Always (1989)
Richard Dreyfuss only made a handful of good movies in his career, and unfortunately, most of them are so upsetting, you can’t bear to watch them more than once. Always, the remake to A Guy Named Joe, is a total tearjerker. It’s one of the few remakes that is better than the original, and it successfully updates the story to the modern timeline of 1989. Instead of being pilots in the war, the leads are firefighter pilots.
As Richard Dreyfuss and Holly Hunter pick up the mantle from Spencer Tracy and Irene Dunne, once you’ve watched their chemistry together for a few minutes, you’ll forget all about their black-and-white counterparts. John Goodman plays the Ward Bond role of the best friend, and Brad Johnson replaces Van Johnson. If the story isn’t tragic enough, there’s another element that brings a lump to your throat: Audrey Hepburn. In her last film appearance, she looks very frail and sickly, although she hadn’t yet discovered the illness that would claim her life. She plays the Lionel Barrymore role, the angel who helps transition the recently deceased to the other world.
If you’ve never seen either version, pick whichever cast appeals to you. They’re both good movies, although I do find Always more of a weep-fest. The acting is top-notch, and John Williams’s theme helps bring on the tears. For a truly great romance, and a very lengthy cry, rent it. But don’t rent Mr. Holland’s Opus as a double feature; you might not have any water left in you.
More Audrey Hepburn movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1943's A Guy Named Joe here!
As Richard Dreyfuss and Holly Hunter pick up the mantle from Spencer Tracy and Irene Dunne, once you’ve watched their chemistry together for a few minutes, you’ll forget all about their black-and-white counterparts. John Goodman plays the Ward Bond role of the best friend, and Brad Johnson replaces Van Johnson. If the story isn’t tragic enough, there’s another element that brings a lump to your throat: Audrey Hepburn. In her last film appearance, she looks very frail and sickly, although she hadn’t yet discovered the illness that would claim her life. She plays the Lionel Barrymore role, the angel who helps transition the recently deceased to the other world.
If you’ve never seen either version, pick whichever cast appeals to you. They’re both good movies, although I do find Always more of a weep-fest. The acting is top-notch, and John Williams’s theme helps bring on the tears. For a truly great romance, and a very lengthy cry, rent it. But don’t rent Mr. Holland’s Opus as a double feature; you might not have any water left in you.
More Audrey Hepburn movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1943's A Guy Named Joe here!