Other People’s Money *** (1991, Danny DeVito, Gregory Peck, Penelope Ann Miller, Piper Laurie, Dean Jones) – Classic Movie Review 8771

Director Norman Jewison’s 1991 romantic comedy drama Other People’s Money stars Danny DeVito, who enjoys himself as Larry the Liquidator, lover of doughnuts, the violin, his computer and other people’s money.

But when Larry tries to buy up Andrew Jorgenson (Gregory Peck)’s New England company and sell it off bit by bit, he falls foul of his other love – Kate Sullivan (Penelope Ann Miller), the firm’s attorney, who is also the daughter of Jorgenson’s wife Bea Sullivan (Piper Laurie).

Other People’s Money is pleasant and well-meaning, but the script is too cosy and leaves the good players ill at ease, though the typecast DeVito comes off best, relishing his corporate raider role.

The screenplay by Alvin Sargent is based on Jerry Sterner’s play.

Also in the cast are Dean Jones, Tom Aldredge, R D Call, Mo Gaffney, Bette Henritze, Leila Kenzle, David Wells, Stephanie White and Ric Kidney.

It is the last feature film star role for Peck, who died on 12 June 2003, aged 87.

Dean Jones died on 1 September 2015, aged 84.

Alvin Sargent, a two-time Oscar winner who penned an extraordinary number of popular and critically successful films, from Paper Moon, Julia, Ordinary People (1980), What About Bob?, Other People’s Money (1991) and Unfaithful to Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3 and The Amazing Spider-Man, died on 9 May 2019, aged 92. He won Best Adapted Screenplay Oscars for Julia in 1978 and Ordinary People in 1981.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8771

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