Customer Reviews

Murphy's Romance [VHS]

5 star:		(86)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I probably wouldn't be too off base to assume that I'm one of the youngest, if not the youngest, person to submit a review for "Murphy's Romance". Not too many people under 20 years of age have heard of it, and that is a shame. It's probably one of the ten best love stories of all time. And it's not spectacular in its scale, not bogged down with style, and not given to flights of fancy that promote Oscar bait monologues. "Murphy's Romance" is, on the other hand, simply... simple, realistic, loving of its characters, and full of wit that gives the film a sense of style not encased in camera work. It also has one of my favorite characters in any movie ever: Murphy Jones, played with the kind of wit, charm, and life you see expressed by very few actors by James Garner. Murphy is not just the title character, but he is the delicate string that holds the entire movie together. His expressions in every scene display the wisdom and slyness of his character, and the way he looks at the Sally Field character should be an acting template for any actor playing in a love story: He gazes at her; he doesn't stare. He doesn't search her eyes for answers to corny questions. There is nothing cliched about this character. He's just real.

The plot of the film is a simple one. Movies like this are never really about their plots so much as they are about their characters. Emma Moriarty is a single mom who grew up on a farm, knows horses and hard work, and who moves out to the country to fix up a ramshackle old house and barn to start a business of boarding and training horses. Her son Jake is played by 80s child star Corey Haim, who plays his role somberly as a boy who misses his dad and is kind of clueless as to the workings of this new life. He's just a normal kid who grew up in the city and finds it odd that his new school doesn't have a single computer. This role could have been a thankless one if Haim didn't play it so well. His eyes express the weight of his small world on his shoulders, and we can see that weight lifted in the presence of his dad (Brian Kerwin) and when talking to Murphy. Emma happens across Murphy Jones' drug store when advertising her business. Murphy is all for free enterprise, so she posts her sign in his window and walks in. In this first conversation, we already know that these two are destined to fall in love by the film's end. That's how these movies work: 1) We introduce the main characters to each other and know from the start they are compatible. Step 2) We watch as a series of wrenchs are thrown in the works to put off this revelation between the characters themselves. In the case of "Murphy's Romance", we are given a simple wrench, not a series of ridiculously over the top occurrences that scatter our radar of reality. The arrival of Emma's ex-husband Bobby Jack (Kerwin) makes for enough realistic encounters and quick dialogue exchanges for every implausible moment in today's teen dramas.

That's enough about the plot. As I said, love stories are not about their plots. The few smart love stories that have come out of Hollywood over the years recognize this and treat their characters with intelligence. "Murphy's Romance" has a main cast of wonderful performers who embody their roles with an almost improvisational realism. Sally Field is terrific as Emma, who we can see from the start has tenacity and a good work ethic ("I've worked hard for all these callouses!"), but also has an unwillingness to separate the men from the boys, which blinds her to the possibilities of loving someone new after her failed marriage. Kerwin has one of the tougher jobs in the film: He has to maintain the image of a scumbag ex-husband while still coming across as the kind of man we could see as charming. It's a difficult balancing act, but it's one that he pulls off nicely. Haim, with the eyes of a soulful man trapped in a boy's body, is very good. But James Garner, who earned a Oscar nomination (he should've won) for this role, owns this movie from beginning to end.

"Murphy's Romance" is one of my favorite films for all the reasons I've mentioned: Great performances, wit, and most of all, love. Garner and Field play their characters with just the right pitch in every scene, and when we finally do come to the closing scenes of the movie, everything rides on them. The last scene, brilliantly photographed, is written in such a way that it would make or break the film. As it stands, it is probably one of the most loving scenes in film history, with the two leads nailing every note. It reaches out of the screen and makes us grin from ear to ear; it touches our heart in a way that few films do, and it's a testament to the true power of film: It makes us want to fall in love for the first and last time in our lives.

