Silver Screen Partners IV (USA): 5

Oscar (1991) is an American comedy film directed by John Landis. It is a remake of the 1967 French film of the same name, but with a setting in Depression-era New York City. In the prologue, gangster Angelo ‘Snaps’ Provolone promises his dying father to leave his life of crime behind and turn over a new leaf. A month later, Snaps begins his day at his mansion, where he has an important meeting scheduled with prominent bankers. He plans to donate a large sum of cash and secure a spot on the bank’s board of trustees, fulfilling his promise to lead an honest life. As he prepares for this meeting, ...

Scenes from a Mall (1991), an American comedy directed by Paul Mazursky and co-written with Roger L. Simon, follows the story of successful couple Nick and Deborah. Married with children and thriving in their respective careers, they celebrate their 16th wedding anniversary by having their kids go out with friends while they themselves head to a Beverly Hills mall to pick up Japanese food for a home dinner with some friends, followed by gift exchanges. It is during this outing that Nick purchases Deborah’s book and reads a chapter urging couples to periodically ...

Pretty Woman (1990), an American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall from a screenplay by J.F. Lawton, tells the story of Edward and Vivian. One night, after leaving a business party in the Hollywood Hills, Edward takes his lawyer Philip’s Lotus Esprit and ends up in the red-light district on Hollywood Boulevard. It is there that he meets Vivian Ward, a struggling prostitute. As he struggles with the car’s stick-shift, Vivian offers to drive him to the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Despite some initial awkwardness, they connect and end up having ...

Turner & Hooch (1989), an American comedy starring Tom Hanks and Beasley the Dog respectively, follows the story of Scott Turner, an attentive police investigator in serene Cypress Beach, California, who is preparing to move to a more thrilling job in Sacramento. As he introduces his replacement David Sutton to the town’s sights, Scott bids farewell to his close friend Amos Reed. However, their plans are interrupted when they are called to investigate the discovery of $8,000 at the beach. Meanwhile, local seafood mogul Walter Boyett has one of his employees ...

Adapted by Mary Agnes Donoghue, the American comedy-drama film Beaches (1988) is based on Iris Rainer Dart’s 1985 novel of the same name and directed by Garry Marshall. During a concert rehearsal in Los Angeles, New York actress and singer Cecilia Carol ‘C.C.’ Bloom receives a note and hastily departs to be with her friend Hillary Whitney, a San Francisco heiress and lawyer. As she drives through the night, C.C. reflects on their lifelong friendship that ...