Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Director:

Nora Ephron

Writers (WGA):

Jeff Arch (story)
Nora Ephron (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 June 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Drama

Tagline:

What if someone you never met, someone you never saw, someone you never knew was the only someone for you?

Plot:

A recently-widowed man's son calls a radio talk show in an attempt to find his father a partner.

Plot Keywords:

Bittersweet | Father Son Relationship | Male Female Relationship | City Name In Title | Cancer

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 10 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Aug. 3

8:15 AM

TNT

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Sam Baldwin
Meg Ryan	...	Annie Reed
Bill Pullman	...	Walter
Ross Malinger	...	Jonah Baldwin
Rosie O'Donnell	...	Becky
Gaby Hoffmann	...	Jessica
Victor Garber	...	Greg
Rita Wilson	...	Suzy
Barbara Garrick	...	Victoria
Carey Lowell	...	Maggie Abbott Baldwin
David Hyde Pierce	...	Dennis Reed
Dana Ivey	...	Claire Bennett
Rob Reiner	...	Jay
Tom Riis Farrell	...	Rob
Le Clanché du Rand	...	Barbara Reed

Runtime:

105 min | Turkey:93 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG (certificate #32238) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:AL | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

1904 4th Avenue, Seattle, Washington, USA

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

Kim Basinger was also offered the role of Annie in the early script process, but turned it down because she thought the premise was ridiculous. Dennis Quaid was also considered for the male lead.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The camera is reflected in the shop window when Walter and Annie see the globe, circled with red hearts, in the window display.

Quotes:

Jessica: I am telling them you're twelve so you can fly unaccompanied and the stewardess won't carry you around and stuff like that.
Jonah Baldwin: Are you crazy! Who'd believe I'm twelve?
Jessica: If it's in the computer, they believe anything.
Jonah Baldwin: Are you sure?
Jessica: Do you want me to say that you are really really short for your age and they shouldn't say anything because it would hurt your feelings.
Jonah Baldwin: Yeah, that's a great idea!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Movie Break: (2003-04-03)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Jingle Bells

I enjoyed it for its characters and performances, and was thankful for what wasn't there.

This is a movie with characters and performances which are appealing, and it is an old-fashioned, feel-good love story. The film also has a bit of sadness in its early part, thankfully not overdone. The five lead characters and the performances by their actors (Hanks, Ryan, Malinger, Pullman and O'Donnell) are all engaging.

The primary members of the support cast are also excellent (David Pierce, Annie's brother; Garber and Wilson as Sam's brother-in-law and sister; Reiner as his colleague/friend; young Gaby Hoffman; and Barbara Garrick as Sam's brief girlfriend).

The story, juxtaposed with the classic Grant/Kerr predecessor, could have provided an excessive gimmick, but here it worked well. And I was grateful for some things I didn't find in this flick. Although I watched the program like everyone else, I found Rob Reiner's character, acting and presence in "All in the Family" to be obnoxious and annoying, ALL THE TIME, and watched the program in spite of his presence. And I have found Rosie O'Donnell's presence to be the epitomé of ANNOYING in every respect, every time I've observed her, previously. But in this film, I enjoyed both of their performances completely. Children in movies can also be an irritating presence, but Malinger and Hoffman were delightful as son Jonah, and his little neighbor/friend. Barbara Garrick, with a supporting role here (as in "The Firm") is an appealing actress, for whom one would wish more prominent roles.

Tom Hanks is one of the foremost actors of our time, but even he can go a smidgen too far in a characterization (I thought he did so in both "Forrest Gump" and "Philadelphia"). But he certainly didn't here. Watch, enjoy, and feel good.