I cannot add much more praise than what has been said about this film, but I would advise film students, film instructors, and screenplay writers and teachers to study this film and add a proviso to their pedagogy that great filmmaking cannot BE TAUGHT if all you're going to do is emphasize the roller coaster theory of filmmaking, i.e., obstacle, solution, obstacle, solution. That's the way I was taught and it took em a long time to realize that's extremely simplistic. This would make a great anti-Hollywood Hollywood film as a sample of a wonderful and different form of filmmaking where characters are two-dimensional and situations and set-ups are contribed. why don't films today measure up the quiet brilliance of this fabulous work. The answer is plain. Inspired filmmaking, directing, acting, and genuine love for the medium and the audience cannot be taught or bought. If you can at least consider why this film is ten times better than something like "There Will Be Blood", it will have served its purpose--not that you have to agree, but at least why some people would consider a film with complex character, low-key, brilliant dialogue, and non gee-whiz cinematography is something to applaud. Yea, this film demonstrates the famous line in Sunset Boulevard that 'the films have gotten too small,' but the smallness is in their substitution for flash over substance. Some navies have complained that sailors can't pick up the sonar when they listen for undersea objects. Audiologists say it's because our eardrums have been blasted by R&R. Maybe ours have been too in the realm of filmmaking. Like a rock music addict's ears that have been damaged by loud music and can't distinguish the nuances of sound, our post-millenium sensibilities have numbed us to the nature of cinematic, albiet commercial art.

This is it! A must see! Makes one think about how one should trully live their life! Shows the value of family and true love. James Garner as Murphy is outstanding! This movie is one you will want to add to your library! Excellent - Outstanding - True to life - warm happy fuzzys in heart kind of movie!

"I show some wear. I don't deny it " says Murphy Jones, well into his fifties and widowed, to Emma Moriarty, well into her thirties and divorced with a young son. "If the fruit hangs on the tree long enough, it gets ripe. I'm durable, I'm steady and I'm faithful. And I'm in love for the last time in my life." "I'm in love for the first time in my life," Emma says. "So?" "So...stay for supper, Murphy?" "I won't do that," Murphy says, "unless I'm still here for breakfast." Emma looks at him. "How do you like your eggs," she asks.

What better Valentine Day's card than Murphy's Romance, a mature, funny and wise valentine of a movie for people fortunate enough to have found long-lasting love the first time or have been given an opportunity for a second chance. Emma (Sally Field), divorced and wanting to start a new life for herself and her son, has rented a broken-down horse ranch in Arizona where she hopes to make a living boarding and training horses. She has little money, can't get a loan and knows no one in the small, nearby town. Murphy Jones (James Garner) is the town's pharmacist. He owns the drug store on Main Street. It still has an old-fashioned soda fountain. When Emma walks in and orders a lemon Coke, he makes it the old fashioned way...Coke syrup, seltzer water and juice from a squeezed lemon. He's a friendly enough sort, realistic about things, thinks he knows people and is a little stubborn...like his Twenties Studebaker he keeps polished to perfection and parked right in front of the store...and he'll pay the parking fines if he has to 'cause he's not moving the car. Little by little the two of them come across each other in the small town. When Emma asks what kind of place it is, Murphy says, "Oh, small, friendly, nosy. You can carry a gun, but you can't get an abortion." "I don't want to do either," says Emma. With time, Emma's horse boarding business begins to look better. Then Emma's ex shows up, a friendly, charming ne'er-do-well. He's as reliable as next week's weather forecast. He charms his son and tries to charm Emma again. But he's broke, she feels sorry for him, so she let's him stay. Then Murphy starts regularly showing up at the ranch. He has a horse being boarded by Emma. It's not long before Murphy is invited by Emma to dinner many an evening. Things happen that send her ex back out of her life. And Murphy and Emma bring things to a happy close with that question about eggs.

Murphy's Romance has no mysteries about it. We know Murphy and Emma will wind up together the moment Emma walks into the drug store and orders the lemon Coke. What the movie does so effectively and with so much charm and affection is show us two adults, with personalities and quirks we come to like, slowly, warily finding ways to demonstrate how they feel about each other. Its depiction of a mature romance is low-key, almost matter-of-fact, and is driven by the laid-back style of James Garner and the cautious, hard-working vulnerability of Sally Field. What keeps the movie interesting is that wary, developing interest the two of them find in each other. Watching it grow slowly over corned beef hash and bingo, over an ice cream cone and a birthday cake, over Emma's concern about her son and Murphy's refusal to own up to his age (he does, finally)...is amusing and satisfying. It helps that the depiction of this small town is just as low-key and friendly as the story-line. There's no small-town condescension. The movie house open only Thursdays through Sundays, the bingo parlor, the one cafe, the barbecue at Emma's ranch, Murphy's birthday party, all are presented straight up with affection, with nothing dramatic added. Murphy's Romance is simply a very nice movie with a warm, literate screenplay and two appealing lead actors.

