Main Cast: Burt Reynolds, Julie Andrews, Kim Basinger, Marilu Henner, Barry Corbin
Release Year: 1983
Country: US
Run Time: 115 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
This remake of François Truffaut's 1977 comedy misses out on Truffaut's subtext that delves into the nature of love and instead simply recounts the sexual and romantic exploits of David, a sculptor who is an incurable womanizer (Burt Reynolds). In order to come to grips with his obsession for women, David goes to see a psychiatrist, Marianna (Julie Andrews), and sure enough, she later joins him on the couch. His tale is told by Marianna, as flashbacks reveal their relationship and other loves of David's life, most notably Louise (Kim Basinger), a married woman hooked on intimacy in odd, if not dangerous, places. In all these relationships, David is as much attracted to the women as they are to him. Unfortunately, with flat dialogue and uninspired comedy, David fares better than the film as a whole. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Review
The Man Who Loved Women would have been better off if it had pretended to be an original film rather than a remake of François Truffaut's vastly superior original. At least then, a viewer would not be constantly reminded of how Truffaut and his collaborators created a film that had something important and personal to say about male-female relationships. Blake Edwards, although an accomplished farceur when he wants to be, has none of the insight or depth of Truffaut, and as a result his Man is nothing more than a superficial sex comedy -- or an attempt at one, at least. Unfortunately, Edwards has retained just enough of the original to stunt the humor in his creation. There's very little that's truly funny here, and much of it is strained and plodding. Burt Reynolds does a more than credible job with the material, playing well off of his own public persona and utilizing his innate sense of comic timing to good effect. He can't overcome the limitations of the script and direction, but he does make much of the film worth watching. Julie Andrews is stuck with a part that requires her to do very little but listen. This she does remarkably well, but to what purpose? Kim Basinger makes more of an impression, perhaps because she at least is given something to do. Man is a misfire, but the cast at least provides some fun. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Cynthia Sikes - Courtney; Jennifer Edwards - Nancy; Sela Ward - Janet; Ben Powers - Al; Ellen Bauer - Svetlana; Denise Crosby - Enid; Jennifer Ashley - David's Mother; Tamara Barkley; Jill Carroll - Sue; Sharon Hughes - Nurse; Suzanne Kent; Shelly Manne - Jazz Quartet; Susan Mechsner; Maureen O'Connor; Regis Philbin - Himself; Roger Rose - Sgt. Stone; Jason Ross - Gas Station Attendant; Schweitzer Tanney - Doctor; Tracy Vaccaro - Legs; Jimmy Rowles - Jazz Quartet; Judy Balduzzi; Cindi Dietrich - Darla; Ola Ray; Noni White - Gucci Clerk; Jimmy Lewis - Lt. Cranzano; John J. Flynn Jr. - Henry; Walter Soo Hoo - Gardener; Jerry Martin - Man at Barbeque; Arnie Moore - Camper Driver; Nanci Rogers - Nurse; Sondra Theodore; Joseph E. Bernard - Dr. Simon Abrams; Marcheline Bertrand; Tony Brown - David at 16
Credit
Jack Senter - Art Director, Ann Roth - Costume Designer, Mickey McCardle - First Assistant Director, Blake Edwards - Director, Ralph Winters - Editor, Jonathan D. Krane - Executive Producer, Henry Mancini - Composer (Music Score), Rodger Maus - Production Designer, Haskell Wexler - Cinematographer, Tony Adams - Producer, Blake Edwards - Producer, Jonathan D. Krane - Producer, Dianne I. Wager - Set Designer, Jacques Valin - Set Designer, Don Sharpless - Sound/Sound Designer, Blake Edwards - Screenwriter, Geoffrey Edwards - Screenwriter, Milton Wexler - Screenwriter
It chronicles the affairs of an artist, David Fowler (Reynolds), as told from the perspective of his analyst and eventual lover, Marianna (Andrews). She chronicles his obsessive love of women, which leads to his eventual death.
