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Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Murphy's Romance (1985)

Directed by Martin Ritt; produced by Laura Ziskin


Emma Moriarty (Sally Field) moves with her son, Jake (Corey Haim), to a small town in Arizona, hoping a different location and her own business venture - horse-boarding - will give them the fresh start they need. Soon, she begins to meet the locals, one of whom is the older, thoughful and forthright pharmacist, Murphy Jones (James Garner). As they come to know each other, interest grows between them that is more than friendship and less than love - but that soon changes.


While it is accurate to categorise this film as a romantic comedy, the inference some may draw from that term would not be quite right. Though I like the genre, most romantic comedies are rather silly affairs, filled with contrivance and forced situations, not to mention forced laughs. Murphy’s Romance is different. It is an adult romantic comedy. By that, I do not mean there is sex, violence and profanity. There is no nudity and though an obscenity is uttered, Murphy makes it plain that he doesn’t care for the word or its use.


No, this is an adult movie because the principals behave like adults and have a grown-up approach to falling in love. Emma and Murphy are mature people who have experienced easy times and tough times, as have we all, and act like they’ve learned from them. It’s clear that Murphy’s feelings for Emma are clearer to him than Emma’s feelings for Murphy are clear to her, and they are clearer sooner. But he is cautious, neither foolish nor timid, while she is gun-shy about love.


The leads’ age difference is a good example of the script’s maturity. Though Murphy’s lengthy collection of years is mentioned, usually as the butt of a good-natured joke, its place in any relationship is not a concern. The age difference is treated as if Emma and Murphy have taken it into account as part of their over-all personalities; they weigh its effect as they would any other aspect of their characters. This lack of hand-wringing angst over something that isn’t much of a problem in the first place makes for a realistic but easy-going movie


Despite the title, Field is rightly given top billing. She is very winning as a woman who is both strong and vulnerable, and her good relationship with her son is as refreshing as is her romantic maturity. Garner is a very watchable but not versatile actor; most of his parts are similar: a steady, dependable, likeable man, tolerant of foibles but hard on folly. Here, the characterization is perfect. He is sensible and funny, the sort of man any woman would want as a partner and any man would want as a friend.


The script wisely avoids populating the film with ‘quirky’ townspeople, the artificial bane of many a comedy. The closest the movie comes is with the community’s oldest resident (Charles Lane), a curmudgeon whose appearance is used to illustrate Garner’s character more than his own.


Murphy’s Romance has been described as a ‘chick flick’ that men would enjoy. I agree with this, but it may be considered a film for women really only because the main character is female. This enjoyable and entertaining movie is for both genders and most ages simply because…it’s an enjoyable and entertaining movie.

9 comments:

  1. I saw this movie ages ago, largely because James Garner is one of my three favorite actors. I adore him. You summed it up perfectly; it's a highly likable film that doesn't insult our intelligence or our sensibilities. There are too few movies like that out there.

    Although I have to admit that Sally Field has always grated on my nerves.

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    1. Field can be a bit annoying but, in this movie, she seems more grown-up and self-reliant, and that definitely aids her appeal.

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  2. I, on the other hand, have always been a fan of Sally Fields. She had a lot of parts where she played the dumb, flaky, flighty immature girl (Gidget, Smokey and the Bandit) but I think she was typecast. I've never seen this movie but I'm certain I would enjoy it.

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    1. There seems to be something for everyone here. I think you would like it, too.

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  3. No! Have'nt seen this film...But...
    James Garner was an American actor, producer,
    and voice artist. He starred in several
    television series over more than five decades,
    including such popular roles as Bret Maverick
    in the 1950s western series Maverick and Jim
    Rockford in The Rockford Files...
    He joined the Marines aged 16..Sadly..he died
    in 2014..aged 86..just the one spouse, who he
    married in 1956..!
    Amazing life story..worth a read..!

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    1. "The Rockford Files" was a good series. We had a saying in my family, that if someone suffered from injuries often, he was 'beaten up more than Garner in 'The Rockford Files'..." He was always getting roughed up.

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    2. That was my grandmother's one complaint with the show. She'd always grumble, "Why can't he beat someone up for a change?"

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  4. I've watched this movie more times than I would care to admit to, but I simply love James Garner and Sally Field in it.

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    1. Another film of which one cay say, "They don't make 'em like that anymore," but it was only from the 1980s; they should still be makin' 'em like that.

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