The DVD disc has a pan-and-scan version on one side and wide-screen on the reverse. There is no anamorphic transfer. The picture quality is okay, but not as crisp as we've come to expect from a good DVD transfer. There are no extras of any importance.

A great movie that I have liked since it first came out and still like to this day. Beautiful scenery, great cast. Makes a person want to move to a small town. The movie has plenty of comedy, and romance. One that I can watch and never get bored with.

This is a wonderful heartwarming movie. It always brings a smile to my face. One of my favorite feel good movies. Sally Field is a divorced woman trying to start over with her son, in a small town. The people in the town are imteresting, but the most interesting,(and sexy) one is Murphy the "town oddball" and pharmacist. Who when he gets pushed... pushes back. Emma (Sally Field) is trying to get a horse boarding facility off the ground and is helped by Murphy. Romance is in the air.

Emma's ex-husband returns, and it is wonderful to watch Murphy cut him down to size. Murphy is wonderful. With the twinkle in his eye and wonderful smile, you can't help but like him....and this movie.

I enjoyed this movie when it first came out, and I am very happy to be able to get it on DVD. Sally Field And James Garner star in this 1980's May-December romance. Sally's character is a 33 year old single mother of a 12 year old boy who moves from California to a small town in Arizona. James Garner is her love interest. Both Sally and James are great actors, which is one reason why I loved this movie. I also enjoy the setting - a dusty small town where she tries to make a go of a horse boarding/training business on her rented property. I grew up in a small town and also with horses. The ex-husband of Sally's character is the movie's antagonist. His immaturity, lack of ambition, and other undesirable traits make Murphy (James Garner) that much more appealing. I was about 13 when I first saw this movie, and now I am 32 and love it even more. There's a lot of truth in this movie. In my life, older men have been much like Murphy - wiser, more grounded, all in all a much better catch than a young, flighty man - like the ex-husband. All in all, a great film. Wish they still made them like this - simple, with a great story, and good humor. When you have a good story, you don't need all of the "extras" like special effects, lots of explicit sex, etc. A good movie for the whole family.

One of my favorite romantic comedies! James Garner's performance is first rate (as usual) and Sally Fields is very good too. It's a cute, happy little film that is definitely worth watching. I would highly recommend it!

A lighthearted romantic comedy starring Sally Field as a divirced mother with a teenaged son; they move to a broken-down ranch in Arizona where she soon meets James Garner, the local pharmacist. A romance develops reluctantly between them, and this is done very well: lots of advance & retreat by especially Field, which makes it all believable and interesting. But her ex shows up before long, and in her doubt Field allows him to stay - until he shows his true rotten colors again. Garner, of course, is right there for her. Though there are no big surprises here, the restraint that director Martin Ritt used in developing the romance is admirable. Worth a watch.

Everybody should love this movie! This is, pure and simple....a movie that is PURE and SIMPLE! And we should all bask in its simplicity! A breath of completely fresh air! We need more films like this one. It is excellent....even after 25 viewings! How COULD it be anything else but wonderful with these two charming leads....James Garner and Sally Field (two of my all-time favorites)! I love how the characters seem to really enjoy the every day things life has to offer .... Going to the movies, a bingo game, a ride in Murphy's old car, root beer floats, corned beef hash, the North Star [a nice moment in the film]. Aside from a couple of swear words, it's a good, clean movie. Probably the last of its kind. So enjoy it! My favorite Murphy dialogue...."I don't know why Emma took you in in the first place. I'd bed you down with the dogs. And I'll tell you something else mister...you might be a lot younger and stronger than I am, but you're about to get your a** kicked from here to the state line. And I'm wearing the boots that can do it!"