Legal Eagles (1986)

Director:

Ivan Reitman

Writers:

Jim Cash (screenplay)
Jim Cash (story)

Release Date:

18 June 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Romance

Tagline:

Tom Logan has a law partner who put a dog on the witness stand. A client who can't enter a room without a crime being committed. And a case that could turn out to be the murder of the year. His.

Plot:

District Attorney Tom Logan is set for higher office, at least until he becomes involved with defence...

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Painting | City | Scam | Insurance

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Robert Redford	...	Tom Logan
Debra Winger	...	Laura J. Kelly
Daryl Hannah	...	Chelsea Deardon
Brian Dennehy	...	Cavanaugh
Terence Stamp	...	Victor Taft
Steven Hill	...	Bower
David Clennon	...	Blanchard
John McMartin	...	Forrester
Jennifer Dundas	...	Jennifer Logan (as Jennie Dundas)
Roscoe Lee Browne	...	Judge Dawkins
Christine Baranski	...	Carol Freeman
Sara Botsford	...	Barbara
David Hart	...	Marchek
James Hurdle	...	Sebastian Dearden
Gary Howard Klar	...	Hit Man

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:14A | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Norway:15 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

In the end credits, one can see that one of the works of art used in the film is from the collection of Mr. & Mrs. Cary Grant. As Grant would die the same year of the film's release, this would be one of his last screen credits.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The action of the movie appears to take place during a winter-like season (lots of rain and occasional snowflakes) yet a shot of the Empire State building has the lighting at the top in red, white and blue, coloring usually used around the Fourth of July or other non-Winter holidays.

Quotes:

Laura J. Kelly: That look in your eyes... pure blue steel.

Movie Connections:

Features Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Soundtrack:

LOVE TOUCH

High Concept, CAA-style!

Ivan Reitman, fresh off the special effects high of "Ghostbusters" takes on romantic comedy that works in fits and starts in "LEGAL EAGLES".

Robert Redford, with breezy style, is a NYC D.A. who prosecutes at whim. Enter Debra Winger, a scrappy lawyer so desperate, she once chose to put a dog on the stand to make her case. The two fall in love (or about as 80's as it gets - they become partners) in representing an airy client (Daryl Hannah) who may (or may not) have committed a major art fraud/crime.

This is a time-capsule of a film... written by the guys who wrote "Top Gun" and "Dick Tracy", it's a big, over-packaged film that's both romantic comedy, star-vehicle, and glossy, synthetic who-done-it. All the Reitman glitz-and-polish is there (with big setpieces scattered throughout), and the movie is easy on the eyes, especially with Redford's easy, casual performance pulling the viewer along and Reitman's deft comedic touch.

It was also a troubled production to be sure: Bill Murray was once considered for the Winger role, creating a love triangle that would have found Hannah torn between the Sundance Kid and Nick The Lounge Singer - but alas, Murray opted out. In interviews long since the film's release, Winger claims no desire ever to work with Reitman again.

1986's "LEGAL EAGLES" is probably the textbook case of the all-powerful talent agency known as Creative Artists Agency packaging a Real Motion Picture - what industry wags call a "filmed-deal". But is Legal Eagles any good? Sure, I guess. It's competently directed, it makes great use of it's New York City art-world locales, it has a wonderful Elmer Bernstein score, great cinematography by the legendary Laszlo Kovacs and both Winger and Hannah make for delicious eye-candy when pared with Redford. Ultimately, it becomes systematic of what was askew in these "packages": the movie relies solely on the audience goodwill, fine craftsmanship and former successes of its primary players to carry the load. "LEGAL EAGLES" is by no means a failure, but wrapped in such a glossy serving, it's hard to really enjoy anymore than for its quick, empty calories.

I have a soft spot for this film - it's great to see Redford on screen seeming to have such a spirited good time after an absence from movie comedy for a number of years - but after all is said and done, "LEGAL EAGLES" is as enjoyable as a Big Mac, albeit one served on a fine china dinner plate.

PS - the TV version of this film has a curious, bizarre alternate ending which negates the whole court case!