After selling the rights of his book to a movie production company, a writer finds himself fighting the many egos and varying views around him.After selling the rights of his book to a movie production company, a writer finds himself fighting the many egos and varying views around him.After selling the rights of his book to a movie production company, a writer finds himself fighting the many egos and varying views around him.
- Nurse
- (as Diane Agostini)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe underlying story is based in part on the legend of Mary "Polly" Slocum. Polly Slocum was awakened by a dream that her husband was hurt, rode sixty-five miles to the site of the Battle of Moores Creek (February 27, 1776, about twenty miles north of Wilmington, North Carolina) to find her husband well, and the Patriots victorious. But she stayed on to nurse the wounded. The authenticity of this underlying story is not universally accepted. The character of Mary Slocum in the film's movie-within-a-movie is played by Faith Healy who is portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer.
- GoofsMichael Caine and Lois Chiles go up in a helicopter alone. Several shots establishes them being the only people in it. However, when they've landed and get out of the helicopter, the hand of a third person is briefly visible within the helicopter.
- Quotes
Bo Hodges: You realize who goes to see movies. Eighty percent of them are between the ages of 12 and 22. And you know what the kids like?
Michael Burgess: What?
Bo Hodges: Well, this may sound silly to you, but kids go completely ape if you do three things in a picture: defy authority, destroy property, and take people's clothes off.
Michael Burgess: [bollixed] What does that have to do with American history?
Bo Hodges: Oh, come on, Michael, think about it for a second. Why do kids defy authority? Because they're in rebellion. The American revolution, Michael, was the ultimate rebellion. *And* they destroyed property! So all we had to do with these lunatics' help was to get their clothes off.
- Alternate versionsIn the UK, the film was cut by 2 seconds to get a "PG" for cinema release and removed one mouthed use of the word 'fuck'. The 15 rated video and 12-rated DVD releases were uncut.
- SoundtracksSomething Special (Is Gonna Happen Tonight)
Written by Howie Rice and Allan Rich
Performed by Patti LaBelle (as Patti La Belle)
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
[Played over the end credits]
The film has some genuine strengths. The cast is an eclectic bunch of old stars, new faces, and genial nobodies. Alda and Michael Caine basically play themselves and do a very good job. Michelle Pfeiffer is not only beautiful as hell, but she also gives a strong early performance as the lead actress. Bob Hoskins' character is well-written, but he plays the man in too shrill of a manner to be taken seriously. His screenwriter character has some wonderful points to make about using flattery to get the attention of the actors and director if you want them to change what they are doing. But he is just so hyper that you cringe whenever you hear his voice. Saul Rubinek is good as the hotshot, pompous young director who is only out to show the audience three things: People defying authority, destruction of property, and people taking off their clothing. That's what industry research shows that younger audiences want, he informs Alda more than once.
There are other problems besides the annoying Hoskins character. I'm sure it would seem desirable for an icon like Lillian Gish to be included in just about any film at that time. However, her character and scenes are just not needed and end up being more of a distraction than anything else. Alda and his girlfriend have about the same argument at least half a dozen times. Another scene looks like it will give a huge laugh payoff, but it falls flat. In it, a group of stunt men are in a bar with some of the local re-creators of the Battle of Cowpens who will also be used as extras in the film. The stunt men are trying to tell the amateurs how to fall in the battle scene. One of the stunt men breaks out one of those harnesses that people use to get pulled backwards through doorways in bar fight scenes. And you think you are going to see one of the amateurs get unknowingly hooked up to it and taken for the ride of his life. But alas, they apparently thought it would be funnier for the guy just to fall down on his back like an idiot. Another missed opportunity! 5 of 10 stars.
The Hound.
- TOMASBBloodhound
- Nov 4, 2008
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Sweet Liberty - What a Liberty
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $14,205,021
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,160,891
- May 18, 1986
- Gross worldwide
- $14,205,021