Old Boyfriends
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Joan Tewkesbury (director), Paul Schrader and Leonard Schrader (screenwriters) |
| Products | Film |
Old Boyfriends is a 1979 American drama film helmed by director Joan Tewkesbury, with a screenplay crafted by siblings Paul Schrader and Leonard Schrader. The cast features Talia Shire, Richard Jordan, Keith Carradine, John Belushi, John Houseman, and Buck Henry. The movie was distributed by Embassy Pictures and premiered on March 22, 1979.
Plot
Dianne Cruise, a clinical psychologist undergoing an identity struggle and marital difficulties, sets out on a journey to revisit three of her former romantic partners.
Her initial destination is Colorado, where she reunites with Jeff Turin, a college boyfriend involved in producing a political documentary. After some interaction and a brief romantic encounter, Cruise departs suddenly without saying goodbye.
In Minneapolis, she reconnects with Eric Katz, her high school sweetheart who owns a formal-wear business and performs in local bands. After attending his performances and engaging with him, she ultimately distances herself by reenacting an embarrassing event from their past, thereby reclaiming control over their relationship.
Meanwhile, Jeff Turin hires private detective Art Kopple to track down Cruise. Kopple uncovers that Cruise’s husband, David Brinks, is still alive—contradicting her earlier claim that he had committed suicide.
Cruise’s final stop is a small town where she seeks out her first boyfriend, who was killed during the Vietnam War. There she meets his brother Wayne Van Til (Keith Carradine) and their mother. Providing psychological support to Wayne leads to a complicated sexual relationship that exacerbates his condition, resulting in hospitalization. Following criticism from Wayne’s mother and psychiatrist Dr. Hoffman, Cruise reassesses her involvement.
The story concludes with Jeff Turin confronting Cruise at her home, culminating in their reconciliation.
Cast
- Talia Shire as Dianne Cruise
- Richard Jordan as Jeff Turrin
- Keith Carradine as Wayne Van Til
- John Belushi as Eric Katz
- John Houseman as Doctor Hoffman
- Buck Henry as Art Kopple
- Nina Jordan as Dylan Turrin
- Gerrit Graham as Sam The Fisherman
- P. J. Soles as Sandy
- Bethel Leslie as Mrs. Van Til
- Joan Hotchkis as Pamela Shaw
- William Bassett as David Brinks
- Murphy Dunne as Keyboard Player
Production
The production of Old Boyfriends proceeded without securing distribution beforehand, operating on a budget of $2.5 million in cash plus an additional $0.5 million in deferred payments. The musical score was composed by David Shire, who is married to lead actress Talia Shire.
Reception
Critical response to Old Boyfriends was varied. Vincent Canby of The New York Times remarked that the film featured "characters more intelligent and interesting than their actions," pointing out inconsistencies in the writing. Dale Pollock from Variety criticized the protagonist's unclear motivations but commended Richard Jordan’s warm performance. Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune awarded the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, noting its uneven tone and excessive subplots; he suggested that concentrating more on the relationship with Jordan's character would have enhanced the narrative. Charles Champlin of the Los Angeles Times described it as a "quiet and well-observed romantic drama" and praised it as a promising directorial debut featuring strong acting. In contrast, Gary Arnold of The Washington Post felt that despite the cast’s efforts, the film was hindered by an irredeemable script.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds a score of 53% based on 15 critical reviews.
In popular culture
John Belushi delivers a rendition of Jailhouse Rock alongside his character's bar band, which includes fellow Blues Brother Murphy Dunne on the keyboard. The musicians who appeared as members of his band were personally chosen by Belushi.