Falling in Love *** (1984, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Harvey Keitel) – Classic Movie Review 10,653

Director Ulu Grosbard’s 1984 American romantic drama film Falling in Love stars Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep as Manhattan commuters, Frank Raftis and Molly Gilmore, both of them married, who have a brief encounter in this meeting of the megastars – definitely a cinema event.

Sadly, Michael Cristofer’s screenplay is too lightweight for two heavyweight actors and director Grosbard doesn’t seem to be a master of the soufflé.

But the stars’ charisma and immaculate performances compel a high level of interest and respect. The filming is very characterful as the whole story unfolds in the New York City metropolitan area and suburbs. The locations include Rizzoli Bookstore, the Hudson River train line, Englewood, New Jersey, and Dobbs Ferry, New York.

Also in the cast are Harvey Keitel as Ed Lasky, Jane Kaczmarek as Ann Raftis, George Martin as John Trainer, David Clennon as Brian Gilmore, Dianne Wiest as Isabelle, Victor Argo as Victor Rawlins, Roganda Mart as Anji, Jesse Bradford as Joe Raftis, and Frances Conroy as Waitress.

The film received what they call mixed reviews (‘dull script’ – says Leonard Maltin) and was a surprise box office bomb, costing $12 million and taking $11.1 million in the US.

Falling in Love is directed by Ulu Grosbard, runs 106 minutes, is made by Paramount Pictures, is released by Paramount Pictures (1984) (US) and United International Pictures (UIP) (1985) (UK), is written by Michael Cristofer, is shot in Technicolor by Peter Suschitzky, is produced by Marvin Worth, is scored by Dave Grusin and is designed by Santo Loquasto.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,653

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com