McIntire - Bartender; Joan McMurtrey - Fencer #2; Gary Morgan - Panansky; Bob O'Connell - Gate Attendant; Robert Pastorelli - Dealer; Johnny Sanchez - Puerto Rican Kid; Ebbe Roe Smith - Russian; J.W. Smith - Dealer; Lynn Stalmaster; Florence Stanley - Ticket Agent; Bunny Summers - Costume Lady; Carol-Ann Susi - Receptionist; Anna Marie Wieder - Ruby, Hooker; Jerry Zaks - Tobacco Clerk; Mali Finn; Bill Hart - Boyd; Mike Henry - Russian; Donald Ambabo - Helicopter Pilot; R.G. Clayton - Coroner; Barbara DeKins - Airport Woman; Roger Engstrom - Airport Husband; James Espinoza - Pick-Up Truck Rider; Barney Garcia - Pick-Up Truck Rider; Coral Kassel - Meter Maid; Greg Mace - Policeman; Tammy Manville - Ballet Dancer For Lauren; J. Clell Miller - Oil Rig Driver; Lonna Montrose - Airport Patron; Steve Rotblatt - Eddie; Pat Santino - Security Guard; Ade Small - Ballet Teacher; Eyan Williams - Black Girl Dancer; Philip L. Mead - Airport Security Guard; Thom Dillon - Security Officer Brown; Paul Brooks - Airport Attendant
Credit
Sandy Veneziano - Art Director, Jim Van Wyck - Associate Producer, Lynn Stalmaster - Casting, Mali Finn - Casting, Peter V. Herald - Co-producer, Scott Kroopf - Co-producer, Martin Mickelson - Co-producer, Gloria Gresham - Costume Designer, Jim Van Wyck - First Assistant Director, Arthur Hiller - Director, Tom Rolf - Editor, Alan Silvestri - Composer (Music Score), Del Armstrong - Makeup, Tom Lucas - Makeup, Bob Mills - Makeup, James D. Vance - Production Designer, Judith Stevens - Production Designer, David M. Walsh - Cinematographer, Robert W. Cort - Producer, Ted Field - Producer, Rick T. Gentz - Set Designer, Daniel Maltese - Set Designer, Dennis Dion - Special Effects, Glenn Wilder - Stunts, Peter V. Herald - Unit Production Manager, Leslie Dixon - Screenwriter, George De Titta, Jr. - Set Decorator
Midler received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and won an American Comedy Award for Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role).
Plot
Refined actress Lauren Ames finally has a chance to study with the great theatre professor Stanislav Korzenowski. Sandy Brozinsky, a brash, loud actress, decides through happenstance to also study with Korzenowski. The two women end up dating the same man (who turns out to be a double agent) and follow him across the country to force him to choose between them. The man works for the KGB, and has stolen a toxin that could destroy huge areas of nature with even a few drops. The women chase the man across America, coming across the CIA and other men cheated by the double agent. Finally, when a trade with the CIA for the toxin goes awry, and Lauren gets away with both the money and the toxin, the agent is killed and the money is lost to native Indians. The women form a lasting friendship, and go on to perform Hamlet together, with Lauren in the title role.
Both Shelley Long and Bette Midler were promised top billing when they signed to do the film. Neither one wanted to give up top billing to the other. So west of the Mississippi River, Long got top billing and Midler got top billing east of the Mississippi. Bette Midler was three months pregnant when filming began and six months pregnant when it wrapped. Midler later said on The Oprah Winfrey Show she would never work with Long again because she was too 'difficult'.
