Plot
A privileged rich debutante and a cynical struggling entertainer share a turbulent, but strong childhood friendship over the years.

Release Year: 1988

Rating: 6.3/10 (10,010 voted)

Director: Garry Marshall

Stars: Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey, John Heard

Storyline
When the New York child performer CC Bloom and San Fransisco rich kid Hillary meet in a holiday resort in Atlantic City, it marks the start of a lifetime friendship between them. The two keep in touch through letters for a number of years until Hillary, now a successful lawyer moves to New York to stay with struggling singer CC. The movie shows the various stages of their friendship and their romances including their love for the same man.

Writers: Iris Rainer, Mary Agnes Donoghue

Cast:
Bette Midler - CC Bloom
Barbara Hershey - Hillary Whitney Essex
John Heard - John Pierce
Spalding Gray - Dr. Richard Milstein
Lainie Kazan - Leona Bloom
James Read - Michael Essex
Grace Johnston - Victoria Essex
Mayim Bialik - CC - Age 11
Marcie Leeds - Hillary - Age 11
Carol Williard - Aunt Vesta
Allan Kent - Mr. Melman
Phil Leeds - Sammy Pinkers
Lynda Goodfriend - Mrs. Myandowski
Nikki Plant - Iris Myandowski
Michael French - Head Waiter

Taglines: The Friendship You'll Always Remember... In The Film You'll Never Forget

Release Date: 21 December 1988

Filming Locations: 880 La Loma Rd., Pasadena, California, USA

Opening Weekend: $198,361 (USA) (26 December 1988) (7 Screens)

Gross: $57,041,866 (USA)

Runtime: 123 min

Trivia:
Barbara Hershey had collagen lip injections to make herself look younger (she was 40 at the time and was playing Hilary from college age to mid-thirties).

Goofs:
Continuity: When the young Hillary and C.C. are in the hotel restaurant, a man is disturbed by the girls as they sit down. We see him rise, pick his things up off the table and begin to walk away. in the next shot, you see him picking up his things and walking away again.

Quotes:
[after Marge has fainted ]
CC Bloom: Oh Marge, you really need to cut down on the Gasoline.
Hillary: She could be dead.
CC Bloom: No. If she was dead she would've dropped the bottle.

"What will I do without a best friend?" - Cecelia Carol Bloom

Rating:

"Beaches" is a movie about two people who have family, acquaintances, spouses, careers, etc. but they only had each other when they really needed a friend. That's what makes the ending so hard to take. I think we all can relate to that one or two special people (if you're lucky) in our lives who never actually "go away" even if they don't physically live close to you anymore. Months or even years can go by, but you always pick up where you left off, with ease, when you see or speak to them. You may annoy each other at times, but you will always love each other. They're always with you because you've shared so much. Some of us may never find our romantic long-lasting "soul mate", but this movie makes the excellent point of showing that if you find a true friend in life you are truly blessed.

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