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IMDbPro

Rich and Famous

  • 1981
  • R
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Candice Bergen and Jacqueline Bisset in Rich and Famous (1981)
Liz and Merry become BFFs in college. A decade later, Liz is a serious writer with writer's block, whereas Merry's a housewife/mom. She's written a novel. Other bestsellers, riches and fame follow.
Play trailer2:44
1 Video
30 Photos
Drama

Liz and Merry become BFFs in college. A decade later, Liz is a serious writer with writer's block, and Merry is a homemaker and a mom who has written a novel. Other bestsellers, riches, and ... Read allLiz and Merry become BFFs in college. A decade later, Liz is a serious writer with writer's block, and Merry is a homemaker and a mom who has written a novel. Other bestsellers, riches, and fame follow.Liz and Merry become BFFs in college. A decade later, Liz is a serious writer with writer's block, and Merry is a homemaker and a mom who has written a novel. Other bestsellers, riches, and fame follow.

  • Director
    • George Cukor
  • Writers
    • John Van Druten
    • Gerald Ayres
  • Stars
    • Jacqueline Bisset
    • Candice Bergen
    • David Selby
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    2.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George Cukor
    • Writers
      • John Van Druten
      • Gerald Ayres
    • Stars
      • Jacqueline Bisset
      • Candice Bergen
      • David Selby
    • 30User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:44
    Trailer

    Photos30

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    Top Cast52

    Edit
    Jacqueline Bisset
    Jacqueline Bisset
    • Liz Hamilton
    Candice Bergen
    Candice Bergen
    • Merry Noel Blake
    David Selby
    David Selby
    • Doug Blake
    Hart Bochner
    Hart Bochner
    • Chris Adams
    Steven Hill
    Steven Hill
    • Jules Levi
    Meg Ryan
    Meg Ryan
    • Debby - Age 18
    Matt Lattanzi
    Matt Lattanzi
    • The Boy - Jim
    Daniel Faraldo
    • Ginger Trinidad
    Nicole Eggert
    Nicole Eggert
    • Debby - Age 8
    Joe Maross
    Joe Maross
    • Martin Fornam
    Kres Mersky
    • Judy Heller
    Cloyce Morrow
    • Martha Antilles
    Cheryl Robinson
    Cheryl Robinson
    • UCLA Voice
    Allan Warnick
    Allan Warnick
    • Desk Clerk
    Ann Risley
    Ann Risley
    • Max's Wife
    Damion Scheller
    • Max's Son
    Haley Fox
    • Max's Daughter
    Fay Kanin
    Fay Kanin
    • Professor Fields
    • Director
      • George Cukor
    • Writers
      • John Van Druten
      • Gerald Ayres
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews30

    5.82.2K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    7arichmondfwc

    New Acquaintance

    George Cukor is and always will be one of my favorites. The unsung hero of his generation. Nobody mentions Cukor in the same breath as John Ford, Howard Hawks, William Wyler or Billy Wilder and yet, look at his filmography. From sparkling comedies "The Philadelphia Story" "Adam's Rib" "Holiday" Psycho melodramas "Gaslight" "A Double Life" a great semi western "Heller in Pink Tights" not to mention "My Fair Lady" or "Travels with my Aunt" He was at the service of his actors, he never put himself in front of the camera. I feel a certain tenderness watching "Rich and Famous" flashes of the old master still very much in evidence. Candice Bergen gives us for the first time in her career glimpses of the wonderful comedian she was about to become. Jacqueline Bisset is a throwback to the days of Greer Garson and Loretta Young and Hart Bochner steps in, teasing us, promising something spectacular that will eventually materialize in 1989 with "Apartment Zero", Meg Ryan, as Bergen's daughter is already Meg Ryan. As tired as the formula is, it remains a Cukor film and for what I gather one of Almodovar's favorite movies.
    8Boyo-2

    Very entertaining and well-cast

    Both Jackie and Candice are terrific in this movie. They are well-suited to their roles and have several chances to shine. In particular, the way Candice pronounces the words "Puerto Rican" is very funny, as she is being kind as she can be but condescending at the same time. I had seen the original of this movie, called "Old Acquaintance", starring Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins. They allegedly did not get along, so because the movie is about female friendship, that might have been a problem. Here, the actresses clearly admire and respect each other. Hart Bochner and Meg Ryan have supporting parts and are both excellent, in particular Bochner, who never got many decent parts in movies, as far as I am concerned. George Cukor did not make another movie after this, so this was a good one to go out on.
    6SnoopyStyle

    female friendship

    In 1959, roommates Liz Hamilton (Jacqueline Bisset) and Merry Noel (Candice Bergen) are best friends in Smith College. Merry runs off to marry Doug Blake. Liz goes on to become a serious writer. Merry has a daughter, a large beach house in Malibu, and writes a trashy novel about her neighbors. Liz brings it to her publisher and Merry becomes an overwhelming success.

