Always (1989)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers (WGA):

Jerry Belson (screenplay)
Dalton Trumbo (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 December 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Romance | Drama

Tagline:

They couldn't hear him. They couldn't see him. But he was there when they needed him... Even after he was gone.

Plot:

A romantic adventure about a legendary pilot's passion for dare-devil firefighting and his girl.

Plot Keywords:

Pilot | Forest Fire | Falling In Love | Ghost | Firefighting

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Richard Dreyfuss	...	Pete Sandich
Holly Hunter	...	Dorinda Durston
Brad Johnson	...	Ted Baker
John Goodman	...	Al Yackey
Audrey Hepburn	...	Hap
Roberts Blossom	...	Dave
Keith David	...	Powerhouse
Ed Van Nuys	...	Nails
Marg Helgenberger	...	Rachel
Dale Dye	...	Don
Brian Haley	...	Alex
James Lashly	...	Charlie
Michael Steve Jones	...	Grey
Kim Robillard	...	Air Traffic Controller
Jim Sparkman	...	Dispatcher

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Spain:T | South Korea:15 | Brazil:Livre | Portugal:M/12 (Q) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Iceland:L | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Bull Lake, Montana, USA

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

Whilst filming this, Steven Spielberg told John Goodman that he would make the perfect Fred Flintstone. Five years later, Goodman indeed played the famous cartoon character in The Flintstones (1994).

Goofs:

Continuity: Pete puts out the fire in Al's port engine and the propeller can be seen coming to a halt. In the next scene, the propeller is spinning again.

Quotes:

Al Yackey: [exulting] You magnificent pagan GOD!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in All the Rage (1999)

Soundtrack:

SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES

To Spielberg always

An unexpected film from the director who made his name with box office hits like ET, The Jaws (to say nothing of Indiana Johnes series). Always comes from this period between all these kids' stories and a new wave of escapist fantasies about dinosaurs. When a kid I loathed this film because I did not understand it at all and was a big action –special effects movies fan. Time changes a lot. I learned to appreciate this magnificent picture and it is one of its biggest secrets at the same time. I love this movie but can not clearly explain why, there are lots of films which appear to me to be much more interesting, lots of film which appear to me to be much more intellectual but still I can not help loving this simple low budget love/friendship story. I just want to tell you about some scenes from Always which are my personal favorites:1.The fire pilot club scene when Pete "remembered Dorinda's birthday wrong", He says:"Why do not we try signaling to the band, it works in the movies" and then everyone present wants to dance with Dorinda while Pete is watching the whole affair from upstairs. It is so…..so perfect. 2.Hepburn – Dreyfull dialogue in the field with her telling him about Spiritus "something they get when they need it most".3. Dorinda and Ted dining with Dorinda dancing to Platters tune. Words fail to describe it.4 The final scene in the aircraft, and these Pete's last words:"You are going to have wonderful life". JohnWilliams' score is awesome, especially the closing titles theme-a sound of a lonely piano echoing…. Away with the pretences this film weights 8 on my great movies scales because it moves me, inspires me and I keep 9 and 10 only for all time classic like Bergman's Virgin Spring or Griffith's Intolerance.