Down and Out in Beverly Hills

For the television series based on the film, see Down and Out in Beverly Hills (TV series)
Down and Out in Beverly Hills

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Paul Mazursky
Produced by Paul Mazursky
Pato Guzman
Geoffrey Taylor
Written by Paul Mazursky
Leon Capetanos
Starring
Music by Andy Summers
Cinematography Donald McAlpine
Edited by Richard Halsey
Production
company
Touchstone Pictures
Silver Screen Partners II
Distributed by Buena Vista Distribution
Release dates
 January 31, 1986
Running time
 103 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $14 million
Box office $91,411,255

Down and Out in Beverly Hills is a 1986 American comedy film based on the French play Boudu sauvé des eaux, which had previously been adapted on film in 1932 by Jean Renoir. Down and Out in Beverly Hills was directed by Paul Mazursky, and starred Nick Nolte, Bette Midler and Richard Dreyfuss. The film is about a rich but dysfunctional couple who save the life of a suicidal homeless man. Flamboyant musician Little Richard also makes an appearance, and contributed the song "Great Gosh a'Mighty" to the soundtrack. The song's success led to a revitalization of his career.

Released by Touchstone Pictures, a film label of The Walt Disney Studios, Down and Out in Beverly Hills has the distinction of being the first R-rated film ever released by Disney. However, countless R-rated films have since received distribution by Disney, although Walt Disney Pictures—the flagship family-oriented brand—has yet to release a film with a rating stronger than PG-13.

Synopsis

David "Dave" Whiteman (Dreyfuss) and his wife, Barbara (Midler), are a couple whose 20-year marriage is unfulfilling. Dave is having an affair with the live-in maid (Elizabeth Peña), while Barbara tries to relieve her constant feelings of anxiety by experimenting with various New Age therapies.

A "down and out" homeless man named Jerry Baskin (Nolte) wanders into the backyard of the Whitemans' Beverly Hills home, and tries to drown himself in the pool. Dave helps Jerry get back on his feet. The family is initially disgusted by Jerry, but they end up growing fond of him after getting to know him better.

Cast

Production credits

Box office

The movie was a financial success, on a budget of $14,000,000, the film grossed $62,000,000 in the US alone.[2] The critical response for the film was mostly positive; it currently holds an 84% rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes based on 25 reviews.[3] [4][5]

Location of Whiteman House

The house used as the Whitemans' house is at 802 N. Bedford Drive off Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills. However, the alley in the back of the house was filmed at 722 N. Rexford Drive, one block north of director Paul Mazursky's house on Alpine Drive.

Television series

Soundtrack

Down and Out in Beverly Hills
Soundtrack album by Various Artists
Released 1986
Recorded 1986
Genre Soundtrack
  1. "Great Gosh A'mighty! (It's A Matter Of Time)" - Little Richard
  2. "California Girls" - David Lee Roth
  3. "El Tecaliteco" - Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan
  4. "I Love L.A." - Randy Newman
  5. "Tutti Frutti" - Little Richard
  6. "Down And Out In Beverly Hills" Theme" - Andy Summers
  7. "Search For Kerouac" - Andy Summers
  8. "Nouvelle Cuisine" - Andy Summers
  9. "Wave Hands Like Clouds" - Andy Summers
  10. "The Mission Blues" - Andy Summers
  11. "Jerry's Suicide Attempt" - Andy Summers

While not included on the soundtrack album, the film uses a remix of the Talking Heads song "Once In A Lifetime", as featured in their 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense and its companion album, in both the film's opening and closing credits.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986)". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ "New Movies Make Inroads At Box Office". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  3. ↑ "MOVIE REVIEWS : MAKING MOST OF INFLUENCE : 'Down and Out in Beverly Hills' Is Up and at 'Em With On-Target Satire". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  4. ↑ "Down and Out in Beverly Hills". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  5. ↑ "THE SCREEN: BEVERLY HILLS GOTHIC". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-06-10.

External links