Peggy Sue Got Married **** (1986, Kathleen Turner, Nicolas Cage, Barry Miller) – Classic Movie Review 7194

Director Francis Coppola’s lovely 1986 romantic comedy Peggy Sue Got Married was nominated for three Oscars, including one for Kathleen Turner as unhappy middle-aged Peggy Sue, a 43-year-old mother and housewife, who faints when she attends her high-school reunion, is thrust back in time and magically returns to high school in 1960.

She gets a second chance with her then boyfriend Crazy Charlie (Nicolas Cage shamelessly overacting), who is now her husband. With the chance to change the course of her life, will Peggy Sue make different choices with the gift of hindsight?

Turner’s rousing, winsome performance as both her young and older selves – one of her finest – inspires director Coppola back to his best form, and the film makes you feel real good. This witty and provocative study in nostalgia is Back to the Future for adults.

There are some famous names aboard: Jim Carrey plays the small role of the dentist, Helen Hunt plays Peggy’s daughter and Sofia Coppola plays Peggy’s sister, Nancy.

The song Peggy Sue is sung by Buddy Holly, of course, written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, and Norman Petty, and released as a single in early July 1957. But Holly wrote a sequel, Peggy Sue Got Married, on 5 December 1958, accompanied only by himself on guitar. Holly’s tape was found after his death and enhanced for release, but the original was eventually released on a vinyl collection, The Complete Buddy Holly, and it is played over the opening credits of the film.

The three Oscar nominations are: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Cinematography (Jordan Cronenweth) and Best Costume Design (Theadora Van Runkle), a sign of great work in each case. It is a Golden Globe nominee for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical and Best Actress.

Peggy Sue Got Married is written by Jerry Leichtling and Arlene Sarner, and also features in the cast Barry Miller, Catherine Hicks, Maureen O’Sullivan, Leon Ames, Don Murray, Barbara Harris, Kevin J O’Connor, John Carradine, Wil Shriner, Lisa Jane Persky, Lucinda Jenney, Glenn Whithrow, Harry Basil, Randy Bourne and Don Stark.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7194

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