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Butterfly

  • 1981
  • R
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
Pia Zadora in Butterfly (1981)
In 1937 Nevada, silver mine caretaker Jess Tyler is reunited with his teenage daughter Kady who will do anything to persuade Jess to let her have claim to the mine.
Play trailer2:40
1 Video
49 Photos
Coming-of-AgePeriod DramaCrimeDrama

In 1937 Nevada, silver mine caretaker Jess Tyler is reunited with his teenage daughter Kady who will do anything to persuade Jess to let her have claim to the mine.In 1937 Nevada, silver mine caretaker Jess Tyler is reunited with his teenage daughter Kady who will do anything to persuade Jess to let her have claim to the mine.In 1937 Nevada, silver mine caretaker Jess Tyler is reunited with his teenage daughter Kady who will do anything to persuade Jess to let her have claim to the mine.

  • Director
    • Matt Cimber
  • Writers
    • James M. Cain
    • Matt Cimber
    • John F. Goff
  • Stars
    • Stacy Keach
    • Pia Zadora
    • Orson Welles
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.7/10
    1.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Matt Cimber
    • Writers
      • James M. Cain
      • Matt Cimber
      • John F. Goff
    • Stars
      • Stacy Keach
      • Pia Zadora
      • Orson Welles
    • 30User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:40
    Trailer

    Photos49

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    Top cast20

    Edit
    Stacy Keach
    Stacy Keach
    • Jess Tyler
    Pia Zadora
    Pia Zadora
    • Kady
    Orson Welles
    Orson Welles
    • Judge Rauch
    Lois Nettleton
    Lois Nettleton
    • Belle Morgan
    Edward Albert
    Edward Albert
    • Wash Gillespie
    James Franciscus
    James Franciscus
    • Moke Blue
    Stuart Whitman
    Stuart Whitman
    • Rev. Rivers
    June Lockhart
    June Lockhart
    • Mrs. Gillespie
    Ed McMahon
    Ed McMahon
    • Mr. Gillespie
    Paul Hampton
    Paul Hampton
    • Norton
    George 'Buck' Flower
    George 'Buck' Flower
    • Ed Lamey
    • (as Buck Flower)
    Ann Dane
    • Janey
    Greg Gault
    • Bridger
    John O'Conner White
    • Billy Roy
    Peter Jason
    Peter Jason
    • Allen
    Kim Ptak
    • Deputy
    Leigh Christian
    Leigh Christian
    • Saleslady
    Abraham Rudnick
    • Court Stenographer
    • (as Dr. Abraham Rudnick)
    • Director
      • Matt Cimber
    • Writers
      • James M. Cain
      • Matt Cimber
      • John F. Goff
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews30

    4.71.6K
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    Featured reviews

    5merklekranz

    Definitely not good but you keep watching anyway ......

    Pia Zadora is the perfect sexy nymph. Ennio Morricone provides a score that rings a bell because it almost sounds like a"spaghetti western". Stacy Keach as the lusting daddy is fine, and Orson Wells comes across as a curiosity. The problem lies with the script. At first things take their time, introducing characters at a leisurely rate. There is a slow buildup but little idea where the movie is going. Then suddenly the pace quickens, and logic begins to fly out the window. In the end there are unresolved issues dangling uncomfortably, a ridiculous legal unwinding, and the viewer is left holding a very large bag of questions. Nudity does not a movie make, and "Butterfly", despite the titillating bathtub scene, is rather unsatisfying. - MERK
    Gong5

    Incest

    I give this a graceful 8/10 because I 've watched so many crap films in my life that got 10/10 from all the morons at IMDb. This is a film that deals with incest in a crass way. But how does the rest of society deal with incest when at the very least about 1/70 girls are abused by members of their family in private? Not well at all, actually worse than in a crass way. So how do we expect a film about incest as a western to be? As freud said, it's the ultimate taboo. Pea is wonderful here, Orson is drinking his .. off and it shows, all in all a great movie not to be missed, but it will be, because it's not even out on DVD.
    lynn_fero

    This film plays more like a foreign film.

    Featuring an outstanding Orson Welles in his last performance on camera, this is an interesting story with a very good twist in the end. Rex Reed loved this film when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, you have to give it a chance, and you'll see one of the sexiest bathtub scenes ever put on film!
    4lambiepie-2

    It's not as Bad as many say, but its not that good either.

    Once again, as I write this, I gotta tell ya, I saw this on the "Z" Channel in Los Angeles in the early 80's. I had three emotions while seeing this..one was, "This is messed up" then laughter, and one more was: "Pia Zadora isn't THAT bad of an actress."

    You see, it WAS the 80's. Pia had an on screen "something" that with the right vehicle could have given her a decent film career. Leading Lady? No way. The second or third important female role? You betcha. Such as "the wicked sister" or "the backstabbing girl friend" roles, with the type of stuff that was coming out then. She could have been a "cheap rent" Jane Seymour type in films playing those rolls. But she got this one...and it wasn't that great. The story was all over the place, the sexual tension was laughable and...very confusing at times. This film is bad, but top 200 bad, not top 50 bad.

    The gosh-awful script didn't help ANYONE in this film. It was bad. There is a bit of "camp" film quality running through this film at points, not enough to make it a "good-camp" film to redeem it. A lot of misguided areas here, a hodgepodge of a story and a lot of wasted talent.

    Thank goodness for all involved, there was a paycheck waiting for them at the end.
    Easyrob

    Pia Zadora at her most sensual!

    This is sort of a classic in the sultry, steamy sensuality arena, as it was defined early in the 1980s. Pia, like Laura Dern and others did later, appears in alluringly sheer hot weather clothes that will keep most red-blooded males captivated! These are all the more captivating when set in the early part of this century.

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    Related interests

    Elsie Fisher in Eighth Grade (2018)
    Coming-of-Age
    Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen in Little Women (2019)
    Period Drama
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There was a controversy surrounding Pia Zadora's win of the Golden Globe for "Best New Star of the Year". 1982 was the only year the event included such a category with both men and women competing for it in the year. Previously, the Golden Globes had a gender delineation between New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture - Female and New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture - Male. This movie and her expensive advertising campaign for the award were financed by then husband Meshulam Riklis, who invited several members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to an expensive trip to Las Vegas to enjoy Riklis hotels, casino and the spectacular live shows. 1983 was the last year the New Star category was used, just like in its original format, and later on was discontinued.
    • Quotes

      Kady Tyler: That feels so good, Jess. Good, good hands... What's wrong?

      Jess Tyler: It ain't right.

      Kady Tyler: Feels good to me. Does it to you?

      Jess Tyler: It just ain't right.

      Kady Tyler: It's right if it's good.

      Jess Tyler: You're my daughter, Kady.

      Kady Tyler: I'm a woman, too.

    • Connections
      Featured in Butterfly: The Steamy Saga of a Cult Classic (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      It's Wrong For Me To Love You
      Music by Ennio Morricone

      Lyrics by Carol Connors

      Performed by Pia Zadora

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Butterfly?Powered by Alexa
    • Why is my name not listed in the credits as Makeup consultant on the film butterfly starring Orson Wells?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 5, 1982 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Amor perverso
    • Filming locations
      • Goldfield, Nevada, USA(town)
    • Production company
      • Par-Par Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 48m(108 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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