A Change of Seasons (film)

A Change of Seasons

Videotape cover
Directed by Richard Lang
Produced by Martin Ransohoff
Written by Erich Segal
Martin Ranshoff
Ronni Kern
Fred Segal
Starring Shirley MacLaine
Anthony Hopkins
Bo Derek
Michael Brandon
Mary Beth Hurt
K Callan
Music by Henry Mancini
Cinematography Philip H. Lathrop
Edited by Don Zimmerman
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release dates
  • December 1, 1980
Running time
 102 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $6 million[1]
Box office $7,270,000 (US/ Canada)[2]

A Change of Seasons is a 1980 American dramedy film directed by Richard Lang. It stars Anthony Hopkins, Shirley MacLaine and Bo Derek.

Plot

When fortysomething Karen Evans discovers her arrogantly self-centered professor husband Adam is having an affair with student Lindsey Rutledge, she retaliates by having a dalliance of her own with young, philosophical campus carpenter Pete Lachappelle. Adam is infuriated when he learns about his wife's new relationship, and she in turn defends her right to enjoy the same carnal pleasures he does. The four decide to share a Vermont ski house, where their efforts to behave like liberal adults are tested by middle-aged angst, hurt feelings, and teenager Kasey Evans, who unexpectedly arrives to confront her parents with their outrageous behavior.

Production notes

The film was shot on location in Glenwood Springs, Colorado and Williamstown, Massachusetts. Hopkins and MacLaine famously did not get along during the filming and Hopkins said “she was the most obnoxious actress I have ever worked with."[3]

The theme song "Where Do You Catch The Bus For Tomorrow?" was written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Henry Mancini and performed by Kenny Rankin.

Director Noel Black left the film during shooting due to creative differences. He was replaced by Richard Lang.[4]

Principal cast

Critical reception

In his review in the New York Times, Vincent Canby said the film "exhibits no sense of humor and no appreciation for the ridiculous … the screenplay [is] often dreadful … the only appealing performance is Miss MacLaine's, and she's too good to be true. A Change of Seasons does prove one thing, though. A farce about characters who've been freed of their conventional obligations quickly becomes aimless."[5]

Variety observed, "It would take the genius of an Ernst Lubitsch to do justice to the incredibly tangled relationships in A Change of Seasons, and director Richard Lang is no Lubitsch. The switching of couples seems arbitrary and mechanical, and more sour than amusing."[6]

TV Guide rates it one out of a possible four stars, adding the film "is as predictable as a long Arctic winter, and just about as interesting … Marybeth Hurt … steals what there is of the picture to steal."[7]

Time Out London calls it "kitsch without conviction, schlock without end … glib trappings … and witless dialogue sink everything except for the perky intelligence of MacLaine, who clearly deserves better than this."[8]

The film is rated M in New Zealand, "Suitable for mature audiences 16 years and over."

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ↑ Aubrey Solomon, Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History, Scarecrow Press, 1989 p259
  2. ↑ Solomon p 234. Please note figures are rentals not gross.
  3. ↑ Films and filming. Hansom Books. 1 January 1989. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  4. ↑ BO DEREK MEETS A MEDIA EVENT: MEDIA EVENT Lee, Grant. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 08 Feb 1980: i14.
  5. ↑ New York Times review
  6. ↑ Variety review
  7. ↑ TV Guide review
  8. ↑ Time Out London review

External links