Mannequin (film)

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Mannequin

The movie poster for Mannequin
Directed by Michael Gottlieb
Produced by Art Levinson
Edward Rugoff (executive)
Written by Michael Gottlieb
Edward Rugoff
Starring Andrew McCarthy
Kim Cattrall
Estelle Getty
James Spader
G. W. Bailey
Steve Vinovich
Music by Sylvester Levay
Cinematography Tim Suhrstedt
Editing by Richard Halsey
Frank E. Jimenez
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) February 13, 1987 (USA)
Running time 90 min.
Country Flag of the United States United States
Language English
Gross revenue $42,700,000
Followed by Mannequin: On the Move
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Mannequin is a 1987 romantic comedy film, starring Kim Cattrall, Andrew McCarthy, Meshach Taylor, James Spader, G. W. Bailey, and Estelle Getty. It was written and directed by Michael Gottlieb, and the original music score was composed by Sylvester Levay. It was followed by a sequel, Mannequin: On the Move, in 1991. The film was nominated for one Oscar for the Original Song category for "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now".[1]

Contents

[edit] Plot summary

McCarthy plays Jonathan Switcher, a struggling artist who goes from one dead-end job to another. This all changes when a mannequin (Cattrall) he created for a department store window comes magically to life. The mannequin was actually once Ema Hesire, a real-life princess from ancient Egypt. Her beauty and love inspire Switcher to become the best window dresser in town. Of course, there is intrigue involving a rival department store's attempt to drive the heroes out of business, and together the two star-crossed lovers must outwit the store's bumbling security guard, the rival store's scheming executives, and others intent on the store's demise.

The story has a subplot: in order to regain full status as a real life person, the mannequin must find true love. The film is an unacknowledged remake of the obscure 1948 film One Touch of Venus, starring Robert Walker and Ava Gardner.

[edit] Main cast

Actor Role
Andrew McCarthy Jonathan Switcher
Kim Cattrall Ema "Emmy" Hesire
Estelle Getty Mrs. Claire Prince Timkin
James Spader Mr. Richards
G. W. Bailey Captain Felix Maxwell
Meshach Taylor Hollywood Montrose
Carole Davis Roxie Shield
Steve Vinovich B. J. Wert
Christopher Maher Armand

[edit] Filming locations

Portions of the film were shot in the Wanamaker's flagship store in Philadelphia, and in a Boscov's department store in the former Camp Hill Shopping Mall (now Camp Hill Shopping Center) near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

[edit] Reception

The film received negative reviews on its release. The film received "Two Thumbs Down" on Siskel & Ebert and The Movies. In his print review, Roger Ebert felt the film was "dead", full of clichés and awarded it a half star.[2] Rita Kempley of The Washington Post said that "Mannequin is a movie made by, for and about dummies."[3] Today, it is still considered to be of poor quality by major critics and has a score of 22% on Rotten Tomatoes.[4]

[edit] Trivia

  • The film was mocked in episode 2, season 5 of Family Guy titled Mother Tucker, in which Peter is given a video cassette of Mannequin that resembles the video cassette from The Ring, which causes a horrifying death when viewed. [4]
  • The film was referenced in episode 6, season 7 of Married... With Children ("What I Did For Love"), in which Bud Bundy is talking to a mannequin in a department store and mentions seeing the film.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1]--Nomination listed at the Academy Awards database.
  2. ^ [2]--Roger Ebert's review. Chicago Sun-Times, February 13, 1987.
  3. ^ [3]--Rita Kempley's review. The Washington Post, February 13, 1987.
  4. ^ Mannequin at Rotten Tomatoes

[edit] External links

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