Product Details

• Actors: Rosanna Arquette, Madonna, Aidan Quinn, Mark Blum, Robert Joy
• Directors: Susan Seidelman
• Writers: Leora Barish
• Producers: Michael Peyser, Midge Sanford, Sarah Pillsbury
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
• Subtitles: Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• DVD Release Date: June 13, 2000
• Run Time: 104 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0792845773
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,189 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Desperately Seeking Susan" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This likeable, feminist screwball comedy about several incidents of mistaken identity is remembered more as the film that made Madonna a movie star. She's flip, hip, and energetic as Susan, the wild tramp with whom bored, suburban New Jersey housewife Roberta Glass (Rosanna Arquette) becomes obsessed after reading of her sexual conquests in the personal ads. Of course, since Madonna essentially played herself, the role's hardly a stretch. Director Susan Seidelmen presents a series of zany incidents too complicated to recount, but the result is that Roberta swaps lifestyles with her fixation to explore New Wave culture on New York's Lower East Side. It's territory Seidelmen knew well as her more offbeat, indie debut, Smithereens, reveled in the same setting. But where Smithereens took a more edgy approach to its characters, Susan is a fairy tale romantic comedy, and eventually becomes as conventional as the suburban characters it mocks by settling conflicts with predictable Hollywood formulae. Still, there's much to be enjoyed. The film's at its funniest when juxtaposing New York hip and New Jersey suburbia, like when Arquette's straight, suit-and-tie husband dances with Madonna in a punk club. The performances, too, are engaging, especially Arquette and Aidan Quinn, playing a romantic film projectionist who becomes her grubby Prince Charming. --Dave McCoy

Product Description

If you know what to look for, you can find almost anything in the personal ads...including the loveof your life! Rosanna Arquette (Pulp Fiction) is "irresistible" (Newsweek) and, in her first starring role, pop star Madonna (Evita) gives a "marvelously comic" (Time) performance in this "delightful madcap comedy" (US) about mistaken identity. Bored New Jersey housewife Roberta (Arquette) fills her days by reading the personal ads and following an ongoing romance between "Jim" (Robert Joy) and "Susan" (Madonna), a mysterious drifter who leads the kind of free-spirited life about which Roberta can only dream. And dream she does, until the day she actually shows up at the couple's prearranged rendezvous in New York City...and after a bump on the head, a bout of amnesia turns Roberta into Susan and opens the door to intrigue, laughter and love!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Urban Comedy Classic, June 24, 2000

By 

Luis Hernandez (New York, New York, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Desperately Seeking Susan (DVD)

Considered by many to be Madonna's best film before she did Evita, "Desperately Seeking Susan" is a classic film for anyone interested by the 1980's and its' pop culture. Similar to what "Beverly Hills Cop" did for Los Angeles during that era, "Desperately Seeking Susan" capitulates on the hip and happening lifestyle found in the East Village and most importantly, Madonna.

Who knew how big Madonna would become? The essence of the Madonna we loved back when she was a rising star are all here. The dirty blonde hair, plastic bracelets, studded boots, they are all here. Although, the film was supposed to be a starring vehicle for Rosanna Arquette, everyone knows who stole the spotlight.

The film also served as an introductory spotlight for many stars who would find their niche here including a pre-"Roseanne" Laurie Metcalf, John Tuturro, Steven Wright, Iris Chacon (she is a big Latin television star who appears briefly on a television in the later half of the movie),Giancarlo Esposito and Aidan Quinn.

The score by Thomas Newman is wonderful and memorable, and Madonna again steal the spotlight, this time nusically with her memorable party classic "Into the Groove," played at the night club scene and during the ending credits.

Overall, the film captures the essence of life in the city versus that of the suburbs. If anyone wants to know what New York City was before the P.G. (Pre-Guiliani) age, then watch this film. As one of my favorite films of all time, I highly recommend it to all.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DVD info not listed, May 24, 2000

By 

Matthew I. Halpern (Portland, ME United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Desperately Seeking Susan (DVD)

The specs for the DVD aren't listed on amazon. This great 80's flick will include running audio commentary by the director as well as deleted scenes and an alternate ending. Just wanted anyone interested to know the extras on the DVD.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A guilty pleasure from the 80s, November 1, 2004

By 

Feisty Girl (Northern California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desperately Seeking Susan (DVD)

I've seen this movie probably about 50 or 60 times. It came out when I was a senior in high school and working at a movie theater that showed one movie at a time. DSS played for about 4 months. Hence, the numerous viewings. The movie has never stopped being funny, sweet, and relentlessly entertaining. I still find this movie a guilty pleasure, and I pop it in whenever I'm feeling down and need a pick-me-up. The cast is great: Aidan Quinn and Rosanna Arquette have great chemistry. Madonna is funny and sexy and at this point still has a real woman's body. Laurie Metcalf (as Becky) is simply superb. This woman is a genius and I'll never understand why she isn't a superstar. She has almost all the best lines in the film, and believe me there are many. Steven Wright makes a hilarious cameo. And look for John Turturro. The plot is as silly as they get, but the writing is sharp with tons of quotable lines. The movie is a time capsule of wonderful vintage 80s junk-chic, complete with soundtrack. Watch it and reminisce.