    Hey! It's Meg Ryan in her debut. This wants to be a serious movie about a female friendship but at times, it falls down into trashy romance novels. Candice Bergen is too flighty and she doesn't fit the role. As for Bisset, she's solid until the movie gives her a boy toy. It's not so much a meet-cute but rather a creepy stalking. For every step forward, this movie takes a step back. The potential for a great movie about female friendship is here. It has two solid actresses. It needs more scenes with them together. They could show the changes in their relationship with those scenes. It also needs to cut out some of the more pulpy elements and clunky dialogue.
    7marcslope

    Farewell, George, and thank you, Mr. Ayres

    Not-bad-at-all swan song for the great George Cukor, a "women's picture" remake of 1944's "Old Acquaintance" that actually improves on it somewhat. That's thanks mostly to screenwriter Gerald Ayres, who has updated it in credible and interesting ways and cut down on some of the excesses of the genre. As old friends who become romantic and professional rivals, Jacqueline Bisset and Candice Bergen appear to be having a marvelous time, and David Selby's quite all right in the Gig Young-ish role of the dreamboat who married the wrong Smith graduate. Cukor's venture into R-rated filmmaking is a little self- conscious, and he dwells perhaps too long on the various beautiful young men who make the acquaintance of these two, but it's professional, attractive filmmaking. Notable also for the fascinating party guests who turn up as extras--Nina Foch, Christopher Isherwood, etc.
    6dbdumonteil

    His last film proves the legend true.

    George Cukor is an actresses director.He told himself it was nothing but an old cliché ,probably as old as the hills ,as old as "gone with the wind" when Leigh and De Havilland went on rehearsing with him even after he was fired.

    But this cliché is completely true here.Every scene where Jacqueline Bisset and Candice Bergen are together is riveting,dazzling,moving,funny all at once.but when the movie deals with Bisset's love affairs,it 's an awful bore.Doug's scenes are watchable at a pinch because the actor has a certain presence ,but the Rolling Stone guy's ones are almost unbearable,being bland ,pseudo-intellectual ;this is really a lightweight performance ,to put it mildly.

    But the two actresses work wonders when they share the screen.Two scenes highlight the movie:the first ,in Malibu,where the two women spend a whole night reading Bergen's writing prowess;the second in NYC,when they have an ultimate quarrel :Bisset tells her mate she's only one part of a woman:you easily guess which one.

    Of course ,it's a very uneven movie and inferior to Cukor's precedent work ("travels with my aunt",not counting his ill-fated "the blue bird") but the fast forward button is useful when the movie begins to drag on.

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    Related interests

    Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe, André Holland, Herman Caheej McGloun, Edson Jean, Alex R. Hibbert, and Tanisha Cidel in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Robert Mulligan started directing, but he had to bow out after four days filming due to the 1981 strike by the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The film was shut down for three months and when production re-commenced, scheduling conflicts meant Mulligan had to withdraw from the film and as such the director was replaced with veteran George Cukor. He was 81 years old and in semi-retirement when he was persuaded to direct. This is Cukor's final film as director.
    • Goofs
      Merry is in bed when she suddenly comes up with title for her next novel - "Home Cookin'". But a moment later, when she rushes into her office, that title is already scrawled across the blackboard where she jots down her ideas.
    • Quotes

      Liz Hamilton: I have a quote: I find this mid-century obsession with young flesh obscene! It's like eating green cantaloupes!

    • Alternate versions
      2 sex scenes are cut in US version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: So Fine, Gallipoli, Cattle Annie and Little Britches, True Confessions, Rich and Famous (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Take Me for a Buggy Ride
      Written by Mezz Mezzrow, Wesley Wilson (uncredited)

      Sung by Bessie Smith

      Courtesy of CBS Records

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Rich and Famous?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 9, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Ricas y famosas
    • Filming locations
      • Algonquin Hotel - 59 W. 44th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(exterior: hotel)
    • Production companies
      • Jaquet
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,492,125
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,492,125
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 57m(117 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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