Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16784 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-08-13
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 123 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
Garry Marshall's 1988 drama about a 30-year friendship between two women, one wealthy (Barbara Hershey) and the other (Bette Midler) seeking her fortune in show business, is well written (based on the novel by Iris Rainer Dart) and nicely textured in its contrast between the characters' separate destinies. When Hershey becomes ill with cancer, the film takes a predictably sentimental course, yet Marshall brings out the best in both actresses and catches some very fine drama. The film is a little too long, perhaps, but overall it is a fine experience. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Bette Midler's Best
This is a wonderful cd! It is full of beautiful songs that are so filled with love, you can hear it in every song. The music is wonderful and Bette Midler really shines! If you don't like bette midler i would recommend to find something else, but if you've seen the movie and you loved it as much as i do then this would be a perfect for you or as a gift. In fact, I bought for my best friend when I graduated from high school and she loved it!

classic tale of friendship still a fantastic movie
BEACHES, based on the novel by Iris Rainer Dart, is a fantastic and emotion-driven drama/comedy. Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey turn in fabulous fully-realised performances as two best friends who share an amazing relationship.

On the beach in Atlantic City, 11-year-olds CC Bloom and Hillary Whitney strike up a friendship that will endure beyond all obstacles. Through letters spanning the years, the two women vent their frustrations, hopes and dreams.

Bette Midler is mesmerising as the brash CC Bloom (the 'Otto Titsling' number is alone worth the price of admission). Barbara Hershey wisely downplays the role of Hillary though she never is upstaged by Midler.

Supporting roles from John Heard, Spalding Gray and Lainie Kazan (as CC's mother Leona) are right on target. Mayim Bialik (TV's "Blossom") plays the younger CC.

This film could have easily fallen into soapy melodrama thanks to it's plot, but the direction of Garry Marshall saves it from becoming too maudlin.

Still one fantastic movie!

Some fine Jazzy work by these ex-Yes men
Patrick Moraz and Bill Bruford's "Flags" got quite a workout in my CD player when it was originally released in 1986. Both of these musicians will be familiar to anyone who calls themself a progressive rock fan - Moraz through his work with The Moody Blues, Bruford through his work with King Crimson, and both through their work with Yes (albeit at different times in the bands history). Although this disc has been quite popular among die-hard Yes fans (as any collaboration between two ex-Yes members is bound to be!), in recent years it has become somewhat hard-to-find. That's really unfortunate, because there is a lot of exciting music to be heard here, especially for those who don't mind some distinctly "jazzy" touches in their music of choice. On this, the pair's second collabaration, the two go decidedly "electronic" for the most part, Moraz with a colorful array of digital synth timbres, and Bruford with some tasteful work on a Simmons electronic drum kit. There is also some amazing acoustic work, namely the energetic "Split Seconds", which is more in-line musically with the duo's earlier, all-acoustic disc, "Music For Piano and Drums". Some standout tracks here include the jubilent "Temples of Joy", the melodius and memorable "Karu", the majestic title track "Flags", and the slightly-funky jazz groove "Everything You've Heard is True". Moraz and Bruford both shine on their respective instruments, and they work extremely well together through some fairly complex musical territory. Hey, Since Moraz is no longer with The Moody Blues, and Bruford is no longer with King Crimson, I think it's time for a Moraz-Bruford reunion album!