Plot
A 1940s-set drama where an adulterous man plots his wife's death instead of putting her through the humiliation of a divorce.
Release Year: 2007
Rating: 6.3/10 (5,328 voted)
Critic's Score: 65/100
Director:
Ira Sachs
Stars: Chris Cooper, Patricia Clarkson, Rachel McAdams
Storyline The late 1940s. Richard Langley, a bachelor playboy, narrates a story that starts when his best friend, Harry Allen, invites him to lunch to tell Richard he's in love. Trouble is, Harry's already married to Pat; he worries Pat would be hurt too deeply by a divorce. Then, Harry's new love, Kay, joins them. Richard is smitten, so when he finds out that Pat may be in love with someone else but won't tell Harry because she fears he would be too hurt, Richard can't decide if he should let all the cats out of the bag. He'd unite pairs of lovers, but he'd lose Kay. Meanwhile, Harry decides that a swift end to Pat's life would be more kind than divorcing her. He buys poison. Murder will out?
Writers: Ira Sachs, Oren Moverman
Cast: Chris Cooper
-
Harry Allen
Annabel Kershaw
-
Miss Jones
Pierce Brosnan
-
Richard Langley
Patricia Clarkson
-
Pat Allen
Rachel McAdams
-
Kay Nesbitt
Sheila Paterson
-
Mrs. Walsh
David Richmond-Peck
-
Tom
Erin Boyes
-
Becky
Elijah St. Germain
-
Little Charlie
Terence Kelly
-
Dr. Anderson
Timothy Webber
-
Alvin Walters
Rebecca Codling
-
Photo Store Clerk
David Wenham
-
John O'Brien
Dolores Drake
-
Cinema Cashier
Malcolm Boddington
-
Well-Tailored Man
Taglines:
Do you know what really goes on in the mind of the person with whom you sleep?
Filming Locations: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Box Office Details
Budget: $12,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $55,851
(USA)
(9 March 2008)
(9 Screens)
Gross: $2,843,997
(Worldwide)
(30 November 2008)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
John Bingham's novel, 'Five Roundabouts to Heaven', was adapted for "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" TV series as "The Tender Poisoner" (first aired 20.12.1962), by writer Lukas Heller. The 60-minute program featured Dan Dailey as Philip "Barney" Bartel, Jan Sterling as his wife Beatrice, and Howard Duff as their friend Peter Harding.
Goofs:
Anachronisms:
In some driving scenes, the lines in the streets are yellow. Also some warning signs are in yellow, and placed higher on their respective poles. This is not correct for the 1940s. Lines were white. And signs were placed closer to street level for ease of viewing.
Quotes: Richard Langley:
I'm not at all certain that one can build happiness upon the unhappiness of someone else
User Review
Totally Disagree with "Straight to Betamax"
Rating:
Saw this last night at the premiere, and "Straight to Betamax" could
not be more wrong. This is actually the first intelligent, smart and
wonderfully acted film of the year, and both Patricia Clarkson and
Chris Cooper give wonderful performances in a story which is
intriguingly told and compellingly filmed.
I will agree with a few others that Pierce Brosnan seems a bit miscast
in this picture, but not to the point that it ruins the film.
Additionally, some of Rachel McAdams' dialogue seems a bit out of place
for a character like her's during the period in which this story is set
(it is supposed to take place in 1949), but she gives a great
performance overall and her character is, for the most part (other than
a few bad bits of out of place dialogue) fairly believable.
But Cooper and Clarkson are really wonderful in this film and Ira Sachs
and company have done a terrific job with this story. Bravo.
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